Chapter Fifteen
Emerson
Not for one damn second did I believe him.
He was a beast at the gym and prided himself on working out before every tour.
Something else was going on. Something ugly.
But I knew him better now. If I pushed him to talk, he’d retreat into that snide, brittle shell he’d hidden behind for almost two years, pick a fight, and probably kick me out.
That wasn’t happening. Not because of the sex, which admittedly I’d been anticipating all day, but because he needed someone to trust and lean on.
A friend he could feel comfortable enough with to release his demons. And I wanted to be that person for him.
So I’d give him that space.
“Can I get a beer?”
“Yeah, sure.” He released me slowly, as if afraid to let me go, and with a furrowed brow, I watched him walk to the refrigerator. Not taking my eyes off him, I sat on the couch, and on return, he handed me a bottle. “Cheers.”
I drank some and watched Dominic drain the remainder of his bottle.
Clearly something had rattled him, and in an effort to calm him, I plucked the now-empty bottle from his hand, set both of ours on the coffee table, and took his mouth in a harsh kiss.
Hearing his low moan of pleasure, I softened my lips and dragged them down to his jaw and neck, burying my face there for a moment.
“You smell good.”
“So do you.” His deep voice rumbled beneath me, and the thump of his heart pounded next to mine.
His arms held me, and I settled into his chest, kissing him and touching my tongue to his. He clasped a big hand around my nape, and we played together, our desire escalating with each passing minute.
“Emmy.” He sighed, and I couldn’t help smiling against his mouth.
“You’re never gonna stop calling me that, are you?”
“Nope.” He snickered, nuzzling my cheek. “Never. It’s my own personal name that no one else gets to call you.”
I nudged his nose with mine. “I don’t mind anymore. I kind of like it.”
“Besides,” he said. “Em is dumb.”
I nipped at his lower lip, eliciting a grunt of pain, and he tangled his hands in my hair and glared.
“What was that for?”
Gently now, I took it between my teeth again and sucked. He tugged me closer, his breath harsh and rapid.
“This. I want to see you lose control.”
His face flushed and blue eyes hazy, he loosened his grip on me to press a surprisingly sweet kiss to the tip of my nose.
“Don’t you know? Whenever you’re around me, I have zero self-control.”
Damn. Hearing big, macho Dominic Starr say something sweet made my insides melt a little. I pulled my T-shirt off and watched his heated gaze grow intent.
“Come on, Emmy.”
Knowing instinctively what he meant, I scrambled off him and followed him into the bedroom, where we tossed our clothes in all directions.
God, he was beautiful—carved muscle and flat, taut abs, that heavy dick rising up from a patch of dark curls. Thick thighs built like iron were planted wide, and his strong legs were pure sinew. I smoothed my hands over his round, firm ass cheeks.
Dominic trembled. “Emmy,” he rasped. “I want it.”
Confused, I met his haunted eyes. “What?”
“I want you to fuck me.”
For someone like Dominic, who always needed to be in charge, this would be the ultimate expression of trust, something I wouldn’t take lightly. I understood what it meant and wanted to make sure he did.
“You’re sure?”
He held my chin with a firm grip as he plundered my mouth with his tongue. I sagged against him, drawing in gulps of air after he finished.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
“I need you, Emmy.”
At those words, my heart swooped, then clenched tight. He stared into my eyes, and something shifted between us, an almost audible click in the air that where we were once separate, now together, we were whole.
“I’m here for you. Only you.”
Heat flared in his eyes. How could I have ever thought them cold, when their possessive fire burned me wherever they landed? I was aching, hard and filled with protectiveness toward him. No one would hurt this man again. They’d have to come through me first.
He tossed me onto the bed and pounced. Holding him, I rolled and trapped him beneath me. Our erections brushed, sending a shower of thrills through me.
“Hi,” I whispered and kissed him.
“Hi, yourself.”
I nibbled along the tight cords of his neck muscles, moving lower, licking and swirling my tongue on the sharp beads of his nipples. He swore and arched as I bit them.
“Now you know what it feels like,” I mumbled, laving one crest, then the other.
“Fucking yeah.” He gasped, his hand working his dick. I moved down the trail of dark hair, licking past his navel to join his fingers. “Oh God,” he groaned as I took the head between my lips and sucked.
“You like that? You like how I suck your cock, Starr?” I grinned up at him. “Damn. Things I never thought I’d say for five hundred dollars.”
