Chapter 1
His lips were on mine, but I still didn’t feel safe. I was trembling in the couch, unable to comprehend that I’d just been kidnapped and saved by Dominic. All because of some stupid drug deal. I couldn’t believe I got sucked into this.
I took my lips off his and looked him straight in the eye. He seemed scared when I was about to talk.
“Dominic I …”
“Please, don’t. I can’t …”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “But I just can’t handle this right now.”
He swallowed and looked down at the couch, avoiding my gaze.
“It’s too much. Someone died right in front of me. I need time to process this, and I can’t do it here. I need some time alone.”
I knew I said I loved him and I did. I still did. I just couldn’t say what was wrong. My heart didn’t want to admit anything was wrong. I held onto the desperation, but I knew it’d be better to let go, if only for a while.
“But I thought you wanted to stay with me?” he said.
I could see the tears welling up in his eyes.
“I did. I do. It’s just that … you play such a big part in this misery I’m feeling now, it just doesn’t feel right.”
He nodded, slowly. “Okay …”
I placed my hand on his cheek and brushed it softly, feeling his prickly skin. I knew it wasn’t going to make anything better, but staying here wasn’t either. Someone had broken in and entered this place, even with all the security Dominic has. I just don’t feel safe.
“I understand,” he said.
“Thank you.” I pulled him closer and wrapped my arms around him.
He squeezed me tight, smelled my hair and then kissed my forehead. “If you’re really going to do this, could you please take a room at the casino? I can protect you there.”
“Dominic …” I said, sighing.
“Please? I won’t bother you. I promise I’ll keep my distance. I just want you to be safe, and with all those guards around, you will be.”
He had a point. “All right. If I can get my old room back.”
He smiled, his eyes still glazing with tears. “Good.” He stood up, pulled his phone from his pocket and called his assistants.
They arrived in no time and started picking up and packing my stuff like buzzing bees. They swarmed the house and stacked up my things neatly, then used a cart to ride it out of the house. It almost felt as if I was being thrown out, albeit that I knew it was on my own request.
Still, it felt strange to leave him like this.
The tension between us was sharp as a knife during the drive to the casino. He sat on the other end of the car, not moving an inch, barely blinking. If it weren’t for his loud breathing, I swear he could’ve been made of stone.
When we were in the elevator, I was struck with the sudden memory of us meeting here for the first time. It made my cheeks glow. Especially when I thought of how I ogled him and wanted to get my hands on him.
Oh, and would I!
If I had only known back then.
We’d arrived at my hotel room, and it felt like it was such a long time ago since I was last here. The entire trip here was so excruciatingly painful, I was practically swimming in sweat, so nervous.
I used the key to unlock the door and opened it. The musty smell inside and the sight of that king size bed I would sleep in all alone made me cringe. Was I really doing this?
Yes, Julie, you have to. You need some time to think.
“Hey, um …” he began.
I turned around. Dominic had his hand in his hair and pulled a strange face, like he didn’t know what to say.
“I’m here, if you need me. I’ll always be here, you know.”
I chuckled. “I know.”
“If you need anything, give me a call, all right? I’ll do anything for you.” He placed his loose hand on the wall between my room and the door.
I smiled. “Thank you, Dom. I appreciate it.”
He pursed his lips and leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. “I meant it when I said I love you. I really do. I don’t want to be apart from you, but if that’s what you want-what you need-then I won’t stop you. I might be dominant, but I’m not keeping you in my house against you will.”
He came close, even closer, so close our lips were almost touching. It was longing I felt, wanting to be together with him. I needed him by my side, but at the same time I was terrified of what could happen. I could feel the spark between us, but my mind pulled me into reality again. The reality where he was the reason I was kidnapped.
I pulled back and took a deep breath. “Goodnight, Dom.” I closed my eyes and shut the door, closing the space between us.