Starts With a Bang (Redemption Ridge #7)

Chapter Nine

Sven

I nuzzled my nose against Dom’s chest and grazed his nipple while inching my leg higher between his thighs. We’d fallen asleep in a tangle of limbs and had made no move to unravel ourselves during the night. I hadn’t known I could sleep this way. Hell, I hadn’t known I’d wanted to, but now I couldn’t imagine sleeping any other way. Or with anyone else. Why the hell had I let Dom cling to his resistance for so long? We could’ve been doing this for two years.

A low, sexy growl rumbled through the early morning silence. The hand gripping my ass tightened, and the idle fingers in my hair came alive, carding through the strands and pressing against my scalp. “You’re going to get something started.”

The sleep-roughened threat sounded more like a delicious promise to me, and I burrowed deeper into him until my leg brushed against his balls. “Should I apologize for waking you?”

Dom lazily trailed a finger along my ass crack. “I’ve been awake for a while. You make the cutest little noises when you sleep.”

I eased back and looked up at him. “Do not.”

The room was too dark for me to make out anything but Dom’s white teeth flashing in a broad grin. “Do too.”

Dom tried to soften his voice to imitate a coo and a sated sigh. It sounded like a deranged bird or a teen boy stuck in the awkward puberty phase where his voice hadn’t decided to stay high or go low. I wasn’t sure if I should be mortified or impressed. I was leaning toward the former when Dom pressed a kiss to my forehead.

“You sounded so content,” he said.

I tightened my arm around his waist and sighed.

“Just like that,” Dom said.

My sigh was nothing like the noises he made. “Did I sound like I never want to leave your embrace?”

“Yeah, like that.”

“Good,” I said. “Because it’s how I feel.”

Dom inhaled, and his breath got snagged. He let out a little cough, and I knew what was coming. The air in the house was dry, and I should’ve brought a bottle of water to bed for him just in case.

I sat up and slid from the bed. “You need a drink.”

“It’s just a tickle in my throat,” he replied. “Come back.”

I turned on the table lamp and blinked against the sudden light. “I’ll dash to the kitchen and grab cold water for both of us. Then we’ll test out some of the shower features.” We’d cleaned up after sex, but we were both too tired to experiment with the options. I grabbed the pajama bottoms off the floor and pulled them on. “I’ll be right back.”

Dom looked like he might protest until he barked out a warning wheeze. I held up my forefinger and eased out of the bedroom. The wood floors were cold beneath my bare feet, prompting me to move swiftly down the hallway. It seemed like the odds were in my favor. Not a single floorboard let out a squeak as I navigated the massive house in the dark predawn hours. A swath of light cut a path through the darkness at the back of the chateau. It was bright enough to guide my way without having to turn on overhead lights. I’d get in and out of there in no time.

I stepped into the gathering space and discovered I wasn’t the only one up and about. The light above the stove provided just enough illumination for me to see Janet shut the refrigerator door and turn in my direction. We locked gazes at the same time and gasped as we clutched our chests. Janet’s eyes looked as big as saucers in the dimly lit room, and they grew impossibly larger when she took in my state of undress. Whoops.

“I didn’t think anyone would be awake,” I whispered. “I just came in to get water.”

That’s when I noticed Janet still wore the same clothes from the previous evening. Her hair stood up like she’d just walked through a cyclone on her way to the refrigerator. Janet’s mascara had smeared into black crescents under her eyes. She sniffled, and I realized I’d interrupted a very private moment.

“I’ll come back.”

“No, please,” she said, waving at the refrigerator as she stepped away. “Go ahead and help yourself.”

I felt her gaze on me as I walked into the kitchen, mindful of how little I’d put on to retrieve the water. What did someone say to a woman he’d just met the previous night? I didn’t want to ask how she’d slept since it seemed she’d passed out in her clothes. The weather hardly seemed appropriate, and I didn’t know enough about sports to make idle chitchat. Politics was out of the question.

