Chapter 11
Chapter
Eleven
DOMINIC
O kay, so the couch doesn't make the most comfortable of beds. It’s too short, and not wide enough, so whatever sleep I get is fractured, and I spend most of the night fidgeting around, trying to find a position that doesn’t give me a crick in my neck, or backache.
I’ve just started to doze when I’m interrupted by a muffled cry from Roisin. I sit up, rubbing my eyes, and listen. There it is again — a whimper, followed by thrashing sounds.
I swing my legs off the couch and pad across the room, seeing her tossing in the dim light filtering through the curtains. I’m not surprised that night terrors have struck after everything she’s been through.
"Roisin," I call softly, trying to rouse her. She doesn't wake, just continues to struggle against invisible demons.
I approach the bed cautiously. "Roisin, wake up. It's just a dream."
Her eyes fly open, wild and unfocused. For a moment, she doesn't seem to recognize me. Then awareness floods back, and she sags against the pillows.
"Dominic?" Her voice is small, fragile. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."
"It's okay," I say, perching on the edge of the bed. "Do you want to talk about it?"
She shakes her head, and I turn to head back to the couch, but Roisin’s quivering voice stops me. “Dominic?” she repeats, then hesitates. "Could you... would you mind staying? Just for a little while?"
I nod and sit beside her, close enough that I can feel the warmth radiating from her body. She straightens the tangled sheets and murmurs her thanks.
There follows an awkward silence, where neither of us knows quite what to do next. “The bed’s big enough. We could share it so you can get some sleep, too. I promise I’ll stay over near the wall,” she says meekly.
I hesitate, weighing the propriety of the situation against Roisin's obvious distress and my own desperate need for a proper night's rest. Her face begins to crumple the longer I procrastinate, and it’s the forlorn look on her beautiful face that decides me. Finally, I nod and slide under the covers, careful to maintain a respectful distance.
"Thank you," Roisin whispers, her voice thick with unshed tears.
We lie there in silence, the darkness a comforting blanket around us. I can hear Roisin's breathing gradually slow and deepen as she drifts back to sleep.
As soon as I know she’s settled, my own exhaustion overwhelms me, the comfortable bed lulling me into my own slumber.
I wake to soft morning light and the gentle weight of Roisin's head on my chest. Sometime during the night, we gravitated towards each other, our bodies seeking comfort in sleep. Her titian hair is spread across my shoulder, and her arm is draped over my torso.
For a moment, I allow myself to savor the warmth and intimacy of our position. Then reality intrudes, and I carefully begin to extricate myself, not wanting to wake her or make things awkward.
But as I start to move, Roisin stirs. Her eyes flutter open, confusion evident in her gaze as she takes in our intimate position. For a heartbeat, we both freeze, unsure how to react. Then a soft blush spreads across her cheeks, and she hurriedly pulls away, nearly tumbling off the bed in her haste.
"I'm so sorry," she stammers, not meeting my eyes. "I didn't mean to... I must have moved in my sleep."
"It's alright," I assure her, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rapid pounding of my heart. "No harm done."
An awkward silence descends as we both sit up, carefully maintaining distance between us. I clear my throat, searching for something to say that will ease the tension.
"Did you sleep better?" I finally ask. "No more nightmares?"
Roisin nods, her gaze still fixed on the rumpled bed sheets. "Yes, thank you. I... I felt safe with you here."
Her words send a jolt through me, a mix of protectiveness and something deeper that I'm not ready to examine too closely. I swing my legs over the side of the bed, needing some physical distance to clear my head.
"I'm glad I could help," I say, trying to keep my tone light. "How about I get us some breakfast?"
Roisin nods gratefully, finally meeting my eyes. "That would be nice. Thank you, Dominic."
I head to the kitchens, thankful for the chance to compose myself, but I still can't shake the lingering warmth of Roisin's body against mine, the scent of her hair. I need to get a grip.
Kaiden comes in while I’m piling the tray with double helpings and narrows his eyes at me. I wait for him to say something, but when he does, it’s not what I expect. “Vito and most of his goons just left, but he’s on the warpath, just so you know. I’m supposed to be snooping around to see what I can find out from Mika, but I’m guessing you’re the one in the know.”
“Talk to Mika, he’ll give you something,” I suggest. We agreed we’d have his back, and that means throwing the guy a bone when he’s trying to cover for us, so he doesn’t get rumbled.
Kaiden heads for the door and looks out. “It’s a good time for a quiet breakfast,” he tells me when he turns back, nodding towards the tray.
Clapping him on the back in appreciation, I grab the tray and head back to Roisin. True to Kaiden’s word, there’s no one in sight.
I slip back into the room, balancing the heavily laden tray. Roisin has tidied the bed and is sitting on the edge, her hair hastily pulled back into a messy bun. She looks up as I enter, a shy smile on her face.
"I hope you're hungry," I say, setting the tray down on the small table in front of the couch. "I may have gone a bit overboard."
Roisin's eyes widen at the array of food. "This is wonderful, thank you. I didn't realize how famished I was until just now."
“You barely ate yesterday,” I remind her as we both sit down to eat, the awkwardness from earlier dissipating as we tuck into the meal. For a while, we eat in companionable silence, the simple act of sharing food somehow more intimate than our unintentional embrace. It feels like every atom in my body is super aware of her.
Jeez, what’s wrong with me? I feel like I’ve turned into some kind of sap.
As we finish our meal, I can't help but notice Roisin sneaking glances at me when she thinks I'm not looking. There's a softness in her eyes that makes my breath catch, but also a wariness that reminds me of our precarious situation.
