Chapter 6 #2
Harlee had Granger, Lola, Zaden, and Hattie, wrapped in her arms, with Carter standing over them.
Misty’s face was in Frank’s chest.
And thankfully, Talia had climbed on the boat with us.
Therefore, I had her face in my chest.
We all ran to our vehicles.
I opened the door for Talia, and she bolted in.
Then I raced around the car and jumped in.
“Fucking hell, the leather,” I said with a wince.
She winced right back, “Sorry, Dominik. Next time, we’ll take one of our SUVs.”
I lifted a brow at her as I started the car and blasted the heat, “Next time?”
She snickered, “You’re the one who asked if I’ve ever driven to the Marina.”
I nodded, then pulled out and drove us home.
***
“Shit,” I said as I got a look at the one and only street that led to Talia’s apartment building, then I flipped on my blinker and turned left.
“Staying at my house,” I said.
I felt her eyes on me, and then she said, “Okay. Your car is too pretty to get ruined.”
Talia
We pulled into Dominik’s garage, and I was never more thankful that he had one.
I stayed where I was as he rounded the car and opened my door.
Grabbing our things, I climbed out with the help of his hand.
Ten minutes later, I was changed into a tee of his and an older pair of sweats with my hair wrapped up in a towel.
He had also changed into a pair of sweats and a tee.
I had just walked to the fridge and opened it, as he washed his hands at the kitchen sink, and when I saw what was on the shelf, I felt my breath catch.
“Umm, Dominik?” I asked.
He looked over his shoulder at me and lifted a brow.
I held up the creamer I preferred, as well as the cold foam I liked for my coffee.
He smirked, then tilted his head to the corner of the counter.
And then I stared.
Because sitting there still in its box was a teal Keurig coffee maker. Two Amazon boxes, as well as a box of the Green Mountain, brown sugar crumble, and K-Cups that I like.
And also, a bottle of caramel syrup.
I slowly moved to it and then asked, “Why?”
“Eyes, Sparkles.” He said.
I gave him my eyes, and then watched as his eyes softened, damn, but I loved it when they did that.
“Wanted you to have what you wanted when you’re here. Yeah?”
All I could do was nod my head.
Then I tilted it and said, “You going to let your other women use it?”
He chuckled then shook his head, “You’ve randomly shown up here. Have you ever seen another woman here?”
I shook my head.
To that, the big man winked.
I got to work opening the box and pulling out the Keurig. Then I opened the Amazon boxes.
Inside one of them was a spinning stand that held the K-Cups.
In the other box were new glass tumblers with bamboo lids and glass straws.
Everything I needed to make my perfect cup of coffee.
Then I set about making it.
I drizzled caramel syrup along the inside of the glass, twisting it around so it was just right. Then I filled it up with the brown sugar crumble, added the right amount of caramel vanilla creamer, four pieces of ice, and then just the right amount of cold foam.
Then I heard, “Shit. Forgot about this.”
He opened the spice cabinet and pulled out the Cinnamon Toast Crunch seasoning.
I took it from him and then sprinkled a little bit onto the top.
I put my straw in, stirred it just right, then the lid, leaned back against the counter, and took my first sip... fucking heaven.
He chuckled, “Is it that good?”
I nodded, “Uh huh.”
Then I held out my straw for him to take a sip.
And when he did so, his tongue poked out, then his lips wrapped around the straw... thankfully, he wasn’t looking down below my waist to see me rub my thighs together.
Son of a bitch.
Then he pulled his mouth from my straw, looked down at the glass, licked his lips, and said, “Got it.”
All I could say was, “Uh huh.”
Then I cleaned up my mess and moved to one of the barstools.
Dominik threw together sandwiches, we ate them, and then we headed to the couch.
And just as we sat down, the power went out.
I giggled as he chuckled.
Then moments later, I felt him move, and then there was a small light bathing the room from the candle he had just lit that was sitting on the coffee table.
Then I got to thinking.
And the real reason why I declined that guy’s date invitation.
Because the only man I really wanted to date was sitting beside me.
And then I drew in a deep breath and asked, “Hey, Dominik?”
Dominik
I looked over at her and lifted a brow, “Yeah?”
She was peeling the label off her beer bottle when she asked, “Do you have feelings for me?”
I felt my breath catch.
And then I said, “Why’d you ask me something like that?”
I could just make out the way her chest was rising and falling, then she said, “Because of the way we are with each other. The way you are with me. I’ve never seen you act with anybody like you do with me.”
I nodded, “Get that. But that’s the way we are with each other. Don’t go looking into it. Yeah?”
“Dominik, don’t say that. Not to me.” She said.
I lifted a brow at her, “Not to you? You're nothing more than my best friend’s little sister, Talia. That’s all you’ll ever be.”
She scoffed, “Seriously? That’s the line you're going to use?”
I shrugged, “Ain’t a line. We’re too different, and I don’t see you in that way.”
“You’re a fucking liar.” She snapped.
I shrugged.
“Why?” she demanded.
I sighed, “Why what?”
“Why won’t you admit that you have feelings for me?” she asked.
“You don’t want me to,” I said with a shake of my head.
“Wrong. I fucking do. So, tell me why.” She snapped.
I couldn’t tell her why.
Not when I didn’t have the words to explain it. To explain any of it.
Therefore, like a fucking dick, I said, “It’s getting late. Go to bed.”
I felt her stare on the side of my face, but I kept it blank.
Looking disinterested.
It ate at the deepest parts of my being.
Then from the corner of my eye, I watched as she stood and heard her walking away.
But not before she stopped.
The power flicked on, and my heart fucking cracked at the sight before me.
“You’re a chicken shit,” she said as tears flowed down her cheeks.
I shrugged.
I’d let her think that about me.
Because the truth of the matter was... I was fractured.
Everything that had gone on in my life had jaded me.
I didn’t know a way out of it.
I took a long pull of my beer and sat there.
Promised her I’d never lie to her years ago.
And I just fucking broke it.
***
Meanwhile....
Operation FUBAR Text Thread
Wolf – So, Ghost, got a question.
Ghost – Yeah?
Wolf – You never said we couldn’t date your sister.
Ghost – You shitting me?
Wolf – Saw her. Saw Dom. Didn’t seem like he was all that into her.
Ghost – I don’t know what their problem is.
Wolf – Well... if he can’t see through to her, then he doesn’t deserve her.
Ghost – What do you mean?
Wolf – She wears that prickly exterior like armor.
Wolf – Keeping herself safe.
Wolf – Ain’t afraid of getting burned.
Ghost – Maybe it’ll help her.
Ghost – Go for it.
Wolf – Oh, I intend to.
Ice – Should we warn her?
Hyde – Thinking we should.
Jekyll – Nah. Fucker needs to pull his head out of his ass.
Wolf – He can go fuck himself.
Wolf – He doesn’t realize what’s right in front of his fucking face.
Wolf – But I sure fucking do.