Until We Burn by Courtney Cole: Chapter 5

Dominic Kinkaide is a bad boy who does bad, bad things.  And on December 3rd we get to see just how bad he really is when Before We Fall releases.  As we anxiously await it's release Courtney Cole has given us a taste of Dominic in Until We Burn.  This is an 8 part series and we are so excited to be bringing you chapter 5.  Enjoy!

Dominic Kinkaide does bad, bad things.

As a 24-year old actor with the world on a string, not many women tell Dominic no.

In a life where no doesn’t exist, he stretches the boundaries between what is right, what is wrong and what is downright depraved.

Dark and damaged, Dom wants no commitments. He wants no attachments. He only wants to disappear into the taboo, into a place where he feels something.

Anything.

But when the aching need to disappear into the darkness is the only thing he has left, Dominic flounders. In a world that is hollow and sexual, without a guiding light or a reason to breathe, Dominic is lost and broken.

He knows he’ll never be fixed.

So he makes a decision.

If he’s going to hell, he might as well make it worth it.

Chapter 5

UNTIL WE BURN
By Courtney Cole

Chapter Five


“Why won’t you fuck me?” Amy asks me, out of the blue.  

I look up in surprise.  

After Amy slipped out of my hotel room in the middle of the night, we met here on set for breakfast, and have been curled up in my trailer for the past hour.  As we wait to be called into makeup, Amy’s got her head buried in a magazine, but she’s staring over the top of it now, her blue eyes accusatory. 

“Excuse me?” I ask stiltedly, although I heard exactly what she said. 

“Why won’t you fuck me?” Amy demands again.  “Everyone on the planet wants to fuck me, and I offer myself to you on a platter and you won’t do it.  Not really.  You have no problems fucking me up the ass or letting me suck you off….but you won’t actually fuck me.  I want to know why.  I know you don’t have a problem getting it up.  So what is the problem?” 

Icy pangs shoot through my heart and I try to ignore them, to push them back down to where they belong.  I knew this was coming.  

I knew this was coming, I remind myself.  A confrontation about what is wrong with me.  I knew it.  But knowing it never makes it any easier. 

“I don’t have a problem,” I answer icily, staring her down, her blue eyes locking with my own green ones.  “Just because I won’t fuck you, you think I have a problem?” 

She shrugs with her slender shoulders.  “You must.  Everyone wants to fuck me.” 

She’s tense now, poised stiffly on the edge of her seat, prepared for rejection as she waits for me to answer.   I know her.  I know what she thinks, how she feels.  And like most artists, she’s secretly insecure. She’s afraid that there’s something wrong with her and that’s why I don’t want to fuck her.  

I don’t allay that fear.  I’m not a good enough person for that.  She doesn’t hesitate to cut people down to size simply because she feels like being a bitch.  I feel no guilt over not soothing her ego right now. 

“Maybe everyone does,” I tell her as nonchalantly as I can.  “But I don’t.  Not right now.”

She sits up straighter, her shoulders back and her chin stuck out.  “Oh, really?  And why exactly is that?” 

I stare at her coolly.  “Because I don’t feel like it.  Too much drama.  You’d only fall in love with me.” 

I play it off like that, like I’m arrogant and cold and like I really believe my own words.  Everything’s an act, you see.  And this is part of my character.  I’m an arrogant asshole.  

Except, of course, I really am.  At this point in my life, the act has become my reality.  

But regardless of my words, I’m not afraid she’d fall in love with me. That’s not the reason that I haven’t fucked her… or that I haven’t actually fucked someone in six years.  Six. Fucking Years.  

Six years since it happened. 

The mere thought of it, of her, constricts my heart tightly in my chest, like a fucking vise grip has its claws wrapped around it. 
Emma.  

A vision of her wide blue eyes sparkling at me ripples through my memory and I squeeze my eyes shut to close her out.  Reaching into my pocket, I grip the necklace, her necklace, allowing my fingers to trace over the cool aquamarine.  It’s the only thing that helps, the only thing that calms me down.  It reminds me.  

