Chapter 48
Chapter Forty-Eight
Dominic
Peering down at Alicia in my arms, I watch her in awe. The morning light shines through my window, casting a warm glow over her as she lies sleeping in my arms.
The crease between her brows, that was there for so long last night as she worked through the conflicting feelings she was having over her brother's death, is finally gone.
She looks at peace, and that brings a rare smile to my face.
Swiping my thumb across her cheek, I watch as her dark lashes flutter, but her eyes remain closed.
Smoothing my thumb up the side of her nose, I brush it over the stud piercing until I reach the bridge, then I move it away again, mesmerised by the feel of her smooth skin beneath my fingertips.
Never would I have thought I'd be in complete wonder over a person before, yet here I am, captivated by her beauty.
The glint of sunlight hitting the wedding band on my hand captures my attention, and I stare at it for a moment, memories of our wedding day flooding through my mind, causing me to frown.
Although I have one good memory of that day—namely the sight of Alicia in her wedding dress—the rest of that day was a complete disaster.
It's funny how things have changed.
Back then, we couldn't stand each other, and both of us would've done anything we could to destroy this marriage. Hell, we did do things in an attempt to destroy our marriage, but thankfully, we were unsuccessful.
I just think it's a shame that such a horrid situation was what brought us together, and I wish we had better memories of, what I now deem to be, an important day in our lives.
"It's rude to stare, you know?"
Alicia's husky voice breaks me out of my thoughts, and I smile as she squints her eyes and crinkles her adorable little nose as she peeks up at me.
"I can't help but admire such a beautiful thing," I retort.
She groans and rolls her eyes, burying her head against my chest.
"If that was you trying to be sweet, please never do that again."
Chuckling, I stroke my hand along her jaw, my chest warming when her arm wraps around me, and she places a kiss against my bare chest.
As I'm about to roll her onto her back, scratching meets my ears, and I glance over at the bedroom door, sighing.
Alicia rubs her eyes, sits up, and drags the duvet with her to wrap around her naked body.
"I'll message Leo and tell him she's ready for her walk."
Grabbing hold of her arm, before she twists around to grab her phone from the nightstand, I shake my head.
"We don't need Leo to walk her anymore," I tell her, tangling my fingers through her messy, knotted hair. "How about we take her out together this morning instead?"
She worries her lip between her teeth, and her hand moves to her neck to play with the heart locket she never removes.
My gut clenches at the apprehensive look washing over her face, so I lean over, brushing my lips against the side of her body, placing multiple kisses against her skin.
"He's gone, little viper," I remind her, sitting up beside her. "There's no need for you to be couped up in this apartment anymore."
She scoffs, turning to me with raised brows.
"Ironic coming from the man who handcuffed me to the bed so I wouldn't leave."
Huffing, I scrub my hands over my face.
"I'm never going to live that down, am I?"
"Nope."
She grins at me, pecking me on the cheek before clambering out of bed and walking into the conjoined bathroom, closing the door behind her.
"Coffee would be nice," she calls through the door, and I shake my head before dragging myself out of bed and pulling on a pair of jogging bottoms before heading downstairs to put the kettle on.
Alicia starts giggling beside me as we walk down the street on the way to the park I always take Jellybean to. I turn to face her, an amused smile dancing across my own face.
"What's so funny?" I ask.
"I just never thought I'd see this happen," she says, her eyes scanning over me before she throws her head back, laughing even harder. "It's better than I ever could've imagined."
"What?" I frown, glancing down at the black jacket I have on and the dark-wash jeans, wondering what it is she's finding so amusing.
"You, this big, scary, intimidating man walking along the street with a tiny little Pomeranian attached to a hot pink lead. It's comical!"
Scowling, I wrap my arm around her shoulder, tugging her into my side as I grumble, looking down at Jellybean, who's walking beside me, her fluffy little tail swaying side to side as she sniffs the air.
"I don't understand why everyone's so amazed by it. Men have little dogs. I've seen plenty during the times I've walked Jelly before."
