He chuckled and pulled me against his body once more. “Are we okay now?”
I rested my hands against the solidness of his chest, giving my words careful consideration. “This isn’t going to work if we can’t communicate, Dom. We can’t get into a huge blowout fight every time something goes wrong. That’s what ruined us the last time. Fighting and making up just to do it all over again isn’t healthy. We need honesty and trust.” I trailed my hands up his chest to his neck, holding tight as my thumbs stroked his scruff-covered jaw. “I want this to work,” I told him softly.
He closed his eyes tightly and rested his forehead against mine. A look of pain washed across his face, but before I could address it, he pulled back and schooled his expression. “I want to make this work too. I will make this work. I won’t go off the rails the next time I get pissed.”
I breathed a long, heartfelt sign of relief.
“But let’s not rule out fighting and making up completely.”
My forehead creased in confusion. “What? Why?”
Dominic’s smile was downright sinful when he said, “Because then we lose out on the wonders of makeup sex.”
I threw my head back with a loud burst of laughter while wrapping my arms around his waist and holding on.
And just like that, everything was better.
Dominic
Honesty.
Trust.
Fuck, I couldn’t get rid of the pressure riding on my shoulders after the conversation in her doorway. I wanted to make us work, but there were things I couldn’t tell her. Specifically the fact that Chelsea was making my life a goddamned nightmare. If Sophia knew about that whole situation, she’d hate me and run for the hills. I couldn’t have that.
All I could hope was that the evil she-bitch went away on her own and I never had to tell Soph about it. That was the only option.
“So,” she started, snapping me out of my reverie, “are you going to come in and cook for me, or what?”
I squeezed her back and lifted her off her tiptoes, moving us past the threshold and into the house. I let her go to grab the groceries and kicked the door shut behind me, earning a disgruntled snort-bark from Lancelot. “I’ll get dinner started. You should let him out before he does something that’ll put a damper on the evening.”
She laughed and disengaged, moving to where the dog was standing in the living room. “Come on, Lancelot. Let’s go potty.”
He collapsed onto his side, sticking all four legs straight out in front of him. “Wow,” I chuckled, staring down at the dog. “Is he normally this lazy?”
Sophia rolled her eyes and bent to pick him up. Lancelot went limp in her arms, like giving her dead weight would be enough to get him out of his bathroom break. “Good Lord,” she grunted. “He might be little but he’s fat as hell. He does this every time.”
She carried him to the sliding glass door that led to her backyard while I headed up to the second level to get started on dinner.
She came back inside a few minutes later, and she and Lancelot kept me company while I put together a margherita pizza, her favorite kind, with fresh basil, tomatoes, and mozzarella. I even went so far as making my own sauce from scratch.
“You know, I might have missed this most of all after we broke up.”
I looked up from placing thick slices of mozzarella on the pizza and glanced over my shoulder. “What? You keeping me entertained while I cook?”
“No, just the cooking. God, I’ve missed the food.”
I mock glowered and started tearing the basil to sprinkle it on top, then opened the preheated oven and slid the pizza inside. Turning to her, I wiped my hands on the dishtowel draped over my left shoulder before propping them on the island between us and resting my weight on my palms.
“So all you miss is the cooking, huh?”
She looked from my hands to the towel, then her gaze slowly traveled up to my eyes. “Not just the cooking.” Her voice took on a husky quality when she spoke. “I missed that dishtowel you always kept draped over your shoulder. I remember that. You never cook without one right there.” She pointed at where it lay over my arm. “Whenever you cooked for me it felt like you were taking care of me. I missed that too,” she ended on a whisper.
I couldn’t get around the island fast enough. Placing my hands on the tops of her knees, I pushed them apart so I could step closer. “I’ve missed all of that too.” My fingers trailed up her thighs to her waist, then clenched, pressing deep into the tiny sliver of skin exposed between the hem of her T-shirt and the waistband of her leggings. “I missed all of that and so much more, butterfly.” My need for her was bordering on uncontrollable. The fear I felt at the thought of losing her all over again damn near crippled me. I walked around in a constant state of panic; the only time my gut wasn’t twisted into knots was when I was with her.