And makes me forget. 

“Dominic?” Amy snaps, bringing me back to the present, and away from Emma’s glistening eyes.  

I open my own.  

“What?”

“What’s wrong with you?” she asks curiously, her eyes softening just a bit as she stares at me.  I realize that I’m clammy and cold. Anxious.  On edge. 
This is what Emma does to me even now.  

I put her out of my mind and turn my attention to the needy woman in front of me.  

I force a grin.  “Nothing’s wrong.  At all.”

Amy stares at me.  “Then prove it.  When we’re done here, let’s go on a date.  Take me to the Tower of London, then take me back to your hotel room and make me scream your name tonight.” 

“You scream my name on a regular basis,” I point out wryly.  She rolls her eyes. 

“You know what I mean.  I want your penis inside my body while I’m screaming it this time.  For real.” 

I shake my head, then run one finger over the swell of her fully clothed hip. 
“Can’t.  Not tonight.  I can take you to the Tower, but then I’m flying out to Amsterdam to see my brothers.  I’ll have to take a raincheck.” 

Amy’s interested now.  “Sin and Duncan?  I want to go.  You know I love seeing the Devil’s Own.  Maybe you can make me scream your name in Amsterdam, instead.  In fact, let’s make a bet.  I bet you that I can make you want to fuck me before we leave Amsterdam.”

That’s never going to happen.  

But I don’t say that.  Instead, I smile. 

“And if you win?” 

She smiles back.  “Then you get to fuck me.  That’s your prize.”

“And if I win?” 

Amy scowls now, displeased by the mere thought that I might not want her.  “If you win, your prize will be not having to hear me bitch about this anymore, because we’ll be done.  You’ll go your way and I’ll go mine.” 

“Interesting,” I reply calmly.  “So basically, if I don’t fuck you by the time we leave Amsterdam tomorrow night, we’re done?” 

She nods, pleased by what she thinks is her ultimatum.  What she doesn’t understand is that I don’t give a flying fuck if I ever see her again…at least, in a personal capacity.  She thinks she’s got all the power and control in this equation, but she’s wrong. 

I’m going to see exactly what she’s willing to do to get me to fuck her… and then I’ll leave her without looking back.  

I smile.  “Okay.  Challenge accepted.” 

She smiles back and cups my crotch with her thin fingers.  

“You’re going to like this.” 

“I’m sure,” I answer.   Because I know I will, but ultimately, Amy won’t.  You don’t try to push me around—or manipulate me.
It will never end well for you. 

********
“Dude,” my brother Sin shouts into the phone. “What the hell?  You don’t call for weeks, then you call right before I step onstage?”  

So that explains the loud screaming and noise in the background. Everyone is waiting for my rockstar brother to appear.

 
“Sorry, bro,” I answer, unconcerned.  “Just calling to tell you that I’ll be there later tonight.  I can’t make your show, but Tally figured out a way to fit a visit into my schedule at least.” 

That perks up Sin’s attention and he hollers to our other brother Duncan. “Hey, little D.  Dom’s coming to the party tonight.  Order more hookers.” 

He cackles into the phone and I have to laugh….at several things.  One, because he called Duncan little.  Like Sin and me, Duncan is tall. Really tall.  6’4 or so.  Broad-shouldered, slim-hipped.  Not little in the slightest.  And two, that he’s ordering hookers in Amsterdam.  The irony of it, because he’s surrounded by groupies all of the time who would do anything he asks… for free. 

“Hookers?” I ask dubiously.  Sin snorts into the phone. 

“It’s Amsterdam,” he says, by way of explanation.  “We can’t come into Amsterdam and not visit the red light district.  That would be sacrilege.” 

It’s my turn to snort. 

