Second Chance at Love(46)

He heard the plea, but he also heard the undertone of desire in her voice. She wanted him just as much as he wanted her. When their eyes locked she bit her bottom lip, shaking her head. Nodding his head, Dom leaned forward, darting out the tip of his pink tongue.



“Dom, please…” she moaned as the tip of his tongue circled her nipple, bringing it to a perfect peak. She cried out when he bit, then gently suckled the stinging tip.



“Please, what?”



“Please don’t stop.”



The chuckle rumbling from deep within his chest was wickedly sensual. “Baby, I never intended to.”





Life was back to normal. The kids returned to school and Karen back to work. Karen had missed Ashley and Kyle the week they bounced between Starr and Kevin’s place, the Peretti’s and the Poconos with her parents. Even though she missed them something awful and called them every day, it was a break from the day in and day out of motherly responsibilities. A break which her family strongly pointed out she needed. It was time for her to do whatever her heart desired. And it had desired to get to know the man of her dreams. Every moment spent in his presence was enjoyed and would be cherished for the rest of her life.



Just remembering their days and nights, especially the nights, sent sensual shivers down her spine. The first night she’d spent alone in her bed without him had been torturous. She desperately longed for the heat of his strong body as he spooned her close during the night. Going without the gentle caress of his rough hands skimming every inch of her body before pre-dawn, stirring up a need for him and him only, was enough to make her cry. The only thing that brought her a tiny semblance of comfort was Dom’s deep, sexy voice each night before going to sleep.



Days later disappointment would weave its way around her heart. Dom’s work schedule and the after work hours he was putting in rehabbing his friends’ brownstone left little time for them to see each other. She wasn’t the only one feeling the loss of his presence. Kyle and Ashley moped around, looking and feeling just as miserable as she did. Although they tried not to show how unhappy they were, it showed loud and clear. Each time the phone rang they were each trying to beat the other to answer it in hopes that it was Mr. Dom.



“Mommy, did we do something to make Mr. Dom stop coming around?” Kyle questioned his mother, his eyes filled with unshed tears. Ashley was in the background nervously waiting for her mother’s response.



Karen had held him close kissing the top of his head. “No baby, Mr. Dom is just really busy with work.” She shouldn’t have looked over at her daughter. Ashley was one step away from a big, fat crocodile tear running down her cheek. “Remember I told you guys he was working on a friend’s house?”



It didn’t help that they did what dutiful kids are supposed to do. Nod their heads in understanding, even when they didn’t understand why the man who had pretty much been the only father they’d known was suddenly gone. Attempting to make them feel better and not abandoned, she lovingly assured them, “Mr. Dom misses us just as much as we miss him.” Fighting really hard not to show them her own tears because she had to be strong for them, she promised, “Mr. Dom will be over to see us soon.”



That brought a tiny smile to the little boy’s lips. “Ok.” Karen’s heart hurt for her son as he left the room, his head hung low. Ashley on the other hand wasn’t quite so ready to believe. “I hope so.” Karen experienced a double dose of hurt as she watched her daughter gather her books from the dining room table and head to her bedroom.



Karen couldn’t be angry with Dom, although she wanted to. After all, he did have to work and the fact that she and the children missed him like crazy wasn’t a reason for him to slouch on his responsibilities. For that very reason she hadn’t mentioned to Dom a few nights ago how the kids were feeling about his absence. She had lied and told him they were doing just fine.



“Mom! I’m ready for bed!” Ashley yelled from the top of the stairs, pulling Karen out of her musing.



“I’m coming!” Karen yelled back as she placed the last plate in the dishwasher and turned it on. Hitting the light switch off in the kitchen she made her way to go upstairs to tie up Ashley’s beautifully braided hair, adorned with wooden beads. It had taken hours for her to braid the long, thick hair.



Setting the alarm for sleep mode, Karen jumped, startled from the ringing doorbell. “This better not be Starr and Summer. I told them I was staying in to watch a movie with the kids,” she grumbled, padding barefoot the few feet it took her to get to the front door.