Looking through the peephole she got the surprise of her life. Dom! She had to compose herself before she snatched open the door and jumped in his arms, kissing him like nobody’s business.
Slowly opening the door, she stared at him and he stared at her.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
“Are you going to let me in?”
A tiny smile curved her lips. “Maybe.”
Dom’s gut clenched from the sexy, husky tone of her voice. “Woman, what I tell you about playing with me. You know what happens when you do that.”
Karen swallowed hard as she groaned. Oh yeah, she remembered all too well. And how she wished he would subject her to his delicious brand of punishment. “The kids are home.”
Stepping closer, he leaned down and brushed his lips across her lush mouth. “I know, so I’ll behave. Now let me in.”
Never taking his eyes off of her he entered, locking the door as she took a step back. She felt the chill from his body as he pulled her close, kissing her. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back with a hunger that took both their breaths away. Her entire body vibrated with the purr coming from deep in her throat as Dom settled his hands on her backside, gently squeezing.
Remembering that Ashley may be at the top of the stairs, Karen broke the kiss. Nervously she spun around and looked toward the top of the stairs. Thank God. Ashley must have gone in her room after yelling down to her mom.
Dom eyed her, concerned. “What’s wrong?”
“I thought Ashley might still be at the top of the stairs. I didn’t want her to…you know—”
“Got it,” he said giving her an understanding smile.
He followed her into the living room and removed his leather jacket, slinging it over the arm of the loveseat. Turning to her, he reached out and twirled his finger around the strand of hair falling loose at the nape of her neck from her messy ponytail. He could tell her hair had been down and she threw it up like she always did right before she cooked. He loved her messy ponytail. “I hope you don’t mind me stopping by. I got done a little early from working on the brownstone and needed to see you and the kids.” He kissed her forehead. “I’ve missed you.”
It was almost hard for her heart to beat because it had swelled up from the way he was playing with her hair and looking at her. The need to be near her and the kids was shimmering in the depths of his dark eyes.
“I’ve missed you, too,” she whispered, stealing a tender kiss.
“Stop that.” The soft feel of her lips was driving him crazy. It had been two weeks since he’d seen her, held her, or made love to her, and he was dying a slow death because of it.
“I’m sorry,” she apologized. “I couldn’t help myself.”
Dom chuckled. “You are trouble. Can I see the kids?” He had to do something, anything to get away from this tempting woman.
Flashing Dom a smile, she teased him. “You’re such a sucker.”
He smacked her on the butt. “I got your sucker.”
Karen flashed him a look. She wished he’d keep his hands to himself. He was causing all kinds of thoughts to be conjured up in her mind of having her naked butt spanked. “Come on.” Grabbing his large hand she led him up to the stairs. Coming to the top step she called out, “Kyle…Ashley…I have a surprise for you.”
They wondered what the surprise was as they eagerly ran from their rooms. Both children squealed, “Mr. Dom!” lunging themselves into his arms. This was the best surprise ever! Better than all the toys and clothes they’d just gotten a few weeks ago for Christmas.
Dom found it hard to swallow the large lump forming in his throat. Loving a good woman and two terrific kids; this is what life is all about. It didn’t matter that they weren’t his biologically. They were his in his heart and that’s all that mattered. He hoped, prayed, things would work out between him and Karen. If by some chance of a strange turn of events things didn’t work out, he would never walk away from these children who had come to mean the world to him.
Planting a fatherly kiss first on Ashley’s forehead, “How’s my princess?” and then on Kyle’s forehead, “how’s my boy?”
Karen watched, softly laughing as Ashley and Kyle happily chattered away at the same time, telling Dom all of their activities since lasting seeing him. This was the happiest they’d been in days. Just like that, they went from moping around with long sad faces to exuberant little bees.
Her heart fluttered in her chest when Dom looked up over their heads and mouthed, “I love you.” Blushing, she mouthed the words back. This man was becoming her everything. She could so see him as a permanent fixture in their lives. She wouldn’t mind catering to his every need. Cooking his meals, washing his clothes, picking up his dirty drawers, heck, she’d even be willing to have another baby for him. Yup, she’d go through weeks of agonizing morning sickness, getting so huge she couldn’t see her feet, laboring for hours, and pushing out a new life into the universe, just for him.