I couldn’t get enough of her, even while in her presence. “I love you, Sophia.” She opened her mouth but I wasn’t finished. “And I’m not saying that in the hopes you’ll say it back, I swear. I just… I need you to know. I love you. I never stopped.” I leaned in and rested my forehead against hers, my heart swelling so big it was painful. “I don’t need you to say it back right now, I can wait. You’re under my skin, baby. I have absolutely no clue how to live without you.”
She smashed her mouth against mine, catching me off guard, but only for a second. When I had her in my arms, when she was pressed against me, it was impossible for me not to take over and demand more.
Her whimper turned into a moan as I forced my tongue past her lips. She tasted amazing, like wine with a hint of brown sugar. It made me crazy. Fisting her hair in my hand, I tipped her head for a better angle, kissing her deeper, harder, pouring every ounce of my longing for her into that kiss.
She matched my craving, tangling her tongue with mine. If the fierceness of her kiss didn’t prove that she felt for me how I felt for her, then the way her pupils dilated when she breathed “I need you” was more than enough to do it.
I broke us apart just long enough to whip her shirt over her head and throw it to the floor—on top of a very disgruntled Lancelot, if his annoyed snort was anything to go by.
She pulled at the hem of my tee, her nails lightly scraping across my abs, causing me to groan with pleasure. “Dominic, please. Now.”
It took all my strength to push away long enough to rush over and turn off the oven. I was back on her in moments, lifting her from the stool so she could wrap her legs around my waist as I carried her up the steps to the third floor.
I couldn’t remember my cock ever being so hard; it felt like it was going to bust right through my jeans. No matter how many times I had her, my craving was never satiated. In fact, it only got worse. The instant my dick softened, I wanted her again. And again, and again.
I dropped her onto the bed and had her stripped naked in mere seconds. She sat up and yanked at my belt while I pulled my shirt over my head. Shoes, socks, jeans, boxer briefs—it was all torn off in the blink of an eye. Before I could so much as reach for her, she grabbed me by the shoulders and twisted us so I fell flat on my back. Climbing on top of me, she straddled my hips, her long, silky dark hair cascading down her back and shoulders.
She wrapped her hand around my throbbing length and lined it up with her slick opening. I wanted to thrust my hips, drive inside her so hard she screamed my name, but I held back… just barely. She wanted to be the one in the driver seat this time, and I’d give her anything she wanted.
The head of my dick was soaked with her arousal as she dragged it back and forth along her slit. “Fuck, you’re so hot.” I clenched my teeth so hard my jaw ticked, fisting the comforter so tight I feared I’d rip it. It was either that or grab her hips and plunge her down on me.
Fortunately, she stopped playing around and sank down. Her tight heat squeezed my dick, her walls clenching around me, and I felt like I was home. There wasn’t a single part of her body that I didn’t touch as she rode me, taking
her own pleasure.
Her on top of me, her tits bouncing while she dug at my chest, was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen. She had zero inhibitions. She wasn’t shy when it came to sex, didn’t have any of the body image hang-ups a lot of women had. Her confidence was just one of the many, many things that turned me on.
“That’s it, butterfly,” I growled. “Ride my cock. Take what you want.”
Her head fell back as her pussy grew slicker and tighter.
That didn’t work for me. I needed her eyes. Needed to watch as she built up and finally fell over the edge.
I sat up and grabbed her by the hair, forcing her face back down to mine. Our kiss was somewhat sloppy and uncoordinated as we both got closer to that exhilarating free fall.
“Dom,” she whimpered, her tone helpless, even pleading. Her walls squeezed and I knew. “I’m there.”
I followed quickly after, each of us swallowing the other’s moans and cries. Her pussy milked every drop of cum from me until there was nothing left. Our mutual release was so intense, we both collapsed back onto the bed completely spent.