“Dom is a lucky guy.” Janet let out a mortified squeak and slapped a hand over her mouth. She stared at me with wide eyes for a few seconds before lowering her arm again. “That was inappropriate, and I’m so sorry.” The words came out muffled, but her embarrassment rang out loud and clear.

“Don’t be,” I said. “If I’d known you were out here, I would’ve put on a shirt.”

She lowered her hand. “And cover up your hard work? Seems like a crime.” She covered her mouth again and shook her head in disbelief.

Flaunting my assets had been my strategy for a long time. I’d leaned toward tight pants and belly-baring shirts for so long it had become a habit more than a preference. I’d gone from nerdy Stevie to suave Sven and hadn’t looked back. Sven’s bold attire and attitude shielded Stevie’s tender heart from those who’d abuse his trust. And it wasn’t an act, per se. Somewhere along the way, Sven and Stevie merged into a powerhouse personality that loved fiercely and fearlessly while looking like a million bucks.

I opened the refrigerator and removed a bottle of water, drinking half of it before recalling my good sense. I released the door, but I got a good look at Janet’s face in the flash of light before it closed. Her nose was as red as Rudolph’s, and her cheeks were blotchy and wet from crying. Sex became the last thing on my mind when faced with someone who could be in a crisis.

“Do you need anything?” I asked, gesturing to the refrigerator. “Did you get something to eat?”

A soft sob escaped her, and she turned her back to me. Janet’s narrow shoulders shook, and I was on the verge of mentally kicking myself when she faced me again. “I can’t remember the last time someone asked me how I was feeling or if I needed anything. I think it might be my fault. I’ve become so antagonistic. You saw the way my husband talks to me. My sister avoids me like the plague. And my own mother can barely tolerate me, and she dyed her hair that awful shade of blue just to spite me.”

I wasn’t in a position to help her with any of her personal entanglements, so I said the first thing that came to mind. “I could make you something to eat if pizza doesn’t sound good.”

Janet smiled weakly. “The pizza looks so good. I want to try it, but I’m not sure my stomach could handle it.”

I opened the refrigerator and took stock of what we had on hand. I saw eggs, ham, cheese, and leftover veggies. “I could whip up an omelet.”

“You’d do that for me? A virtual stranger?”

I peeked around the open door and met her gaze. “I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t willing. What do you want in yours?”

“Load it up with all the goodies,” Janet said.

She turned on a few lights and sat down at the island while I gathered ingredients and tools to make her breakfast. The extra vegetables and thinly sliced ham left over from the pizza party were perfect and only required a little dicing for the omelet.

Janet planted her elbow on the countertop and rested her chin on her hand. “I’m sorry I went upstairs so early last night. Did I miss much?”

“We played Monopoly after dinner,” I replied.

Janet chuckled. “Okay, maybe I’m not that remorseful. Board games have always been more Molly Beth’s thing than mine.”

“What is your thing, then?”

“I, uh…” Janet sat up straighter and stared into space for several moments. “I’m embarrassed to say I don’t know.”

“How’s that possible?” Though I had a pretty good clue.

“I’d turned myself into the perfect corporate wife. My entire existence has revolved around advancing John’s career. More opportunities was the best thing for our family. It meant money, fancy trips, and a better education for Christian.” Janet inhaled a long, shaky breath. “But nothing has ever been enough.” She looked at me as tears welled in her eyes. “I’m not enough. If I died tomorrow, John would be half-assed to plan my funeral. He’d work right up until the service and return to his office immediately after.” Her gaze fell, and she drew a circle on the marble with her finger. “I can’t believe I’m telling you this after only meeting you last night.”

I chuckled. “I’m used to it. People tell bartenders and hairstylists things they’d never say to anyone else.”

I immediately regretted the reference to drinking. There was no way in hell Janet didn’t know she had a problem, but her lips curved into a wry smile.

“There is something special about you. I’d say it’s your aura, but that sounds woo-woo. Do you kids refer to vibes these days, or is that like a hippy-era thing?”

“We say vibe.” I cocked a brow. “And I’m thirty. Hardly a kid.”