“I’m giving you my ass, and you’re playing f-fucking Jeopardy?” he stuttered and caught his breath as I slid a wet finger past his rim. “Oh Jesus,” he choked. “Warn a guy before you stick a finger up his ass.”
“Here comes number two.” I pushed in and watched his face slacken with pleasure as I stretched him. His hand moved in a blur on his shaft, and I knew the time was right. I pulled out.
“No,” he gasped, all red in the face and sweaty. “Don’t stop.”
“I’m coming back with the real thing.” I eased the condom down my dick and poured lube until it glistened. I sank the head past his rim, and he hissed. “It hurts?” I hesitated.
He nodded but gripped my arm. “So good, though. Do it.”
Pain etched hard lines on his face, and I knew the burn was real. But when I finally rested fully inside, I checked and his lips were curved in a smile.
“You good?” I murmured, my self-control weakening with each passing second. Dominic was hot, tight, and held me like he never wanted to let me go.
“Better than.” Shifting beneath me forced my cock in farther, and he moaned. “Oh, yeah. Do that again.”
I withdrew, then returned, gentle at first to make sure he could handle it, but his nails dug into my shoulders and he met my thrusts with equal fervor.
I couldn’t stop. He was fire—gold and crimson flames burning me up.
I couldn’t think or feel anything but the hunger to take and have Dominic for my own.
“Fuck, Emmy,” he cried out and came over our bellies and chests.
Seeing him come undone was a fantasy come to life.
This wasn’t me standing on the sidelines, watching Dominic touch himself.
I was giving him this pleasure—my body, my kisses.
But I wanted more from him than simply sex.
I wanted everything. His heart, soul, and mind.
My cock throbbed, and he held my ass, seating me firmly as I unloaded inside the condom. I hissed as he squeezed me one last time.
“My God.” He sighed after a few minutes where we lay barely moving. My head rested on his chest, listening to the frantic pace of his heart.
“Yeah,” I said a bit smugly. “I think you saw him.”
For once, he didn’t return with a wiseass response, instead playing his fingers through my hair. “Nah, Emmy. I saw you.”
I rose to meet his steady gaze and trembled at the pure desire written on his face. I eased out to give him a chance to recover. I returned to him after a quick trip to the bathroom for a washcloth to clean us up.
I stroked his quivering stomach. “How do you feel? Did you like it better than the other way?”
He winced and sat up, bracing on his elbows. “Not better, exactly. I think I’ll need to get used to it.”
“Yeah. But…I kind of liked having you in me more.” I tossed the damp cloth aside. “I’m still willing to try both in the name of research and science.”
Dominic hugged me close. “You were always a better student than me.”
Moments later, I could tell by his easy breathing that he’d fallen asleep, but I remained awake.
What was this leading to? Would we ever come out as a couple in the sheriff’s office?
We didn’t work the same tours, so that wasn’t a factor.
But I wasn’t going to be able to hide my feelings for him forever; of that I was certain.
“What’s going on in that head of yours?” his deep voice rumbled. Seemed he was awake after all. I stared into the darkness, resting my head on the pillow, but when I didn’t answer, he nudged me. “Out with it. I know you.”
So you think. If you knew how crazy I was about you, you’d run as fast as you could.
“I’m not comfortable hiding this part of myself from Jet. I’m gonna tell him I’m seeing a guy.”
Dominic sat up and switched on the bedside lamp. “Yeah? Why? I’m sure as hell not ready to tell Bradford anything.” His brow furrowed, a questioning look in his eyes.
I snorted. “No shit. He’s an okay kid, but not the most enlightened.”
“He’s learning, but back to you and Jet, why tell him anything?”
“He’s my best friend. I was the first person he told about being bisexual—even before his mom and sister. We’re really close.”
His shoulders slumped. “Must be nice,” he said, dropping the statement in the air so simply, my heart hurt.
“Hey.” I put my hand on his and squeezed. “If you’re worried I’ll say something about you, don’t be. There’s no way he’ll guess what’s going on between us.”
Considering even I don’t know.
“I’m not concerned. We said we’d keep it to ourselves for now, and I trust you.”
“So what’s wrong? And don’t give me crap and say nothing. From the time I walked in, you were in a weird headspace.” I leaned on my elbow and ran a finger down his muscled chest. “Are you having second thoughts about this? Us?” It would hurt, but I needed to know.