She peers up at me, cheeks bunched up, teeth on display.
"I'm glad you finally came around and fell in love with her," she says.
"It's not just her I fell for," I mumble.
Her steps halt, and I cringe, thinking she's paused because of what I said. But when I glance at her, I see her staring off to the side, the smile slowly falling from her face as she watches whatever it is that's captured her attention.
Following her line of sight, I see a couple stepping out of the large arched doors of a church across the street.
They're greeted by a crowd of people outside, cheering with glee as they watch the woman in a big, flowing white dress wrap her arms around the man's neck beside her, fingers digging into his tux as he dips her down and plants his lips on hers.
My shoulders slump as I look back at Alicia, seeing the slight shimmer of tears in her eyes as she frowns.
Moving to stand in front of her, I place my knuckles beneath her chin, nudging her head up until her eyes connect with mine.
She smiles sadly.
"It would've been nice to experience that, don't you think?"
My face scrunches up in confusion.
"We have experienced that," I mutter, confused by what she means.
She shakes her head.
"No, we didn't. We got married, sure, but it wasn't how it was supposed to be, Dom.
It wasn't a big, happy day where everyone was filled with joy.
It was devastating for both of us and for those around us.
We didn't get married because we were in love.
We got married as strangers. The whole day was miserable. "
She laughs, a tear leaking from the corner of her eye.
"We spent the whole night practically ignoring each other.
We were forced to take pictures together, and it shows.
Oh, and don't forget, I ripped my dress to shreds!
I tore it off and left it on the floor in front of the venue, and I went back to your apartment without you, for God's sake.
The whole day was terrible. That's not how a wedding should be! "
Her words affirm all of the thoughts I was having this morning, and knowing the feelings are mutual regarding our wedding day, an idea sparks in my mind.
"Let's do it right this time, then," I say, cupping her jaw and wiping the tear from her cheek.
A crease forms between her brows.
"What?"
Grabbing hold of her hands in mine, I drop to the floor, one knee pressing against the rough asphalt beneath us, and the other bent up in front of me.
"Alicia," I start, staring up at her as her eyes widen and she glances around, trying to tug her hands from my hold.
"You are one of the most remarkable women I have ever met.
You're a sight to behold, and you're a force to be reckoned with.
Our story may have started in an unusual way, and there may have been a lot of destruction throughout, but I wouldn't change it for the world, because it's brought us to this moment here. "
"What are you doing?" she hisses.
"I'm falling in love with you," I admit, rubbing my thumbs along the back of her hands.
"I tumbled over the edge, and at first, I tried to hold on, convinced it'd be better to stay where I was, but at some point, I realised I didn't want to play it safe anymore, so I threw caution to the wind, and I let go, diving head-first off the edge of the cliff. "
She twists her lips together, as her eyebrows draw down.
"I'm confused…" she mutters.
"What I'm trying to say is, I'm completely and utterly infatuated with you, little viper. I love everything about you, the good, the bad, and the in between. This is me asking you to marry me, again, for real this time. I just need you to say yes."
Silence stretches between us, and my heart begins to drop, my cheeks heating with embarrassment with each second that passes.
As I'm about to lift myself from the ground and hang my head in pity, a smile breaks out across her face, and she rips her hands from mine, slinging her arms around me as she throws her body into mine, almost toppling us over.
"Yes. Yes. Yes," she chants, squeezing me against her before drawing back. She grabs my face between her hands and slams her lips against mine, pulling away far too quickly for my liking. "I'm falling in love with you, too."
Her whispered words are loud inside my head as I stand from the ground, pulling her with me. Pressing my lips to hers, I kiss her again, this time for much longer, right there in the middle of a street in London.
We pull apart, both breathless with matching grins on our faces.
"Just promise me one thing," I say.
"What?"
"Promise I'll be the one ripping off your wedding dress this time?"
She laughs, nodding her head.
"Deal."