Page 89 of Yearn

And he wanted it.

He wantedme.

He stroked down my spine. His hand spread wide as though he could cover every ache, every scar, every fault line in me.

My body melted against him.

When my crying softened and then finally stopped, he pressed his lips to my damp cheek and whispered, “I’ve got you, Teyonah. Always.”

“Thank you.” I drew in a shuddering breath. “I’ve got you too.”

We stood like that for a few more breaths.

The hot beat of it slowed.

My breathing came down.

Then, he let me go.

I found my footing.

The pipes ticked as they cooled.

“Come on. It’s already late tonight. We both have busy days tomorrow.” He stepped back, steadied his hands on my waist, and guided me out of the shower.

I was so unaccustomed to this behavior. “T-thank you.”

“For what?”

“For. . .everything. . .making me cum. . .helping this morning with breakfast. . .picking up the kids. . .giving them dinner and putting them to sleep tonight. . .”

“Isn’t that my job?”

“It’s not.”

“It is if I’m going to love you.”

Shock rocketed through me. “Dominic. . .”

“And that’s my plan, Teyonah. I want to love you. It feels too good.” He snagged a towel and wrapped it around me with so much care, tucking it beneath my arms.

The fabric was warm from the heater and soft against my trembling skin.

His fingers brushed my collarbone when he drew the edges together, lingering there and stroking the hollow of my throat with his thumb. “Are you warm?”

“Yes.”

“Do you need another towel?”

“No.” My throat went tight again.

He tilted my chin until I had no choice but to look at him. His eyes were unguarded, no longer wicked, no longer teasing, just clear and steady. “Teyonah, I didn’t come into your life to be another man who takes. I came to give. All of me. Even the boring parts—groceries, bedtime, breakfast. All of it. You don’t have to earn it. You don’t have to be perfect. Do you understand that?”

My heart ached.

“I. . .I don’t know how to do this. I’m not as experienced with life as you, but I believe that you don’t have to know how to do this. Let’s just try to be happy together.”

I exhaled a shaky laugh. “God, you’re going to ruin me.”