"Well then, mon amour, we'd best get inside before the others arrive and beat us over the threshold."
Adele beamed as Dominic carried her through the doorway. He was so sweet. He had a huge grin on his face, like carrying her was the best thing he'd ever done. She wasn't sure how she managed to catch this tender, sweet, strong man, but she was sure she never, ever wanted to let him go.
As soon as they were inside the door he bent down and nuzzled her neck. She heard him inhale against her skin. He always breathed deeply against her skin. It tickled, made her giddy and gave her butterflies.
"Welcome home, Adele." He whispered softly in her ear before he proceeded to devour her mouth with his. When the need for air forced them to separate, they pulled apart slightly; both were breathing heavily.
"Hmmm, as much as I'd love to continue, we need to check through the house before the others get here. I want to make sure it's all clean and empty." Adele's voice cracked as she spoke, Dominic had her so aroused.
"I don't want to put you down just yet, beautiful. How about I carry you around on a tour?" His voice was husky, as if he was as turned on as she was. Before she could muster a response, he started for the kitchen. He strode up to the bench and set her down, planting himself between her legs. She kept her arms wrapped around his neck.
"Hmmm, I think we need to christen all the rooms with a kiss at least. Got the front room covered, now for the kitchen." He leaned in to kiss her and she tilted her face to him, silently encouraging him to take what he wanted from her. She was melting into his kiss when she felt him tense. She was about to ask what was wrong when she heard car doors. She raised an eyebrow as he placed her back on the ground. Just what was he up to? He had that lopsided grin he knew melted her. He was definitely up to something.
Adele was grateful Dominic let her walk out the front on her own feet. As much as she loved being wrapped up in Dominic's arms, she'd like to keep those moments private. Dominic had mentioned he'd recruited a couple of the guys from the station to help her move; so that was what she expected to find, just a couple of the guys. She took one step out her front door and froze with her hand still on the knob. Two small moving trucks were backing down her drive while a group of men walked up from a car parked out on the street.
"Dominic, I thought you said a couple of guys would be helping us? And there is no way in hell all the things I bought from the second hand shop would need two trucks to move. What on earth have you done?" She turned to look at Dominic as she finished speaking.
He was looking a little sheepish. "Surprise," was all he whispered before he quickly approached and wrapped her in a hug.
"I did only mention it to a couple of the guys, but word spreads fast around here. You know that, and as people found out you were doing all this so you could take Kelly in, they started donating things. You've pretty much got everything you could ever want or need now."
Adele felt her eyes prick with tears and she blinked fast to try to stop them but it was no use, they began to fall. Dominic wiped them away and gave her a quick kiss. "Don't cry, baby. Think of it like a welcome to the family. You're part of Rosebery now." Dominic's words just made her tears flow faster.
Adele curled into Dominic's chest as he scooped her up and walked back into the house. He carried her straight out the back and sat down on the wooden bench with her on his lap. She felt like a fool, falling apart because people were being nice to her, but she just couldn't get her head around all these people here to help her. She felt Dominic's hands rubbing over her back, arms and legs while his cheek rested on the top of her head. His touch helped soothe her. After ten minutes or so she'd calmed down. He ran his hands through her hair, dragging the bits that had stuck to her tears on her face and tucking them behind her ears. He gave her a soft kiss on her forehead that was so tender it broke through her walls and she began to speak.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to fall apart like that." She took a few deep breaths, inhaling Dominic's masculine scent, allowing it to further soothe her.
"No one has ever been so nice. I'm not used to people doing things for me, helping me. I'm not sure how to deal with it all." Adele looked up at him; she used her eyes to plead with him to understand what she meant. He lowered his head and gave her a chaste kiss on the mouth.
"My dear sweet Adele, everyone you meet loves you. Everyone who has met Kelly loves her. You are about to find out exactly what being a part of the emergency services family is all about, because everyone wants to help you and Kelly settle in here and make a life for yourselves." He helped her to her feet and started to lead her back into the house.