And just like every other time, being inside of her was the closest I’d ever been to heaven.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Sophia
Dominic said the pizza wasn’t nearly as good reheated, but I totally disagreed. It was delicious. But maybe that was partly because what we’d just done minutes ago worked up a serious appetite.
I was insatiable… and not just for food.
Comfortably full and totally relaxed, I curled into Dominic’s side on my sofa. I was in nothing but a pair of panties and Dominic’s T-shirt; he’d slid back into his jeans but left the button undone. He was stretched out with his bare feet propped on my coffee table. There was something insanely sexy about a shirtless, shoeless Dominic lounging comfortably in my home. It just felt… right.
Grabbing the remote, I hit Play on the show I’d paused when Dom first showed up at my door.
“Is this Game of Thrones?” He asked, sitting up a bit straighter.
I turned my head and looked up in surprise, grinning maniacally. “Yeah. You’re a fan of GoT?”
“Hell yeah!” he exclaimed. “That dwarf dude is the shit!”
If it were possible, I fell for him even more just then. “You do understand that I’d leave you for Jon Snow if he appeared and declared his undying love for me. It’s nothing against you, it’s just… Jon Snow.” I shrugged playfully.
His chest rattled against my ear as he laughed. “Only if you understand that I’d do the same if Khaleesi showed up on my doorstep.”
“Totally acceptable,” I answered seriously. “I wouldn’t blame you at all. She’s hot.”
His arm around me tightened and lifted me enough that he could press his lips against mine. “You’re, like, the perfect woman.”
I couldn’t help but deepen the kiss. There was no getting enough of him. My arousal grew quickly, and I’d just moved to straddle his lap when my front door flew open unexpectedly.
I let out a startled shriek and Dominic’s arms banded around me protectively.
“I swear to God, this wedding planning bullshit is going to make me lose my mi—what the hell is going on here!”
I shot up from the couch, staring at Lola with my jaw hanging open. Dominic followed, coming to stand next to me as his angry voice rumbled, “Jesus fucking Christ, Lola! What the hell are you doing just barging in like that?”
Her bugged-out eyes bounced between Dom and me like a ping-pong ball. “Sweet baby Jesus in a manger in a barn! What did I just walk in on? And why aren’t either of you dressed?” Her voice rose with each word until it grew so shrill that Lancelot barked from his doggy bed in the corner.
“How did you get in?” Dom barked.
“I have a key,” Lola returned, her tone full of attitude. “She’s my best friend, duh.”
He let out a disgruntled huff and turned searching eyes to me, like he was looking to me for direction on how to answer. “We, uh… we’re just….”
“We’re dating,” I blurted without preamble.
Lola squealed so loud I winced. “Oh my God!”
Dominic wrapped his arm around my waist, and when I glanced up he was smiling down at me with so much love and happiness shining in his honey-brown gaze that I melted further into him.
“Does this… is that… I mean… I can’t believe….” She squealed again, that time doing a little happy dance. “You guys are together! We’re finally going to be sisters!”
His head came down and he whispered in my ear, “I see what you mean about pressure.”
Well, at least there was that. I sighed and moved out from under his arm to Lola. “Calm down. This is new, okay? We’re taking it slow so just… I don’t know, try not to get all Nosey Abbatelli on us.”
She sucked in an offended gasp. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
The face I made said “bitch, please” while my mouth said, “You are your mother’s daughter through and through.”
Lola stomped her foot in affront. “Why does everyone keep saying that?”
Rolling my eyes, I crossed my arms over my chest. “What brings you by? Unannounced? At nine o’clock at night?”
She slid her purse off her shoulder and tossed it onto the entryway table. “I’m in wedding planning hell. And Grayson’s no help at all. The jackass actually asked me if he could just give me money and leave him alone about it. I swear, I wanted to strangle him with the spool of ribbon I was using to tie sample bouquets with.”
