Chapter 9
Talia
I rolled over in my bed at my parents’ house and frowned.
Surely, I hadn’t dreamed all that last night.
Definitely not... right?
And when my door opened, and I saw Dominik standing there, he winked at me, “Morning, Minx.”
I lifted a brow, “What happened to Sparkles?”
He chuckled as he moved into the room.
He was wearing his t-shirt and jeans again.
My mouth had watered at the sight of all that naked flesh last night.
And this morning, I hated seeing it covered up.
Yes, I had seen him without his shirt on, more than once, but being curled up against it at night in my bed... it just hit different.
“Upgraded you last night when your hands wandered in your sleep,” he said as I felt my cheeks get pink.
He lifted a brow, “Not even going to apologize?”
I lifted a brow, then looked him up and down, giving him my silent answer.
He chuckled, “Fair enough.”
Then I checked the time and felt my eyes get wide, “Shit, I’m going to be late to work.”
He chuckled as he nodded, “Yeah, was wondering about that.”
***
After Dominik dropped me off at my apartment and walked me to my door, he kissed me on my forehead, then he made sure I got in okay.
Forty-five minutes later, I was showered, dressed, and sitting behind my computer with a smile on my face.
He said we were taking this slow.
The we...
As in him and me.
I was all here for that.
Even more so when he texted me.
Diablo– Dinner tonight. My place?
I snickered at the name I changed his contact to.
Diablo was the Spanish word for the Devil. And showing me all that handsomeness of his was evil.
Me – Sounds good.
After work, I headed to Dominik’s.
I parked my Tahoe beside his Mustang, and then shut it off, climbed out, and started up the front walk, then to the stairs.
I knocked, only to hear, “It’s open, Minx.”
I pushed the door open, then closed the door and took off my heels.
Then I headed into his kitchen.
He winked at me as he held out a glass of red wine to me.
I took it, and breathed in it, then lifted my brows, “How do you know this is my favorite?”
He shrugged, “I pay attention.”
I giggled, then said, “Thank you.”
He winked.
Then I asked, “So, what are you making me for dinner?”
“Steak, roasted potatoes.” He said.
I licked my lips.
He chuckled as he asked, “Sound good?”
I nodded, then asked, “Is there anything I can do to help?”
He pointed with a knife in his hand to one of the barstools, “You can plant your cute ass on that barstool and keep me company.”
I grinned as I did just that, but stopped, and stared.
Then I felt my mouth fall open.
What?
I walked with my glass to a picture that was in a black frame that was sitting on his end table in his living room.
It was the two of us.
I set my wine glass down and picked up the frame.
And I remembered exactly when that was taken.
It was the day we had flown to Germany because Alec had been captured; he’s in the military, in the Army, the rest, I don’t know, and I’ve learned not to ask.
I just support him.
We were at the hospital waiting for news, and I was curled into Dominik’s side, asleep.
He had his head resting on top of mine with his arm thrown over my knees.
“When did you do this?” I asked.
He looked up and at what I was now holding in my hands.
Then he winked, “Had that photo for a little bit. Needed something good to take away a little of the pain from that day.”
I nodded because I got it.
Then I asked, “Can you send it to me?”
He shook his head, “Your mom handed that to me a while back. Have to ask her.”
I frowned, then I pulled out my phone as Dominik started cooking again.
Mommy-kins he deserved your anger.
Mommy-kins – I wanted to remind him what he was missing out on.
Daddy-kins – Good job.
Garrick – Yeah, fucker has been smiling at work.
Garrick – Ain’t normal.
Carter – Heard him whistling when I stopped by.
Alec – Someone, send me a video next time.
Ethan – Are we sure about this?
Mommy-kins – Ethan Matthew Griggs.
Daddy-kins – Son.
Garrick – Ex-fucking-cuse you.
Carter – Yeah. What the fuck?
Alec – He’s crazy. She’s certifiable.
