Page 116 of Restore Me

Sloane: Is that what I think it is?

I hit send on the message just as the valet pulls up in my car. I run around to the driver’s side and press a tip into his hand before sliding into the seat. Another message notification pings as soon as I pull away from the curb and flashes on the display screen in the car.

Dominic: Come home and find out.

I’m not that far away from the house, so I don’t text him back. Besides, using the short drive to get my emotions under control seems wise. I want to go into this with a clear head and heart, with nothing but the absolute certainty of my feelings for him driving me forward.

By the time I make it to the front door, I’m practically vibrating with excitement. The thrill of knowing everything in our relationship is about to change for the better makes my hands shake as I slide my key into the front door. Before I can turn it though, it swings open and Dom is there. Standing in front of me with a warm smile curving his lips and his arms open wide.

I fall into them immediately, and he walks us backward until I’m in the house and then slams the door shut. I’m pinned to it in the span of a heartbeat, and my breath catches as he picks me up so we’re eye to eye. I wrap my legs around his waist and let my purse and keys fall to the floor so I can grip his face and pull his mouth down on mine.

The kiss is slow and luxurious like we have all the time in the world, and Dom lets me guide it. My fingers flex in the soft hairs of his beard as I explore his mouth with my tongue. He tastes amazing. Like cinnamon, oranges, and mint. And I lick into his mouth like a woman starved; my tongue tangling with his in a carnal swirl that leaves us both panting and wanting more when he pulls away.

“I guess it’s safe to say you missed me.”

I brush my nose across his, loving the way his eyes flutter closed before opening again. This time they’re a little less focused and a few shades darker, that rich brown slowly giving way to black.

“I did. Apparently, I’ve grown accustomed to spending my evenings by your side. How terribly inconvenient.”

I scrunch my nose up as if being used to spending my nights with him is the worse thing that could happen to me, and he rewards me with a pinch to my ass before carrying me over to the couch and throwing me on the cushions. His body comes down over mine immediately, covering every inch of me with the exquisite pressure of his weight.

Dom buries his face in my neck and inhales. Pulling in a long, deep breath and then kissing me there until I squirm underneath him. He chuckles darkly against my skin, and I pretend to be annoyed by shoving half-heartedly at his chest. I’m just about to wrap my legs back around his waist when his phone starts ringing in his pocket.

“Shit.” He shifts and pulls the phone out of his pocket to look at the screen. Whoever is calling must be someone he needs to talk to because he jumps off of the couch and gives me an apologetic look. “Sorry, angel. I’ve got to take this.”

I wave my hand at him and smile. “It’s fine, Dom. I need to run upstairs and change out of my work clothes anyway.”

“Sounds good. I should be up in a minute.” He offers me his hand, which I happily take, and pulls me off of the couch, smacking my ass before heading down the hall to the office.

I hear the low rumble of his voice as he answers the call, and I can’t help but smile to myself as I head upstairs. My hopeful brain conjuring a vision of a million nights just like this.

Dom and I home together.

His noise and warmth filling the house where chilly silence used to be.

.

36

Sloane

Now

Changing out of my work clothes quickly turns into a whole ordeal that includes taking a long shower, completing all the steps of my neglected skincare routine, and putting on something other than Eric’s t-shirt to lounge around in for the rest of the night.

I almost shed a tear when I bypass the worn cotton shirt and choose a silk negligee that barely covers my ass, but telling Dom I want a future with him while I’m wearing a very real representation of my past seems kind of wrong. I know it doesn’t bother him—all of the little reminders of my love for Eric—but this moment is for us, and I don’t want anything to make him doubt the depth of my feelings for him.

I’m settled on the edge of the bed, rubbing lotion into my skin, when Dom comes sidling through the door with a fork, a canister of whipped cream, and a plate holding a slice of double chocolate cheesecake in his hands. The smirk curving his lips tells me everything I need to know about where his mind is right now: so far in the gutter there’s no hope of fishing it out, and I narrow my eyes at him and shake my head.

“I just want to eat my cheesecake in peace.” And tell you I love you before we have sex, so you don’t think I’m only saying it because of the mind-blowing orgasms.

“Then we’re on the same page.” He drops down to his haunches in front of me, setting the plate and fork in my hand. I watch as he uncaps the canister and adds a generous dollop of whipped cream to the top of the slice. “I just want the honor of watching you while you do it.”

I wrinkle my nose at him. “You see me eat all the time.”

“And yet somehow it never gets old.” He watches me intently, and those dark eyes, glowing with desire and interest, make my skin tingle. “Eat, angel. I want you to taste like chocolate the next time I kiss you.”

The order strikes a chord deep inside of me, throwing gasoline on a fire that’s always burning for him. Heat rushes down my spine, a tightening deep in my core making me grow slick with need. My hand shakes slightly as I grip the fork and break off a piece of the dessert I no longer want because every cell in my body is distracted with wanting him. Still, I manage to take a bite; my eyes falling shut a little to savor the tangy, sweet flavor of the cheesecake and whipped cream on my tongue. Dom groans underneath his breath, and one of his hands goes to my thigh.

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