"I'm sorry Dominic but I really must head home. I'm about to fall asleep at the table." She exclaimed around another yawn.
"Ah well, we can't have that now can we? How about I drive you and your car back to Kit's? I don't live far from her place so I can walk home afterwards."
Adele meant to brush him off, meant to say "no thanks, I'll be right" but apparently her mouth didn't get that message and ran off on its own:
"That would be nice, thanks Dominic."
They both got up and put their jackets on and left the pub heading towards her Corolla. They drove to Kit's place in comfortable silence. Adele felt so relaxed. She was so tired that not having to worry about driving was a God-send. Dominic pulled her car into Kit's driveway and hopped out. He was around her side opening the door before she realized he'd moved--damn that man was fast. He held his hand out for hers and without a moments hesitation she slid her palm against his. He gently pulled her up out of the car, straight into his arms. He moved his hands so they rested on her waist, thumbs around the front, fingers splayed across her lower back. Again, his actions felt possessive, like he was claiming her. She could feel his heat searing through her clothes, sending shivers up and down her spine.
"I had a great night, Adele, thank you." His voice was low, deep and so damn sexy.
Adele raised her head to look into his eyes to voice a response but she didn't get the chance. Before she could get a sound out, his mouth descended upon hers.
Oh, wow. She'd never been kissed before, and even if she had she doubted it would have come close to Dominic's. She slowly put her hands on his chest, ran them up until she had her arms around his neck. He was so strong. His whole body was hard with muscle, except his lips. They were soft, so soft and gentle. His mouth was wooing her with seductive tenderness. He traced his tongue along the seam of her lips and she gasped as she felt it all the way down to her core. Her body came alive for the very first time. He took the invitation; he delved into her mouth, drugging her, pulling her further under his spell. When the need to breathe became more than they could ignore, they pulled apart both breathing heavily. Dominic rested his forehead against hers--his eyes were hooded and smoldering. For a moment, she wished she already had her own place so he could come inside with her.
"Wh--what are you doing to me?" Adele whispered as she lowered her arms placing her hands on his very well defined pectoral muscles, feeling his rapid heart beat and the muscles twitch beneath her palms.
"I was kissing you, beautiful. I like you Adele, really like you. I just thought I'd show you." He said softly as he gave her another light kiss on the lips, trailing his fingers down her cheek to hold her chin while he brushed his thumb over her now kiss swollen lower lip.
"Good night, my beautiful Adele, sweet dreams." He whispered before releasing her, pressing her keys into her palm and stepping away.
~ * ~
Dominic left Adele leaning against her car in a daze. He didn't like leaving her out in the open but if he didn't leave right now, he would be inside her and he knew it was too soon for that. He knew if he'd gone that far she would run, and run fast. He would probably never win her heart if she ran. So he jogged across the road out of her sight and watched as she slowly came back to herself. She looked down at her hand a moment before using the keys there to lock her car, then headed up to the front door. The whole time she kept touching her lips in a way that made Dominic certain his had been her first kiss. The tentative manner she responded to him made him think it might have been her first but watching her now, he was certain of it. The thought no other man had touched what was fated to be his made him purr out loud with pride and delight.
Once she was safely inside the house he shifted and took off to run along the riverbank. He had never been happier, even if he was more than slightly sexually frustrated.
Chapter Five
Jake answered the phone. As soon as he had the details he hit the button to sound the siren. Dominic, Conner, Kit, Joel and Jordan were on call; they were hanging in the kitchen so within ten minutes they were all geared up in the trucks ready to head out.
Jake jumped behind the wheel of one while Dominic drove the other. Jake hit the door opener, started the truck up and they drove out.
"What have we got, boss?" Joel asked him as they took off.
"Fire at the wharf down at Strahan, logging ship's gone up and all the timber's alight. Don't know we'll be able to save the vessel this time round. It sounds like it's burning pretty hot already. It's a big one; both us and Queenstown are going in to back them up." Jake responded. Once a logging ship full of timber got going, there wasn't much they could do aside from stopping the spread to the other boats and the docks.