“The red light district?” I chuckle.  “And how exactly are you and baby brother Duncan going to slip into the red light district unseen by paparazzi?”
I can practically feel Sin shrug through the phone. Because he doesn’t give a flying fuck. 

“I don’t care if they see me or not,” he answers flippantly.  “I don’t live my life according to what they think is acceptable or not.  And speaking of that, I’ve got to go.  Are you going to be here for my party or not?” 

“Yes.” 

He hangs up without another word and I glance over at my manager. “It’s going to be a long night.” 

Tally grins without even looking up from his smartphone.  “Yep.  You might want to drink a few cans of Red Bull, old man.” 

I shake my head.  “Do you have any?” 

Tally glances up. “I had them stock the plane with it, enough for Amy too.  She’ll need it if she’s going to keep up with you.”  He pauses, then stares at me.  “Be careful how you treat her.  The public loves to see you starring together.  You’ve got to think of your image, first and foremost.”

“I’m very close to being done with her,” I tell him calmly.  “I’m not going to stay with her just to satisfy public perception.”

Tally continues his stare-down.  “And I would never suggest that.  I’m just telling you to let her down with respect.  Don’t treat her like a whore.  Break up like a normal person.”

I pause, considering that.  “But what if she acts like a whore?” 

Tally shakes his head.  “It doesn’t matter.  Be a gentleman.  The public love that about you.” 

“Is Amy already headed out to the plane?” I ask, grabbing a gulp of Tally’s drink.  

“The last I heard, yes,” Tally answers, getting to his feet and straightening his jacket.  “Although, she got into an altercation in the lobby with some fans.  Some little girl wanted her autograph and Amy went off on her for invading her personal space. For fuck’s sake, Amy needs some lessons in PR.  She’s a nightmare.  You ready?” 

I nod and we walk from the hotel to a waiting car. 

The drive to the airport doesn’t take long and within a few more moments, I’m walking up the stairs and entering the plane.  I’m immediately struck with the vision of Amy sitting with two young blondes on a leather sofa.  

The two blondes are topless and Amy is in the middle, dressed only in a red leather corset.  

My dick tightens in pants.  

Tally slams into me from behind, since I’ve stopped dead-still in the aisle and he swivels around me to see what the hold-up is.  I hear him suck in his breath. 

“You’re a fucking lucky son-of-a-bitch, Kinkaide,” he mutters.  “I’ll just…stay up here.” 

I don’t answer.  Instead, I take a step, then another. 

“What’s this?” I ask nonchalantly, staring down at Amy’s upturned face.  She reaches out and trails her fingers down my thigh.  

“Oh, this?” she asks innocently, glancing at her two friends.  “These are my assistants for the evening and I’m going to loan them to you for the evening, as well.  Anything you need, just ask.  They’ll be happy to oblige.  And me?  I’m in a rare accommodating mood, too.  Whatever you desire, no matter what it is… ask.  And it’s yours.” 

And now I’m amused.  Amy Ashby is stooping to this?   For what?  Just to fuck me?  I have a growing suspicion that it’s less the driving need to fuck me and more to save her wounded ego because I don’t seem to want to.  Her ego is the biggest thing about her. 

“Well,” I smile.  “This could be an interesting evening.” 

Amy smiles back and pats the seat next to her.  The blonde to her left moves over, giving me space to sit.  When I do, they each loop a leg over one of mine, effectively holding me down. 

“Would you like a drink?” the other blonde whispers to me, her full lips mere centimeters from my ear.  

“Yes,” I answer.  “Whiskey.  Neat.” 

“Done,” she answers.  She slips away and while she’s gone, her blonde friend massages my thigh, then slips her fingers around to my lower back, soothing my tired muscles.  

Within minutes, the other girl comes back with a glass of whiskey on a tray, and a black velvet blindfold. 

“Amy wants you to wear this,” she says softly.  “Let me help you with it.”  Bending forward, her soft tits envelop my face as she slides the blindfold over my head.  I inhale her feminine scent, soft and flowery.