Not wanting to examine my growing reaction to her, I pile up the tray. “I’ll take this back to the kitchen,” I tell her, without giving her a chance to respond. Fuck! I need to regain control of my wayward libido.
“Right, I’ll take a shower,” she mumbles, but I’m not really listening, too intent on getting out of there before I do something stupid.
I can’t hide out forever, of course. And I can’t risk Vito or any of those loyal to him seeing me hanging around when I’ve told him I’m doing a job for Mika. And right now, there’s no telling exactly whose eyes are on me, so I strengthen my resolve and make my way back to the staff wing.
That’s when everything goes to hell in a handbasket. Walking into the room, I find Roisin fresh out of the shower, a tiny towel the only thing covering her, apart from the beads of water that glisten on her pale skin.
I freeze in the doorway, my eyes involuntarily trailing over Roisin's damp skin. She gasps, clutching the towel tighter to her body, but doesn't move. We stand there, locked in a moment of charged silence, the air between us crackling with tension.
"I'm sorry," I manage to croak out, my voice rougher than I intend. "I should have knocked."
Roisin's cheeks flush a deep pink, but her gaze doesn't waver from mine. "It's... it's okay," she says softly. "I should have been more careful."
I know I should turn around, give her privacy, but I can't seem to tear my eyes away. A droplet of water slides down her collarbone, disappearing beneath the edge of the towel, and I find myself following its path, my mouth suddenly dry.
"Dominic," Roisin whispers, and there's a new note in her voice, something that makes my pulse quicken.
I take a step forward before I can stop myself. "Roisin, I..."
She moves towards me, closing the distance between us. The towel slips slightly, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of her cleavage.
Electricity arcs between us, and the moment expands as we stare at each other for seconds that seem to last for hours. She sways towards me, and all my resolve crumbles in that moment. I pull her to me, claiming her lips in a searing kiss. Roisin melts against me, her damp skin pressing against my clothes as she winds her arms around my neck.
The kiss deepens, hours of pent-up tension and longing pouring out as we lose ourselves in each other. My hands roam her back, feeling the warmth of her skin through the thin towel, and Roisin makes a soft sound of pleasure, spurring me on.
I back her up against the wall, breaking the kiss to trail my lips down her neck. She tilts her head, giving me better access as she runs her fingers through my hair.
"Dominic," she breathes, her voice husky with need.
I pull back slightly, meeting her gaze. Her eyes are heavy-lidded, lips swollen from my kiss. The sight nearly undoes me, but I try one last time to regroup and rein in some common sense. “I shouldn’t…” She shakes her head and presses her fingers to my mouth to stop me. Grasping her wrist, I move it away and kiss her knuckles, needing to have my say. “You’re vulnerable right now. I don’t want you to regret this.”
She purses her lips. “The only thing I’ll regret is never knowing the beauty of consensual lovemaking if the Viper finds me and takes what I don’t want to give. I want to have a choice, Dominic. And I choose you.”
I want to argue that it’s just sex; there’s no lovemaking involved in what we’re about to do, but I don’t have it in me to shatter her perception. She’s looking for something beautiful in a thicket of thorns, and it sure as hell isn’t me, but I’ll do my best to ensure the thistle she’s focused on doesn’t prickle her.
"Are you sure?" I ask, my voice rough with desire.
Roisin nods, her fingers tracing my jaw. "I want this," she admits softly. “I know you don’t altogether understand my logic, but having a choice is important to me.”
That doesn’t exactly make me feel great about this, but I’m a man. One who likes sex, and I’m quite capable of being nothing but a warm body for her. It’s how I prefer things. Having someone special in this life is a weakness that can be used against you. Still, I need to know this isn’t going to mess up her mind, so I call her on it. “And if Tommaso, the thug who kidnapped you, was here instead of me? Would this still be your choice?”
She quirks an eyebrow. “Are you fishing for compliments, Dominic?” she asks as she plays with my collar, her wicked smile surprising me.
“Was Tommaso the cute one?” she asks, and I’m guessing she’s talking about Kaiden, so I shake my head. “Well, under the circumstances, maybe it would be, but it’s an informed choice. A considered choice. You’ve been kind to me, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t attracted to you. Tommaso…” She shrugs. “Not so much.”
That's all the encouragement I need. I capture her lips again, pouring all my pent-up lust into the kiss. My hands find the knot of her towel, hesitating for just a moment before tugging it loose. It falls to the floor, leaving Roisin bare before me.
I step back, drinking in the sight of her. She's even more beautiful than I'd imagined. Roisin flushes under my gaze but doesn't try to cover herself. Instead, she reaches for me, pulling me close again.
"You're wearing too many clothes," she murmurs against my lips, her hands already working at the buttons of my shirt. For all her innocence, she doesn't hold back, and that makes me feel better about what I’m about to take from her, no matter how freely she believes it’s being given.
The mood suddenly lightened, I chuckle, helping her remove my shirt before scooping her up in my arms. Roisin lets out a surprised laugh as I carry her to the bed, laying her down gently. I take a moment to shed the rest of my clothes before joining her, and her eyes stay glued to me, widening slightly when her gaze drops to my rigid, straining cock.
I hover over Roisin, taking in her flushed cheeks and parted lips. "You're so beautiful," I murmur, tracing the curve of her cheek. She smiles shyly in response, pulling me down for another kiss.
My fingertips glide over every curve and crevice of her body, eliciting soft sighs as she arches into my touch. Trailing kisses down her neck, across her collarbone, I savor the taste of her skin, determined to make this the best experience I possibly can for her.