Alec – Perfect match.
Me – Thanks, Alec.
Alec – *wink* You're welcome.
Me – Ethan, you have no room to judge.
Me – Hush.
Garrick – Preach.
I pocketed my phone, then set the picture down and tagged my wine, then I walked to the barstool and climbed up on it.
He winked as he started the steaks in a cast-iron skillet.
“So, is this a date?” I asked him.
He flipped the steaks over, took a pull from his beer, then turned his head to wink at me, “Can be if you want it to be.”
I nodded, “Then this is a date.”
He nodded, then kept on cooking.
That was when I narrowed my eyes, “If you can cook, why are you always trying to see what I’m having for dinner?”
He chuckled, then he turned his head and smirked, “Sucks cooking for one.”
I nodded at that. Because I got it.
I only cooked because whatever I made, I ate as my lunch at work the next day.
A few minutes later, he plated the food and brought it over to where I was sitting at his island.
Then he surprised me when he grabbed a lighter and a candle, lit it, and then placed it in the middle of his island.
I giggled.
I just cut into my steak and took a bite when the flavor burst over my tongue, and I moaned.
I happened to look over at him, and saw his eyes were on my mouth, and they were heated.
I chewed, swallowed, and asked, “What?”
He shook his head, “Can’t be making those sounds, Minx.”
I lifted a brow, “And why not? Is it not a compliment to the chef?”
He shook his head, “Yeah, but you making those sounds, making it hard as fuck to take things slow.”
I nodded, “Not my problem. Control yourself.”
He chuckled, “Been controlling myself for years. I get you where I want you. I’m going to need time. And you're going to need to be off for a few days to recover.”
I lifted a brow, “It’s like that, huh?”
He nodded, “Yeah, Minx. It is. Now eat and have some mercy on me. Okay?”
I didn’t answer him; I started eating again.
And I tried to hold back the moans.
Damn, but he could cook.
And at his words... I get you where I want you. I’m going to need time. And you’re going to need to be off for a few days to recover.
My panties just got a little damp.
To hide that fact, I said, “Can I ask you something?”
He took a bite of his steak, chewed, swallowed, chased it down with a pull from his beer, then nodded.
“You told me that your last relationship failed. How did it fail?” I popped a slice of potato into my mouth.
He took another pull from his beer, then he said, “We were together all through my freshman year and my sophomore year of college. Then we got a place together. A few months in, she came up pregnant, but she didn’t tell me about it.
Apparently, she had a few tests run, also unbeknownst to me, and found out the baby had a chance of having Down Syndrome. She aborted the baby.”
I gasped.
“You're fucking shitting me,” I exclaimed.
He shook his head.
“That fucking cunt. Never let me meet her, Dominik. I mean it.” I said.
He winked, “I won’t.”
I knew there had to be more, and when I stared at him, he chuckled, then shook his head, “You're persistent.”
I winked, “I know. Come on, what’s the rest?”
“Just your usual bullshit. Found out she cheated on me, found out that when she was supposedly working, she was spending money, my money, on stupid shit.”
I shook my head. “I’m sorry.”
I would talk about my relationships, then it hit me.
I’ve never been in one.
Well then.
And he would have already known about it.
He winked, “See your mind spinning over there, don’t worry about it. Known each other too long.”
After we ate and I helped clean the kitchen, I looked at the clock on his stove and saw how late it was. Then I said, “I need to go.”
“Stay here,” he said.
I looked around and said, “Here?”
He nodded, “Yeah. Didn’t realize how great I slept until last, and you were next to me.”
At his words, I melted.
Then I said, “I need something to sleep in.”
He nodded, “Give you one of my tees.”
Then he tagged two beers and led me out to the porch.
We were sitting in two dark blue rocking chairs when I took a pull from my beer after he took the cap off and asked, “Why did you buy this house?”
I’d always wanted to know.