“No,” Dominic responded immediately, grabbing my hand and holding it against his heart. From the desperate way his fingers grasped mine, he spoke the truth. “Not at all. Right now, this—you are the most real thing in my life.”
“Then what is it? Dom, please—” His mouth covered mine, and as always at his touch, I lost the ability to think straight.
“Nothing. I was just thinking. I like the two of us. Like this.”
I pressed closer and kissed him again. “I do too. So much.”
**
In the predawn hours, I watched him get ready and admired his sleek, muscular back and firm ass after he came out of the shower. His skin glistened with water.
“Damn, Starr, you’re pretty fine.”
Over his shoulder, he winked at me as he toweled off and put on a shirt. “I know.” Gingerly, he sat on the bed. “You’re pretty fucking hot yourself, Emmy. I still need to do a close-up inspection of those tats.”
Knowing he loved my ink, I made a muscle and ran my hand down my chest to my stomach, where my morning wood lay waiting. “Maybe I need to get a new one. Something special for you.”
His eyes blazed with heat. “Yeah? I might like that.”
“Yeah? I might do it. In the meantime…” I grinned and lazily stroked my shaft. Dominic’s breath grew short as he watched me get off, and when I came, pumping streams of come through my fingers, he bent down and gave a tentative lick.
“Tonight?” he asked.
“Yeah, definitely. Come to mine?”
He nodded. “Can’t take my sheets, huh, Martha?”
“I’ll show you what an upgrade really is, big boy.” I beckoned him closer. “Have a safe tour, Starr.”
“You too.” The kiss he gave me was soft and sweet, and I clung to him. “See you tonight. The door locks automatically behind you.”
I heard his car start, and I stretched, my muscles deliciously achy.
With Dominic gone, there was no need to lie around in bed.
I showered and dressed, made the bed, but not before stripping off the sheets and replacing them with my own, freshly laundered ones.
Dominic had left me coffee in the pot, and I drank a cup, washed my mug, and left.
It was a quick drive to my house, and once inside, I did the laundry and took a nap.
I wanted to be fresh and awake for my talk with Jet.
I also made an appointment with the tattoo shop—I had the perfect idea for ink that would be meaningful for the two of us.
**
That afternoon, we were doing speed traps. Jet had the radar gun, and I sat beside him, twitchy with nerves. At a lull, he set the speed gun on the seat between us.
“All right. Are you gonna tell me what’s got you so jumpy?”
I licked my lips, then bit them. “Uh, yeah. I’ve been meaning to talk to you.”
Jet’s brows flew up, and his face lit up. “Shit. It’s the girl you’ve been dating. You’re serious with her? Don’t tell me you’re gonna propose? I haven’t even met her yet.”
“Uh…not quite. See, uh…” I wiped my brow. “I haven’t been dating a girl.” The shock on Jet’s face would have been amusing if it wasn’t my life we were discussing. “It’s a guy. And I’m fucking crazy about him.”
“How did that happen?”
An unbidden smile rose to my lips. Did I look as goofy as I felt with my heart doing swoops? Maybe. But I was with Jet, and I was safe.
“I don’t even know. But I’ve never felt like this about anyone before.”
Jet watched me carefully and reached out to give my hand a squeeze. “Thank you for sharing this with me. I know how hard it can be.”
“Funny thing is…it wasn’t. It was almost as if I’ve been waiting for it to happen. Maybe that’s why I’ve never been able to settle down with a woman.”
“Where did you meet? Is he from around here?”
All normal questions, but not ones I could answer and keep Dominic’s identity a secret.
“Running and at the gym.” Not a lie, but not the truth. “He lives here, in Appleton Falls. He’s not out either, and I don’t think he’s told anyone yet. It’s all new to both of us.”
“Hey. It’s all right. No matter what happens, I’ll be by your side.”
“Thanks. I figured, but now that you know, it means everything to me. I couldn’t keep something this important from you.”
He squeezed my hand again and picked up the radar gun as a car sped past us, going seventy in the forty-mile-per-hour zone.
“Let’s do this.” He flipped on the lights and siren and went after them.
A weight had lifted from my chest, but I still wondered what other secrets Dominic was keeping from me. More than anything, I wanted…I needed him to be able to trust me. Hopefully that would be soon, because I was afraid the stress might break him apart.