She waved me off with a tsk. Janet started to say something but coughed. “My mouth feels like a desert.”

I turned back to the refrigerator. “There’s juice, water, and soda.”

“I’d kill for a glass of orange juice, but I shouldn’t. All those carbs.”

I pulled the jug out of the refrigerator and grabbed a juice glass from the cabinet. “It’s Christmas, so calories and carbs don’t count.” I halted before pouring. “Unless there’s a medical reason you can’t have it.”

“Nope.”

I poured the juice and placed it in front of her. Janet lifted the glass, took a deep breath, and sipped the juice. She sighed happily, then took another. Janet held the glass out to me, and I topped her off. I left the jug on the counter in case she wanted more and returned my attention back to prepare the omelet. I’d just sprayed the skillet with nonstick spray when I heard footsteps approaching from the hallway.

Dom rounded the corner and slid to a stop when he saw me at the island with Janet. “There you are. I worried you’d come to your senses, nabbed my keys, and were on your way back home.”

He’d only put on a pair of gray sweatpants before coming to find me, and I couldn’t tear my eyes off him. The skillet slid in my grasp and snapped me out of my daydream.

“Dom, darling,” Janet said, patting the stool beside her. “No one who looks at you the way Sven does would behave so cowardly.”

Dom looked at Janet, and I could tell the moment he really saw her. He had a decent poker face and gave little away, so it wasn’t likely she noticed his reaction. The sloop in his shoulders was subtle but expressed his sadness. The way he plucked the seam of his sweatpants betrayed his discomfort. Understanding that Janet was going through something was one thing, but knowing what to do about it was another.

Dom straightened his shoulders and relaxed his fingers once he’d processed his thoughts. He walked to the island and sat on the stool next to her. “Do you want us to put on shirts?”

“Don’t be silly,” Janet said, then downed the rest of the juice in one gulp. “Hit me again.”

I could tell by the slight furrow in Dom’s brow that he was worried there’d been alcohol mixed with the juice. I picked up the jug and refilled her glass to show there wasn’t.

“You’re a doll,” Janet said before giving her full attention to her nephew. “Ignore the awful state you’ve found me in, Dom.” He opened his mouth to protest, but she patted his hand to cut him off. “That’s not important right now, but an apology is.” She cycled through a deep breath. “I’m sorry that I reacted so poorly when we found out about Christian and Emerson. I’m not saying I should’ve turned my back on my only son, but I could’ve been much more understanding about your position. You deserved our love and empathy.” She covered his hand and squeezed. “I’m truly sorry.”

“Thank you, Aunt Janet. That means a lot to me. I’m sure I could’ve handled the situation better too.”

She shook her head. “You and your parents were the casualty of Emerson’s betrayal.” She closed her eyes and released a shaky breath. Janet met Dom’s gaze. “And Christian’s too, despite his insistence to the contrary. Your uncle feels the same way, but I don’t know if he’ll ever admit it.”

“We talked about it last night.” Dom smiled at his aunt. “I think having this holiday together was a good idea.”

Janet’s eyes filled with tears. “You do? What about the matching pajamas?”

Dom snickered. “Don’t push it, Aunt Janet.” He came around the island and wrapped his arms around my waist from behind. “And what are you doing over here?”

“Making an omelet for Janet.”

“You’ve got a keeper,” she said.

Dom nuzzled my neck, and I held my breath so I wouldn’t giggle. “I sure do,” he said.

“Do you want me to make you something to eat too?” I asked Dom.

“Nope. I don’t like to eat early, but I wouldn’t mind trying to get another few hours of sleep.”

I knew better than that. He wanted to get me naked, and I wanted it too.

“Didn’t sleep well?” Janet asked.

“I rarely do when I’m not in my own bed,” Dom said. “I’m a terrible traveler in that way.”

I knew very little about Dom’s life between the time he left after high school and when he returned. I had two weeks of his undivided attention, and I planned to put it to good use.

“What about you, Sven?” Janet asked. “Do you like to travel?”