I shot an apologetic look at Dominic over my shoulder. “Sorry. This is chick territory. You okay with hanging down here with Lancelot while we go up to the kitchen for a bit?”
My mouth watered at the sight of all his muscles contracting as he bent to pick up my puppy, then flopped back down on the couch. “Don’t worry about us. We’ll be fine.”
Lola followed me up to the second story. I pulled a bottle of red from my wine holder and began uncorking while she grabbed two glasses from my cabinet. I poured us each a good amount of wine. “So what’s going on, babe?”
We sat on the stools at the island and got comfortable. She drank half a glass in two large gulps. “Why the hell did I think it was a good idea to make all this shit on my own? Invitations? Centerpieces? Programs? Jeez, Soph, why’d you let me do this? You know I’m not crafty. Pinterest is an asshole! They make it look so easy. The lying bastards!”
I giggled and took a sip. “Hey, don’t blame me. I was the one who voted for you to hire a wedding planner, remember?”
Her head fell back on a pained groan. “You should’ve tried harder to talk me out of it. This is all my mother’s fault. She convinced me this would be fun, and then she went and entered the honeymoon phase of a new marriage.” She took another gulp. “Selfish.”
I tried my best not to laugh and rubbed soothing circles on her back. “So what can I do?”
She looked at me hopefully. “Is it too late to run off to Vegas and elope?”
“Seeing as those fancy homemade invitations of yours went out last week and it’s only a month before the big day, I’d say yeah, honey. It’s safe to say it’s too late.”
“Well you and Daphne are my co-maids of honor.” Clasping my hand in both of hers, she begged, “Help me, pretty please? What do I do? There’s still so much to be done. I can’t finish it by myself.”
I place my free hand over hers. “Okay, sweetie. I’m here. Give me a list and we’ll get this finished. I promise.”
Her entire body seemed to sag in relief. “Thank you. You’re the bestest friend in the whole wide world. You think Daph would be down with me delegating to her too?”
“Of course! I can’t believe you’re only asking now, you jerk. You know damn good and well we’d do anything for you.”
One of her perfectly sculpted eyebrows ticked up. “Better late than never, right?” We clinked our glasses, crisis officially averted.
“So,” sh
e started after a long silence, “you and my brother?”
I let out a husky laugh at the gleeful smile splitting her face in two. “You just can’t help yourself, can you?”
“Can you blame me?” She hopped on her stool. “This is epic, babe. Are you… is it good?”
My eyes went unfocused as I stared out into my kitchen, contemplating her question. “Things are… well they’re pretty great.”
“You’re happy?”
I couldn’t see it, but I had no doubt my smile was just as giddy as hers. “Yeah, I’m happy. We’re still a work in progress, but so far I’m crazy happy.”
“This thrills me beyond belief, you know that.”
I watched her carefully, confused by her sudden change in demeanor. “I sense a but coming. Why do I sense a but?”
“But…,” she dragged out, adding several more syllables to the word. “What about the radio contest?”
For the past several weeks I’d been trying my hardest to push all thoughts of the contest to the back of my mind. It created an unwanted hurdle in what was happening between Dominic and me. I’d been trying to convince myself that we could live in a stress-free bubble regardless of how many times I’d been proven wrong. I still couldn’t help but try.
“Ugh, don’t remind me of the contest. I’ve been trying not to think about it. It’s most definitely a wrench in my relationship with your brother.”
She leaned forward and lowered her voice to match mine. “Why? Are you falling for one of those guys?”
“No!” I cried. “God no, nothing like that. I’m all in with Dominic. Besides, other than BigSpoon, none of them are even worth talking to, and we’ve agreed to just be friends. Turns out he’s still pining after someone too.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
It was my turn to take a hearty gulp of wine. “The problem is the station will lose their shit if I back out of the contest, and Dominic will lose his mind if I take anyone but him to your wedding. I don’t know how to break it to him that in order to keep my job, I still have to take one of those guys as a date.”
Tempting Sophia Page 14