Her Dryad Dom (Beastly Falls)

Chapter 5 Aspen

I couldn't help but watch Dom as he spoke into an old landline, the cord tangled around his tree-like arm. Honestly, it looked like something out of a bad nineteen-eighties movie. The gruff tone of his voice intrigued me. It was low and strained, leaving me a little too turned on.

"Absolutely not," he growled into the receiver, his brow furrowing. I quickly picked up on his agitation with the mayor.

"Dom, just listen to what they have to say," I tried, waving my hand at him in an attempt to get him to acquiesce. But instead of calming down, that seemed to only infuriate him further. With a swift motion, he pulled me down onto his lap, his branches wrapping around my waist in a light, yet firm grip. He glared at me, those intense eyes boring into mine.

"Stay out of this, Aspen," he warned, his voice rough with irritation.

My heart pounded in my chest, adrenaline coursing through my veins from the suddenness of his actions. His dominance turned me on more, sending shivers down my spine. I felt the power emanating from him, and it sent a tingle through my body.

"Fine," I muttered, feigning defeat, even as my mind raced with thoughts of how to break through his stubborn exterior. Dom's grip on me didn't loosen, but I caught a flicker of something else in his eyes... concern. Despite his gruff demeanor, I knew Dom cared about me, even if he didn't always show it in the most conventional ways.

The conversation continued, Dom's voice growing more strained every second. It was clear that the mayor's demands were not sitting well with him, and I couldn't help but worry about what that would mean.

Dom slammed the phone down with a growl, his branches quivering with anger. He scowled at me, his grip still firm around my waist.

"No more making breakfast. You shouldn't be standing so long," he grumbled, his brow furrowing with concern. "You're still recovering from your crash."

"Dom, I'm fine," I insisted, trying to ignore the thrill that shot through me as he fussed over me. "I have a few bruises. I'm in great health, so I can handle standing for a few minutes."

His lips pressed into a thin line, and I knew there would be no convincing him otherwise. "You're not going to listen to me, are you?"

"Nope," I confirmed, my voice firm and unyielding. "Tell me what the mayor said."

For a moment, Dom's gaze locked onto mine, and I saw the conflict raging behind his eyes. But then he released me, his branches retreating as if burned. "No," he muttered, turning away from me. "I won't discuss it."

"Fine," I huffed, rolling my eyes as I stood up. If he wanted to be stubborn about it, then so be it. I wasn't going to let him shut me out completely, though. I strode over to the sink and began washing the dishes from breakfast, the sound of running water filling the room as I scrubbed away the remnants of our meal.

It wasn't long before I felt Dom's presence behind me, his body radiating heat and tension. I braced myself for another confrontation, ready to stand my ground.

"Leave the dishes, Aspen," he grumbled at me.

I paused, torn between wanting to comply with his request and needing to assert my independence. In the end, I decided that there was more than one way to show Dom that I wasn't going to be pushed around.

"Tell me what's going on," I countered, meeting his gaze in the reflection of the window above the sink. "And then maybe we can talk about me leaving the dishes."

"No."

"Washing the dishes isn't going to kill me, Dom," I snapped, my hands sinking back into the warm, soapy water. "I can handle it."

"Damn it, Aspen," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "I said leave them."

I turned to face him, my eyes narrowing as I took in his towering form, branches and leaves shifting with his every movement. His expression was fierce, but there was something else lurking beneath the surface, concern.

"Look, I get that you're trying to care for me or whatever," I conceded, my tone softening slightly. "But I'm not some delicate flower who needs to be protected from the world. Now, either tell me what the mayor said, or let me finish the dishes."

Dom's jaw clenched, and I could practically see the internal struggle playing out behind his green eyes. Finally, he let out a frustrated sigh.

"The hard way it is," he muttered, raising one arm. Thin, agile branches shot out from his fingertips, wrapping around my waist and lifting me effortlessly into the air. I yelped in surprise, my heart skipping as he carried me back to the chair and deposited me in the seat.

"Stay," he commanded, the vines tightening around my waist just enough to keep me in place without causing any pain.

"Dom, this is ridiculous!" I protested, tugging at the restraints in vain. "You can't just—"

"Enough," he interrupted, his voice brooking no argument. "You want to know what the mayor said? I'll tell you. But first, you're going to sit there and rest while I take care of the dishes."

I huffed, my cheeks flushing with indignation as I watched him stalk over to the sink and begin washing the dishes. The sound of running water and the rhythmic clinking of plates and silverware filled the room, mixing with the heavy silence between us.

