Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 66453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66453 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Dominic pulled back, still gripping the countertop, breathing raggedly. “We will have to do something about our situation though,” he muttered. “If I could get you a position with another management firm–”
I nodded emphatically. I liked working at Marks Wealth Management well enough, but if I had to choose between my position there and Dominic, it was no contest. “Do we have to wait until I’m not an employee?”
His gaze skimmed over my face, back down to my throat. “I don’t think I can.”
“Good,” I said fervently.
We forced ourselves apart to finish the dishes. Jake and Christi wanted to play a game when we were done, so we went into the living room and played for almost two hours. The wine wasn’t affecting me exactly, I was very careful to keep to one glass, but it was like the whole evening was going to my head. Kissing Dominic in his sister’s kitchen, the burning imprint of his hands still on the small of my back, the nape of my neck. Sneaking glances at him over the gameboard, hearing his wry observations that were casually presented to the group but I knew were meant just for me – it was all intoxicating.
Too much and not enough, all at the same time.
At the end of the evening, as he helped carry out some of the leftovers Marjorie had packed up for us, he murmured, “You know Jake is going to sneak over to your apartment later.”
“You two could ride together,” I teased.
“Or you could sneak over to my place.” We were blocked from view by the open trunk, and Dominic took advantage of the moment to press a kiss against my lips. Quick, but with the promise of more.
“I don’t know,” I said breathlessly. “Is that a good idea?”
“Didn’t we already agree it was a fucking terrible idea but we were going to do it anyway?” Dominic asked impatiently, closing my trunk.
“We did,” I agreed, wishing he’d left it open. I wanted his mouth on mine again.
“So come over. If you get to my place and change your mind, you know I won’t touch you.”
“The problem is, if I get to your place, there’s no way I’ll change my mind.”
I was glad no one was standing in the doorway, waiting for us. The heat in Dominic’s eyes was as telling as any kiss. “Come over,” he repeated quietly. “I’ll make you glad you didn’t change your mind.”
I nodded, giving into everything I wanted, forgetting all of the reasons why I shouldn’t want it. Forgetting that it would take a miracle to keep this all from being a huge mistake.
After all, Mrs. Kloss had said it herself. It was Christmas. If ever there was a time for miracles, this was it.
Time took on a shadowy dimension. It felt like an eternity passed between driving away from Marjorie’s house and driving up to Dominic’s. I’d pretended like I was going to bed, ignored Christi’s knowing smile, and then snuck out after I heard her own bedroom door shut. I had the mildly hysterical thought that I would run into Jake in the parking lot, but luck was on my side.
Then, the time between arriving at Dominic’s door and the two of us climbing the stairs to his bedroom felt like seconds. I know we went into the kitchen for a glass of wine. I know we kissed and laughed about something to do with Thanksgiving, but it felt like it was happening to someone else. It wasn’t until his hand was in mine, letting me lead him up the open staircase, that I came back into myself with a pleasant jolt.
This is where I was meant to be. The thought was visceral, and it wiped away any last hesitation or concerns I had about giving my virginity to a man who had already told me he couldn’t give me anything in return.
Inside his bedroom, I opened the curtains rather than turn on a lamp. The night was unusually clear, dark indigo, speckled with stars. The full moon slanted faint silvery light across the floorboards. Dominic had shut the door behind us, but he was still standing at it. Waiting. Naked hunger in his eyes as they met mine.
I walked toward his bed rather than him, pulling my sweater over my head as I went. I was wearing a bra I’d bought just for tonight. Red velvet straps, lace balconette cups that held my breasts high. Dominic didn’t say a thing, but he started toward me. I slipped my jeans off before he reached me, crawling into his bed in just my bra and matching panties.
“You look good in my bed,” he said. His face looked expressionless, but there was a twitch at his jaw that gave him away. His hands were rigidly at his sides, like he was waiting for permission, but there was a bulge in his pants that told me he wouldn’t wait long.