Page 17 of Laced With Secrets
The offer hung between us—not a demand, not an assumption, but a tentative request for intimacy we’d been denying ourselves for weeks.
“Dominic…” I started, but didn’t know how to finish.
“I know.” His hand dropped from my face, his expression closing off slightly. “I know you’re angry. I hurt you. I know you can’t forgive what I did. But when I couldn’t reach you, when I felt your distress through the bond, but couldn’t get ahold of you…”
He stopped. “Don’t do that to me again. Please.”
I could see it costed him—this vulnerability, this admission of need when I’d spent far too long keeping him at arm’s length.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I didn’t realize there was a dead zone.”
“The Millwater Gorge,” he said, clearly grasping for an alternative focus. “Perfect place to hide something. No signals, completely isolated on private land. I think Hawkins should investigate it.”
As we continued toward the mansion, I was acutely aware of his hand on my back—present but restrained.
Tell him,I thought desperately.Tell him you want him back in your bed. Tell him about the baby. Just open your mouth and say the words.
But my throat closed up, just like it had every other time I’d tried.
“Dominic,” I said softly as we reached the front steps where Penny waited with our things, clearly ready to leave. “When we get back to Blake’s… maybe we could talk? Really talk?”
His eyes met mine, hope and wariness warring in their steel-gray depths. “I’d like that.”
“I can’t promise I’ll forgive you,” I warned. “But maybe… maybe we can figure out how to move forward.”
“Whatever you need,” he said quietly, his hand tightening briefly on my back before releasing. “Whatever pace you need. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
In the car, with Penny diplomatically absorbed in his phone in the back seat, I leaned my head against the window and closed my eyes.
Tonight,I promised myself.
But even as I made the promise, doubt whispered that when the moment came, my voice would fail me again.
Just like it always did.
CHAPTER FIVE
The penthouse was empty when we entered. Blake was still handling HDC business, and wouldn’t be back until late evening.
“I’m going to shower and change,” Penny announced immediately, already heading toward his temporary room. “Jake texted—he and Sarah are catching a movie at seven. Marcus is driving us.” He paused at his doorway, shooting me a meaningful look. “We’ll be gone for at least three hours. Maybe four.”
The implication was clear: we’d be completely alone.
“Have fun,” I managed, my voice coming out breathier than intended.
Penny’s smile was knowing. “Oh, I think you’ll be the one having fun.” He disappeared into his room before I could respond.
Jake emerged from the kitchen, already dressed for the evening. “Movie night,” he explained unnecessarily, his green eyes darting between Dominic and me. “We, uh, we’ll text before we come back.”
“No need to rush,” Dominic said, making it clear he wanted the privacy.
Within fifteen minutes, Penny and Jake were showered, changed, and headed out the door to meet Marcus and Sarah. The moment the door closed behind them, the silence felt different—heavy with promise, anticipation, the electric charge of something about to break.
Dominic stepped toward the windows, his silhouette cutting against the glittering lights of the cityscape far below. I remained rooted across the room, unable to tear my gaze from the broad expanse of his shoulders.
Two weeks. He’d been sleeping on that couch for nearly two weeks, exiled because of choices I couldn’t easily forgive even though my body ached for him every night.
Tonight,I’d promised myself in the car.