Page 24 of Paws and Claws (Saltwater Grove Romances #4)

24

DOMINIC

T he sound of footsteps echoing down the concrete corridor made Dominic's lion stir. He recognized Connor's steady gait before his deputy came into view.

"Someone paid your bail, boss." Connor unlocked the cell door, the metal hinges creaking. "Bruce isn't happy about it, but there's nothing he can do."

Dominic stepped out, rolling his shoulders to ease the tension from being caged for so long. His lion prowled under his skin, still agitated from the confinement. "Thank you for getting me out, Connor."

"Wasn't me." Connor's expression softened. "And for what it's worth, I know you're not working with those Hunters. The whole thing stinks."

"That means a lot." Dominic clasped his deputy's shoulder. Connor was good people - loyal and sharp.

The familiar scent hit him before they reached the main area - jasmine and lightning, Tabitha's unique magical signature. His lion sprung forward, desperate to see her. He was worried sick about her while he was stuck in the holding cell for the past six hours. But the guilt from this morning's hasty departure soon twisted in his gut.

She stood by the front desk, her purple hair catching the fluorescent lights. The sight of her made his chest tight. She'd paid his bail. After he'd left her alone this morning without a word, she'd still come to his rescue.

"Tabitha." His voice came out rougher than he wanted. She didn't turn around. "Thank you for-"

"Save it." She grabbed her leather jacket off the counter, still not looking at him. "I didn't do it for you. I did it for the town."

The dismissal stung more than he expected. His lion growled, wanting to grab her and explain everything. But she had every right to be angry.

"At least let me explain about this morning-"

"Nothing to explain." She headed for the door, her boots clicking against the linoleum. "You made yourself pretty clear when you snuck out."

"That's not-" The door swung shut behind her, cutting off his protest.

Frustration and regret warred in his chest. He'd handled everything so poorly this morning. Last night had been absolutely incredible - passionate and real in a way he hadn't expected. And like an idiot, he'd panicked and run.

Now she thought he regretted it. Dominic's lion roared inside him, demanding action right now. For once, he was going to listen to his instincts instead of his carefully measured thoughts. His long strides ate up the distance across the parking lot as he caught sight of Tabitha's purple hair gleaming in the afternoon sun.

"Tabitha, wait," he called out. She paused mid-step but didn't turn around. "Come have coffee with me."

She half-turned, one eyebrow raised. "That wasn't a question, Sheriff."

"No, it wasn't." He moved closer, drawn to her like a magnet. "I need to talk to you about last night. About this morning. About everything."

Her blue eyes studied him, searching for something. The silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken words. His lion paced eagerly, wanting to grab her and never let go.

"Please." The word felt foreign on his tongue - he rarely begged for anything. But for her, he'd do it a million times over. "Will you let me explain everything at the Cauldron & Cup?"

She crossed her arms, her leather jacket creaking. "You're asking me now?"

"Yes." He stepped closer, close enough to catch the slight intake of her breath.

A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Well, since you asked so nicely..."

Relief flooded through him. He gestured toward his squad car, but she shook her head.

"We'll take my bike." She pulled out her keys, the metal jingling. "That way you can't run off again."

The jab stung, but he deserved it. He followed her to her motorcycle, admiring how she swung her leg gently over the seat with practiced ease. When he settled behind her, his hands found her waist automatically, remembering how that same skin felt under his palms last night.

"Hold on tight, Sheriff." She kicked the bike to life. "I promise to only break three traffic laws on the way there."

Despite everything, he found himself chuckling.

Tabitha's motorcycle purred to a stop outside the Cauldron & Cup. Dominic swung his leg over, his muscles still humming from the ride. His lion preened at how naturally his hands had fit around her waist, how right it felt to be pressed against her back. He turned and extended his hand to her, fighting down the surge of possessiveness when she eyed it warily.

"Let me do this right," he said, his voice low and steady.

After a pause that made his heart beat faster, she slipped her fingers into his. The familiar chime of the bell welcomed them as they stepped inside. The aroma of coffee and magic enveloped them, and the floating menu board reshuffled its offerings in greeting.

