Page 74 of Between Love and Loathing

“Because what, baby? You got fucked so good last night you wanted to sleep in?” I licked my lips as she bit hers. “I like this look on you best, by the way.”

“Oh my God. You know what? There are rules if I’m staying.” She cleared her throat. “One, you don’t talk about the sex we shouldn’t have had.”

I chuckled. “I’ll consider it.”

She scoffed. “And you don’t come into my room unannounced, and you let the cats roam free.”

I glanced down at them. “Obviously. They’re not trained well at all. They’ve wandered in here already like they own the place.”

She rolled her eyes, but I saw how she chewed her cheek like she couldn’t get enough of how they loved me. “And you stop wearing those glasses.”

“What for?” I barked out a laugh.

“They’re distracting.”

“Noted but not in agreement unless you promise to only wear the dresses my hands can disappear under quickly and with no underwear so I can—”

“Stop.” She held up a hand as she dragged her teeth over those red lips. I pushed the cats off my lap and rearranged myself. Now that I had her, I wasn’t going to think of much else.

“Sure you want to stop, or are we just getting started?” I saw the way her nipples were hardening under that sleep shirt.

“I want to decorate a room or two where I’ll be.”

I started to object, but she held up her hand.

“I don’t want your input. It’s yes or no.”

“Clara, our tastes are—”

“Different, and I need—” She took a deep breath and I saw pain in her eyes before she glanced away. Then she massaged a part of her shoulder that I noticed always bothered her. “I need a place I’m relaxed in, Dominic. I was trying to make that at my apartment.”

Silence filled the room between us as I warred with giving in and giving up what I felt I’d perfected. The home wasn’t full of flair and eccentricities of color like she would have wanted. Yet, it flowed. It was a Dominic Hardy design, and it was mine.

Not hers.

I’d taken what was hers.

“Fine, but—”

“I’m not done.” She held up one tiny finger, and I had to keep from smiling. “You don’t say a word when I’m baking in the kitchen. You let me do what I want in there. And you get used to my bakery name being Sugar and Spice because I already told Rita it’s one of the changes, and after arguing for way too long about it, the sign is coming in a few days.”

I glanced at the kittens that were already growing on me somehow.

“Don’t hurt their feelings, Dominic,” she warned.

“That it?” I said. She could have asked for the world, and I would have given it to her at this point to make her stay.

She frowned. “I think so.”

“Good. I intend to walk in the bathroom every time you’re taking a shower.”

She rolled her eyes. “Absolutely not. What if I’m—” When she stopped immediately, I knew exactly what she was about to say.

“What if you’re what?”

“Well, um… In there with someone else?” she squeaked out, trying to distract me from what she was really going to say, but it did its job.

My brows slammed down, and I shut my laptop before pacing slowly over to her. She leaned back as I caged her in and dipped my head down close to her face. “You’re not having other men here… or anywhere, Clara. You’re mine.”