Chapter Thirty-One
Several Hours Later
Bella
When I get out of my car at my brothers’ place, Dominic strides down the driveway. “Hey, babe, are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m good.” I step into his embrace and smile with my face pressed against his chest. God, he smells good. I sigh and wrap my arms around his waist. Everything went smoothly at the police station, and the protection order has been recorded. No issues. No problems. I should’ve done this weeks ago.
Dominic kisses the top of my head. “I’m proud of you.”
“Thank you.” I tip my head back and drown in his brown eyes. “Thank you again for dropping everything to deal with my issues. I hope you don’t get in trouble at work over me.”
He cups my cheek and rubs his thumb along my cheekbone. “I’d gladly lose my job if it meant protecting you or being there when you needed me.”
“Don’t say that.” I pull back, or try to, until the arm around my waist, holds me tighter to his solid frame.
“Bella, I’m serious. If anything happened to you, I’d never forgive myself. That’s the case whether you agreed to date me or not. I’ve always been in your corner and always will be.”
“I love you.”
“You’d better.” He grins before placing his lips against mine. We fit perfectly together.
A vehicle door slams shut. “Whoa, impressionable teen here. I don’t need to see all this PDA.”
Levi. My face flames as I pull back and twist to face him. “Hi–” My greeting sputters off as Mira climbs out of the passenger side of Levi’s pickup. Shit.
I brush my hair behind my shoulder. “Hi.” My voice comes out a squeak. Shit. I already said that. The last thing I want to do is make a bad impression on his mother. If she doesn’t approve of us as a couple…. No, I’m not considering that as a possibility.
“Hello, Bella.” Mira smiles as she walks beside Levi.
“Hey, Ma.” Dominic lays his arm over my shoulders and pulls me to his side. My body remains stiff beside his. “Seriously?” He arches an eyebrow.
“I don’t want to insult your mom.”
His eyes are sincere as he studies me. “You won’t. My mom and Levi know how important you are to me.”
“Yeah, we’ve seen all the evidence.” Levi rolls his eyes. “The notebooks full of sketches. The charcoal drawings. The paintings–”
“Levi.” Mira elbows him in the ribs. “Don’t run her off. If she doesn’t know he’s creepily obsessed with her, we don’t need to advertise it.”
I laugh and lay my head against his shoulder. “I probably should find it disturbing, but I love it.”
“As you should.” Mira places her hand on my upper arms. “You’re a beautiful girl, and you look picture-perfect with my son.” She shifts her attention to Dominic. “I knew you should’ve said something to her years ago. You wasted so much time.”
“Mom.” His jaw is tight. “Don’t say the next part.”
“What?” She widens her eyes and steps back, rocking on her heels and dropping her hands to her sides. “You don’t want me to start begging for grandchildren yet?”
“No.” He wraps both arms around me and holds me close. “Do not rush anything.”
“Fine,” she clicks her tongue.
“Do I get a hug?” Levi opens his arms.
“Sure.” I embrace him as he lifts my feet off the ground.
“I’m happy you guys are together. Maybe Dom won’t be such a grump all the time.”
“I’m not a grump.” Dominic crosses his arms over his chest, which emphasizes the difference in their builds. They’re similar, but Levi hasn’t filled out to the extent that Dominic has. Give him three years, and the ladies will be falling in front of him, trying to get his attention.
“Enough!” Dom’s bark causes Levi to release me with a laugh.
“I wondered how long it would take you.” Levi winks and squeezes my shoulder as the front door closes with a snap. “He came and took all his drawings of you the other day because Mom told him I was drooling all over them. But I don’t poach my friends or my brother’s girls. There’s an oath against that.”
I arch an eyebrow. “But not an oath against your friends’ sisters?”
“Oh, there’s definitely an oath against that.”
“As there should be,” Sam mutters as he strolls down the front steps. “But clearly, some people don’t see the importance of following through with their promises.” He smacks Dominic on the back.
“Nope. I don’t.” Dominic’s eyes dance with humor. “No bros before–”
“Oh, no you don’t.” I cross my arms over my chest and tap my toes on the pavement. “If you call me a hoe, I’ll–”
“Wildflower.” He clutches his chest. “You wound me. I was going to say, ‘No bros before the love of my life.’ He tilts his head and eyes me up and down. “I’d never call you a hoe. Unless that turned you on.”
I slap my hand over his mouth. “Do not say another word.”
“Don’t wait too long on those babies. You two are adorable.” Mira brushes past us as Sam claps Levi on the shoulder and ushers them inside.
Dominic slides his tongue along my palm, causing goosebumps to travel up my arm and my nipples to tighten with desire. “That’s so gross.” He nibbles on my palm as my sex convulses. “You don’t know the last time I washed my hands.”
Lucky for him, I washed my hands before I left to come to his house, but that’s not the point.
“Don’t care.” He grips my thighs and pulls me up until my legs are wrapped around his waist. “Did it cause my sweet pussy to clench?”
“Yes.”
His eyes glisten with heat. “Then, it was worth it.”
“You don’t have to risk a virus to get my pussy to clench. All you need to do is look at me, lick your lips, and growl low in your throat.”
“Good to know.” He licks his bottom lip, slowly letting it slip between his teeth, and stares at me with hooded eyes.
“Jesus.” I shudder from head to toe. “You’re dangerous.”
“Is it rude to skip talking to everyone and take you upstairs to bed?”
“Maybe.” I lean down and brush my lips against his, which elicits a low moan from his lips. “But who cares,” I say against his mouth. A car pulls into the driveway of their neighbor’s house across the street.
“I love you, Wildflower.” The sincerity in his eyes rocks me to the core. How did I not realize he cared about me? It’s written all over his face for everyone to see.
I run my fingers through his hair. “I’m sorry I didn’t realize sooner that you liked me. I would’ve never dated Brock if I thought I had a chance with you.”
“Don’t.” He shakes his head. “No regrets. We’re together, and we’re not letting anything get between us.”
“Hey, Dom, is that Bella?” Mrs. Martin asks from across the street.
“Yes, it is.” He glances across the street as my feet hit the ground.
“That’s awesome. Glad you finally got up the nerve to ask her out. Mira told us about the drawings you’d done of her. I can’t wait to see them.”
“For fucks sake,” Dominic grumbles as he shakes his head. “Apparently, everyone knew.”
“It’s a small town.” I wink as his face turns pink. “There’re no secrets in a small town.”