They slid into the corner booth, the worn leather seats creaking beneath them. Dominic couldn't help tracking her every movement as she settled in across from him, the way she tucked her hair behind her ear, or how she wouldn't quite meet his eyes.

"Thank you for bailing me out," he said, his fingers curling around the warm coffee mug Nina had brought over. "I'll pay you back-"

"Really?" Tabitha cut him off, her eyes finally snapping to his. "That's what you want to talk about? The bail money?"

His lion growled at her tone, but he deserved that. "No. I want to apologize for this morning. For leaving without-"

"Without a goodbye, without so much as a 'thanks for the great time'?" she interrupted him, leaning forward. Her voice dropped dangerously, "Real classy, Sheriff."

The air was charged with tension between them. "Did it even mean anything to you?" The words came out barely a whisper. "Or was I just another notch in your belt?"

The accusation in her voice caused his lion to rear up. Dominic's hand shot across the table, capturing hers before she could pull away. "It meant everything."

He took a breath, forcing himself to continue. "I freaked out. I'm always in control, always measured, always thinking ten steps ahead. But with you..." He squeezed her hand. "With you, I act on instinct. I feel things I've never felt before. And it scared the hell out of me."

His thumb traced circles on her palm. "I should have stayed. Should have faced those feelings instead of running like a coward. I'm sorry."

Dominic watched Tabitha process his words, his lion tense and alert to her every micro-expression.

Finally, she took a deep breath. "I accept your apology."

His lion settled slightly, though he kept his grip on her hand. She hadn't pulled away yet, and he wasn't about to let go first.

"But..." She met his eyes. "You should know, I'm really bad at relationships. Like, spectacularly bad. And good relationships?" She gave a short laugh. "I wouldn't even know where to start. So I have no idea what this is between us or what it could be."

His thumb traced another circle on her palm. "I really like you." The words came out rougher than intended, his lion pushing to make their interest clear. "More than I expected to. More than I probably should, considering everything."

"But?" Her blue eyes challenged him to continue.

"But with Bruce gunning for both of us, and the Hunters still out there..." He leaned forward, his free hand coming up to brush that stubborn strand of hair behind her ear. "I don't want to rush this and ruin it. You're too important to me."

The admission hung between them, heavy with possibility. His lion purred at their closeness, at the slight catch in her breath when his fingers grazed her ear.

"Look at you being all reasonable," she teased, but her voice was soft.

Dominic watched as Nina's floating menu board rearranged itself above their heads, his lion still rumbling contentedly at having Tabitha's hand in his. The warm glow from the hanging lanterns caught the purple highlights in her hair, making his fingers itch to run through it again.

"So, partners first?" He squeezed her hand, his voice dropping to that low register that made her pulse jump. His lion preened at the reaction.

"Partners." Tabitha nodded, though her eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief. "At least until we take down Bruce and his Hunter friends. Then maybe we can explore... other possibilities."

His lion growled in approval at the suggestion in her tone. "Agreed. Though I reserve the right to arrest you if you break any more traffic laws."

"You can try." She smirked, pulling her hand free to wrap both around her coffee mug. "But we both know how much you enjoy the chase."

The truth of that statement hit harder than he expected. His lion had always enjoyed pursuing her, even back when she was just the town troublemaker who drove him crazy. Now that he knew how she tasted, how she felt in his arms... He cleared his throat. "Focus. Bruce first."

"Right." She took a sip of her coffee, and he definitely didn't track the movement of her throat as she swallowed. "Though I have to say, watching you try to be all professional right now is pretty entertaining."

"Tabitha." He meant it as a warning, but it came out more like a growl.

"What?" She blinked innocently. "I'm just stating facts. Your eyes keep doing that glowy thing."

Dominic forced his lion back, knowing his eyes had indeed started to shift. "You're impossible."

"That's why you like me." She grinned, then sobered. "But you're right. Partners first. Bruce and the Hunters are the priority."

His lion settled at her serious tone, pleased she understood the gravity of the situation. "Good. Because I plan on taking them all down. Every last one."

"There's my big bad sheriff." She reached across the table to pat his hand patronizingly. "Don't worry, I've got your back. Partner."

The way she said 'partner' promised so much more, and his lion purred in anticipation of what would come after they dealt with Bruce.