"Stubborn man... tree," I muttered under my breath, leaning back in the chair and crossing my arms over my chest. If Dom wanted to play at being overprotective, then fine. I could wait. But he'd better be prepared to spill his secrets once he was done playing house.

The dishes were cleaned and dried in no time. I watched Dom, his tense body posture almost making me forget the branches that held me captive. He was definitely struggling with whatever decision he'd come to. I hated that he was tense.

"Alright," he said, finally turning to face me as he wiped his hands on a towel. "The mayor confirmed that the town has decided... we're fated mates." His words hung heavy in the air, laden with implications I couldn't yet grasp.

"What?" I blinked, certain I'd misheard him. "Fated mates?"

"In the paranormal world, specifically shifters, but also some other creatures, including monsters, have a predestined soul mate," he grumbled, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "You have seven days to decide if you want to be my mate forever and stay in this town, or leave for good and never see me again."

My mind raced, caught amidst a whirlwind of confusion and disbelief. Was he serious? How had monsters been revealed to the world for so long but I'd never heard of this? I'd even represented a case where a troll had staked his claim on a bridge that belonged to the city and was requiring anyone crossing it to pay him unsanctioned tolls. But fated mates? Never even heard a whisper of that.

"Dom," I began, my voice shaky. "I don't—"

"Here," he interrupted, releasing his hold on me and setting a cup of tea and a plate of snacks on the table beside me. "Just think about it, alright? You don't have to decide now."

"Thanks," I muttered, taking a sip of the steaming tea. As much as I appreciated the gesture, I couldn't think clearly. I needed to pace to work out my thoughts. And when I started to rise from the chair, Dom's gaze snapped to me, narrowed in warning.

"Sit down, Aspen," he growled. "Or I'll make sure you can't get up at all."

"What? Oh," I relented, sinking back into the chair. It seemed Dom was dead serious about his overprotectiveness.

As I nibbled on a snack, my thoughts swirled around the ultimatum he'd presented me. Seven days to decide my fate... and his. Was this really what I wanted? To be tied to a grumpy, overbearing tree spirit for the rest of my life?

But even as I questioned the idea, a small part of me couldn't help but wonder... was Dom's gruff exterior merely a shield, protecting something deeper and more vulnerable than I'd ever imagined?

"Wait... it's six days now. I got here yesterday."

Dom nodded.

Six days.

Six days to decide the course of the rest of my life.

Six days to give up everything I'd ever known and take a chance on a fated mate... or give up the chance and go back to a life I'd grown to hate.

When my legs flexed to get up and get water, Dom growled at me. Like a fucking animal. It was kinda hot actually. "I could really use some ice water."

"Fine," Dom grumbled, his branches shifting as he walked over to the kitchen. The sound of ice clinking against glass filled the air, and he returned with a cold drink for me. I gratefully took a sip, feeling the chill help my spinning thoughts.

As Dom busied himself with other tasks, my thoughts raced, fueled by the high stakes ultimatum that hung in the air. A part of me longed to explore the enigma that was Dominik, but another part feared relinquishing control to him. It was clear he would be the dominant personality of the two of us, which would probably result in some intense fights... and hopefully make up sex. Wait... how did one have sex with a dryad?

This was too much. I needed somewhere to pace and think. Determined to carve out a moment alone, I seized the opportunity and stealthily slipped away.

But before I could make it far, I felt Dom's arms—no, branches—wrap around me, trapping me in his grasp. "Thought you could sneak off, did you?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Can't blame a girl for trying," I replied, feigning nonchalance while my heart pounded in my chest. When he held me like this, I could feel every inch of him. Which I expected to be harder and scratchy since his skin looked like bark, but it wasn't.

"Do I have to punish you for you to listen to me?" Dom's voice held an edge, his tone darker than before.

"Punishment?" I half asked and half chuckled. What was he going to do, bend me over his knee and spank me? Dammit Aspen, why did I put that thought into my mind?

"The best kind. Though, it might hurt a bit." He paused, considering my question. "I won't stop until your mind and body are sated and too weak to disobey me."

"Alright," I breathed, feeling a strange mix of trepidation and excitement. The idea of turning my mind off for once and letting someone take control had always been appealing.

"Good," Dom said, his voice low and dangerous. "Because I can already tell you're going to need lots of punishment."

His words sent a shiver down my spine, igniting conflicting emotions within me. As Dom led me deeper into the unknown, I steeled myself for whatever lay ahead, unsure of what the future held, but certain that I had never felt so alive.