“Why?” was all he said.
“I’m sorry, Dom. I just … you weren’t here, and I needed to know what was going on. I can’t live like this, not knowing anything, it’s eating me up.”
“And? Did it quell your curiosity?”
My eyes drifted to the floor, unable to look him in the eye. “It only gave me more questions.”
“Like what? Don’t you trust me?”
“I do … I just … my past experiences have made me so insecure. Every woman I see speaking to you makes me think she wants you for herself.”
He laughed.
I shake my head. “I’m such a jealous bitch. Pathetic.”
He took my chin with between his thumb and index finger and forced me to look at him. “Hey, you are not a bitch, don’t call yourself that. Of course, I understand if you’re a bit scared, seeing what your ex did to you.” He cupped my face and brushed his fingers along the edge of my jaw. “Listen. I’m not cheating. I will never do that to you.” He searched my face for a reaction. I nodded quietly.
“That woman is just …” he grew silent.
“Just what?” I asked.
“She’s helping me with some shit at work.”
“Some shit? You mean that shit your father left you? Tell me, what kind of shit are you in, exactly?” I raised one eyebrow daringly.
He sighed again and licked his lips. “Nothing you want to know. It will only make things worse if you do.”
I rolled my eyes. “Why can’t you just tell me what’s wrong?”
“Because that will hurt even more, trust me,” he said, turning his eyes toward the floor. “Please … just stop. Don’t ask me to do this.”
“Well, whatever it is, drinking won’t solve your problems either, Dom,” I repeated. Maybe it would sink in if only I said it often enough. “I know all too well.”
He snorted and shook his head. “As if anything else will.”
I put my hands on his waist and slowly nudged him closer. He didn’t resist. “I could ease the pain a little. If you let me.”
I pulled him in for a soft kiss on the lips. It was tender and passionate, but his desire to always take me grew again, and soon his mouth opened. With his tongue he plundered my mouth, forcing himself upon me. His hands slipped from the counter to my back, and then it was like he tried to devour me.
Suddenly he released me, snatched the bottle from behind me and took a step back.
“Hey!” I yelled, as he held the bottle high up in the air. Raising his head, he took a sip straight from the bottle.
“What the hell,” I murmured.
He let out a big sigh after the drink. “Refreshing.”
“Give that back,” I said, and I reached for the bottle, my arms and legs stretching to their limit. I wasn’t tall enough to even get to his hands. He swayed the bottle back and forth, a sneaky smile curving his lips, while he raised his eyebrows a couple of times.
“Come on,” I said. I jumped up and down, but each time he held the bottle up higher.
He laughed and looked down at me. “Well, this is a nice view.” Then I noticed he wasn’t actually looking at my eyes, but at my chest.
I could feel them bounce each time I was jumping, and the moment I realized he was eyeing them, I stopped, heat rushing to my cheeks.
I pursed my lips and squinted. “Whatever.”
Folding my arms, I turned around and walked to the door. “Go ahead, drink until you faint. I thought you might like to have me instead of the booze, but I guess not. Have fun.”
I left him standing in the kitchen as he sloshed down more whiskey. I walked up the stairs, but when I was halfway up, he yelled, “Hey, where are you going? I was only fooling around.”
He stood at the bottom of the stairs, gaping at me with the bottle still in his hands.
“Come on … get back here,” he said, throwing his head back.
“Make me,” I said.
His head tilted back and a mischievous grin appeared on his face, his eyes narrowing.
Oh, dear.
Dominic stormed up the stairs like a predator on the loose. I screamed and ran further up, but he caught me when I just reached the top. His hands clenched firmly around my body, and he swooped me up in one go.
“Ah! What are you doing?” I yelped as he carried me to the playroom.
“You said you’d ease the pain if I let you. Well, now I’m letting you.”
I snorted. “That was before you went all childish on me.”
He laughed. “That wasn’t childish. I was merely enjoying the view of you clambering me. I can’t help that I like innocent, helpless women struggling to get to me.” I could hear the bottle of whiskey sloshing back and forth in his hand.