It wasn’t Bronson’s big house, but it was close.
It had four bedrooms and four and a half baths.
And for some reason, his cheeks got pink.
I reached over and poked him in his ribs, chuckling when he flinched, and asked, “Why?”
He sighed, then looked at me, “Remember that day a long ass time ago? We were all riding our bikes.”
I shrugged.
He chuckled, “Anyway, you stopped and looked at this house.”
I recalled that day with vivid clarity now. I had seen the house and thought it was beautiful.
“Then when I came back, saw it on the market, you had been crestfallen.” He shrugged, “Didn’t like the look on your face.”
“Dominik,” I whispered.
He shrugged.
And that was when I said, “If you don’t want me to kiss you, better tell me now.”
I stared into his amber-flecked eyes, and when he didn’t respond, I moved closer in my chair, and the moment I got my face right in front of his, I leaned forward and kissed him.
His lips were lush, strong, firm, and so fucking sensual.
He groaned, then, like a shot, I was up and out of my rocker, lifted, then planted with my knees going on either side of his hips.
Our lips never disconnected.
His hand went into my hair while his other hand went to my ass.
I felt his tongue tease at my lips, and with zero hesitation, I allowed him entry,
Our tongues tangled, twisting together.
We kissed for so long that night had fully descended, and there was a crispness in the air.
He pulled his lips from mine, then rested his forehead against mine, “Fuck.”
I wiggled in his lap, feeling his massive, hard-on.
His hand left my hair and settled on my hips.
With a growl, he said, “Stop.”
I giggled as I stopped.
“Get your beer.” He said.
I grabbed my beer, then he handed me his beer, stood up as I wrapped my legs around his hips.
With one hand on my ass holding me up, he opened the door and carried me inside.
He walked us to his kitchen, and I set the bottles on the island. Then he winked and carried me to his bedroom.
And it was totally Dominik. Black and gray.
I loved it.
He gave my ass a little squeeze and I got it.
I unwrapped my legs from around his hips, and once I was steady on my feet, he let me go.
He opened a drawer, tagged a tee, and handed it to me.
I went to the bathroom, did what I needed, changed, and then walked back into the bedroom.
I climbed in, and Dominik pulled me against his side.
There in the darkened bedroom, I whispered, “I’d never abort your baby, Dominik.”
He tilted his head, kissed my hair, then his chest rumbled as he said, “I know.”
***
“Dominik? It’s late. Is everything okay?” I asked him as I rubbed at my tired eyes.
He nodded, “Yeah, tried to sleep at my place, didn’t work.”
I nodded, then stepped to the side, and once he was in my apartment, I closed the door and locked it.
He followed me to my bedroom, then got undressed and climbed in beside me.
He brought his body closer to mine, tangled our limbs, and curled his big body around mine so my back was to his front.
Then he slid his arm underneath my pillow and pressed a kiss to the back of my neck, while whispering, “Night, Minx.”
“Night, Diablo,” I mumbled.
His chest rumbled at my back as he chuckled.
***
Diablo – Where are you?
Me – My bed.
Diablo – Why
Diablo –Why aren’t you in mine?
Me – What do you mean?
Diablo – Sleep better when you're sleeping next to me.
Me – All my stuff is here, Dominik.
It was maybe twenty minutes later when I heard a sound. I looked up and screeched.
Dominik was standing there with a bag over his shoulder.
He chuckled, “Brought some stuff, leave it here, tomorrow you pack some shit to leave at my place. You need to double up, do it. You need my credit card to do it, do that too.”
I opened my mouth to give him a piece of my mind when he said his credit card, but then I took in how he looked.
He was exhausted.
His eyes were crinkled; his shoulders were slumped.
And his hair was unkempt.
Therefore, I simply nodded and said, “Okay.”
And that was how the next eight weeks went.
If I wasn’t in my bed, I was in his and vice versa.
Every single night.
Until the night when everything changed.