“Now what?” I ask as I lean back, totally blind. 

“Now, enjoy your flight,” the girl says brightly.  

And I fully intend to.  

But as they softly stroke my back, my thighs, my face, my chest… their soothing touches have the opposite effect on me than they intend.  Because I’ve been up and on-set for ten hours today, I’m exhausted.  

Instead of turning me on, their soothing touches put me to sleep. 
When I wake, we’ve landed in Amsterdam and Amy is glaring at me from across the plane. 

“Seriously?” she demands.  “I went out of my way to plan the perfect evening for you.  I have everything you could possibly want on board this plane… and you went to sleep?   What the hell, Dominic?” 

I can’t help but grin at this, just a little.   She’s pissed.  

“I’m sorry,” I tell her as soothingly as I can.   “I’m exhausted and jet-lagged.  It’s not a reflection on you.  Or of your sexy assistants.”  I glance at them and find that they’re fully clothed now. “I’m sorry,” I tell them.  “I didn’t meant offend you.” 

They both smile warmly.  “Not a problem,” one says.  “We’ll can pick up where we left off later.” 

I glance at Amy and raise an eyebrow.  “Later?” She nods in satisfaction.  

“I told you… you’ll fuck me by the time this night is over.  We’re all going to Sin’s party.  And we all know… if something freaky doesn’t happen at one of his parties, then it’s not meant to happen.”

I have to give her that.  My brother’s parties are beyond the normal….so far beyond the norm that they’re off the map.  

I nod, not committing, but not declining, either.  

As we deplane, I have a brief memory, a fleeting vision of one other time, years ago, when I’d been at a party and had gotten the worst phone call of my life.   The night that had changed my life forever. The night that had crushed my heart into ash.  

I reach into my pocket, twisting the pendant round and round in my fingers. 
I can’t feel anything, not anymore.  So what I have to do is go through the motions.  And if that means trying to do crazy, kinky, sexual things just to be able to feel something, I’ll do it.  

Because honestly, I haven’t decided what’s worse:  not being able to feel something, or being so stuck in the pain of the past that I’m paralyzed with it.   For six years, I’ve held out the hope that I’ll come around.  That the pain will stop. That I’ll miraculously become normal.  

But slowly, I’m coming to terms with the fact that it isn’t going to happen. 
I’m not normal. 

There’s no use pretending to be. 

And if I’m going to hell for all the shit that I do, I might as well make the crime fits the punishment.  

Until I burn in hell, I might as well make every single moment worth it. 
Starting tonight.
 

Before We Fall Synopsis 
Release date:  December 3rd 

Sometimes, one dark moment is all it takes to turn your world black...

For 24-year old Dominic Kinkaide, that moment took place on the night of his high school graduation. One dark incident changed him forever. He's a hardened actor now, famous in the eyes of the world, but tortured in his own. He doesn't care about much of anything, except for losing himself in the roles that he plays.

23-year old Jacey Vincent doesn't realize how much her father's indifference has affected her. She is proof that sometimes it isn't one specific moment that wrecks a person, but rather it's an absence of moments. She's like a bird with a broken wing-strong yet fragile, as she tries to float through life, finding acceptance in the arms of random guys, one after the other... to fill the void that her father left in her.

Until she meets Dominic.

After jaded Dominic and strong-willed Jacey are thrown together, his secret and her issues create a dark and damaged energy that will soon turn their attraction to each other into an explosive storm.

Even though when the clouds have cleared and the dust has settled, both of them are almost obliterated... they've learned a priceless lesson.

Sometimes, before we fall... we fly.

Serialization Release Schedule:

November 5-Natasha is a Book Junkie

November 7-The Bookish Babe

November 12-Vilma's Book Blog

November 14-Scandalicious Book Reviews

November 19-Three Chicks & Their Books

November 21-Romance Addict

November 26-I Love Indie Books

November 28-Maryse's Book Blog