“I do, but I don’t sleep well either. I just try to view it as extra time for experiences and adventures.”

“You guys really are a good match. There’s nothing worse than being an insomniac in a relationship with someone who practically dies when they close their eyes.” The bitterness in her voice told me she spoke from experience. “God, what must that be like?”

Dom and I knew she hadn’t addressed the question to us, so neither of us answered. Dom released me and returned to the island, and I missed his body heat immediately. I offered to toast bread or a bagel to go with her breakfast, but Janet declined. She seemed so appreciative when I slid the plate in front of her.

“This is almost too pretty to eat,” she declared as she cut into the omelet. Her eyes widened when she took the first bite. “Mmmmm.” Janet covered her mouth with her hand as she chewed. “This is the best thing I’ve had in a long time.”

I’d seen the photos of gourmet meals on her social media accounts and suspected she’d exaggerated just a bit. “You’re too kind.”

Janet shoveled another bite into her mouth and shook her head. She pointed at the plate as she chewed and swallowed. “There’s soul in here. Nothing flashy or fancy. Just pure affection for food. Someone has taught you well.”

“Lucinda,” Dom and I said together.

Janet smiled affectionately. “Molly Beth speaks so fondly of her.”

“The regard is mutual,” I replied.

Dom coaxed additional holiday plans out of Janet, and I groaned when she mentioned a day on the ski slopes.

“You don’t ski?” Janet asked.

“Nope. Hot chocolate by a fireplace in the lodge is more my speed.”

“Dom, you love to ski,” Janet said.

“Not since my shoulder injury.” He rubbed the area as if just the thought pained him.

“Well, darn,” Janet said. “I guess I really suck at this.”

“There are many other things we can do together or even break into groups,” I suggested. “There’s no need for anyone to be unhappy or do things that don’t appeal to them. I’m dying to visit the shops and boutiques in town, and Dom would rather take a chef’s knife to the eye than do that.”

Janet cackled and nearly spat out her eggs.

“Exaggerate much?” Dom asked, but his eyes shimmered with delight.

“Oh, so you’re going to tag along for the shopping expedition?” I asked.

“Hell no, but I’d choose that over getting stabbed in the eye.” Dom leaned down and kissed me. “I’d even carry all your bags like a pack mule.”

Janet clapped her hands softly. “I need to grab some last-minute gifts, and I’ve heard wonderful things about the restaurants and boutiques in Vail.”

“Looking forward to it,” I said.

Janet set her fork down and pushed her plate away. She’d eaten nearly three-quarters of it but claimed she couldn’t eat another bite. She looked as frail as a bird, but I didn’t push her, and neither did Dom.

“I’m going to head upstairs and take an everything shower. I’ll feel so much better afterward.” She slid off the stool and rounded the island to hug me. “Thank you so much, sweetheart.”

“My pleasure. Same time and place tomorrow?”

Janet giggled again and swatted my arm playfully as she stepped away. “You take good care of this one, Dom.” Her eyes widened, and worry furrowed her brow. “I didn’t mean that to sound like you didn’t take care of Emerson.”

Dom put his arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. “I knew what you meant, Aunt Janet. And I will take excellent care of this guy.”

She reached for her plate, but I stopped her. “I’ll clean up.”

“But you cooked,” Janet protested.

“Okay, Dom will clean up.”

Janet laughed again and waved me off. “See you guys in a few hours.”

“Few hours?” Dom asked once she disappeared. “What exactly happens in an everything shower?”

“Depends on who’s doing it, Grizz.” I picked up Janet’s plate, but Dom snatched it from me.

“You said this was my job.”

“I was just teasing,” I said, reaching for the plate again. Dom jerked it out of reach, and I wasn’t about to throw down with him in the kitchen over a simple task. I settled in at the island and told him about what my everything showers entailed.

“Hair mask, shampoo and condition, body scrub, and a facial?” Dom repeated each word slowly, as if learning a whole new language. “That sounds like a lot of work.”

“It is,” I agreed. “But you feel amazing afterward.”

Dom finished tidying the kitchen and returned to my side. He pulled me into his arms and kissed me hungrily. “You are going to feel amazing because I am going to take excellent care of you, as I promised.” He stepped back and tugged me with him. “As soon as we get back to our room.”

We turned and froze because Emerson stood between the great room and kitchen. He’d had the decency to put on a shirt with his lounge pants before coming down, but what made me happiest was the scowl he wore on his face.

“This isn’t your house,” Emerson said. “Others are staying here too.”

“What’s your point?” Dom asked.

“This,” Emerson replied, waving his hand up and down in our vicinity. “None of us should be subjected to your groping and making out in the common spaces.”

“I’d heard of your kind before, but this is the first time I’m seeing one in the wild,” I said.

Emerson visibly bristled. “What do you mean? My kind?”

“An uptight, fuddy-duddy gay man with a stick shoved so far up his ass that he can’t possibly make room for a lover.”

His face transitioned from pink to red and then faded to white before he managed to speak. “I don’t have to explain or justify anything to you.”

I leaned into Dom. “But buckle up because he’s about to do just that.”

Dom snickered and tried to cover it with a cough.

“You think this is funny? Your boy toy insults your husband and—”

“Ex-husband,” Dom and I said together. It wasn’t clear which of us had sounded surlier.

“And he’s thirty, for crying out loud,” Dom said. “And get off your high horse. Maybe you’ve forgotten about the way you treated me while playing house with Christian, but I have not. You don’t have a moral high ground to stand on.”

Emerson’s brow rose, and his lips curved into a devilish smile. I couldn’t figure out why he looked so pleased, but he didn’t wait long to enlighten me. “I’m glad you brought up our marriage, Dom. I’d hoped to have a private moment to talk to you and clear the air.”

Doubtful that was what he wanted to discuss, considering the heat in Emerson’s eyes when he saw his ex-husband last night. I could tell Dom wanted to refuse, but he was in a tough spot. If he resisted, he’d only encourage Emerson to think Dom was still hung up on him. And the very last thing I wanted was for this twat to think he intimidated me. I turned, rested my hand on Dom’s chest, and looked into his gorgeous green eyes. Dom looped his arms around my waist as naturally as if he’d been doing it for the past two years.

I went up on my tiptoes and kissed him. “I’ll meet you in the bathroom, and we can put our own spin on the everything shower.”

Dom kissed me before he released his hold. “I won’t be long.”

I met Emerson’s cocky gaze and sneer with a dismissive glance and smirk. This guy was no threat to me and the future I was building with Dom. I had no reservations about leaving them alone, but I found Christian waiting around the corner in the hallway. Was everyone in the house awake? I could tell by the haunted expression in Christian’s gaze that he’d heard at least the last part of our exchange with Emerson. I wanted to tell him it would be okay, but the conversation from the kitchen drifted to us before I could open my mouth.

“Dom, I think I made a mistake.”

Emerson’s voice had lost the sharp edge that he’d used on me. Dom’s cousin staggered back like he’d taken a knife to the heart. He braced an arm against the wall for support. And I’d be lying if I said my bravado held firm. I’d been down this road too many times before. But this was Dom. He was an honest and good man. He’d told me he was ready to turn the page on his marriage to Emerson, and I’d believed him. I would not stand nearby and dishonor him by eavesdropping on his conversation with his ex-husband. And Christian shouldn’t either.

“I don’t think you should stand out here and listen,” I whispered.

Christian swallowed hard. “I have to know the truth, and I won’t get it from Emerson directly.”

I patted Christian’s arm and smiled sadly. “Honey, you’ve already heard everything you need to know.”

I stepped away and walked back to the bedroom I shared with Dom. The conversation with Emerson might take longer than Dom planned, so I didn’t want to start the shower yet. I sat on the rumpled bed that smelled like Dom and me. Determination coursed through my body—hot and fierce. I’d met a man worth fighting for, and I would stop at nothing to claim Dom as mine.