Page 74 of 4th Degree

I quirk an eyebrow at him. “Are we really?”

I just get a grin in response.

But I don't fight him on it. I know Joey would rather get a ride than take the bus—my pride doesn't need to come into play here. Plus, Dominic already proved earlier that he respects my boundaries when he didn't offer to pay for everyone. He didn't say anything when I ordered first and paid first; he just waited for his turn to place his own order.

The ride home is a quiet one. I see Joey nodding off in the backseat, so Dominic and I settle into a comfortable silence. I can't seem to wipe the happy smile off my face.

When we pull up in front of the house, Joey wakes with a startled snort. Dominic doesn't bother to hide his chuckle. I expect him to stay in the car, but instead, he shuts off the engine and steps out.

Once we're all standing on the sidewalk, I look at my brother and jerk my head toward the house. “Go to bed. No video games. It's already way too late on a school night.”

Joey rolls his eyes. “And here I thought you were loosening up,” he says, unable to smother his yawn.

“I am loosening up. I just took you out for your favorite pizza despite it being late on a school night.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he grumbles. Then he sighs. “I guess it's nice to see you having a little fun, though. You should do it more often.”

I don't miss Dominic's grin out of the corner of my eye. “Just go inside,” I weakly scold my brother. “I'll be in in a second.”

Dominic extends his fist toward Joey, who returns a fist bump of his own. “Good game tonight,” Dominic tells him.

Joey nods his thanks. “Good job getting my sister out of her shell.”

That earns him a glare. “Inside.”Swinging his gym bag onto his shoulder, he turns toward the house. And then I hear the obnoxious kissing sounds that he starts to make.

He's close enough that my kick can still reach his ass.

Letting out a yelp, he disappears through the front door.

The shyness that only seems to appear around Dominic creeps back as soon as my brother's out of sight. I turn toward him, lifting my eyes to finally meet his gaze.

“Thanks for hanging out tonight,” I say softly. “And for the ride home.”

“Thanks for letting me tag along.” He nods toward where Joey went. “He's a really good kid.”

I smile.“Yeah, he is.”

He steps closer, close enough that he can wrap his arm around my waist. I’m sure there are stars in my eyes when I tilt my head up toward him.

“It was fun spending time with you outside of the gym,” he says, his opposite hand lifting to brush along my jaw. “No MMA, no fighters—I feel like I got a whole new side of you.”

“Yeah?” I breathe. “Still like me enough to keep seeing me?”

Leaning down, he brushes his lips against mine, not quite kissing me, just letting us breathe each other’s air. And suddenly I’m wondering how I survived the past few hours without Dominic’s hands on my body and his lips on my skin.

“I think I like you more now,” he whispers.

And then he’s kissing me. And I forget about everything that isn’t his lips on mine.

Right away, he sinks both hands into my hair, his tongue prying my lips open so he can deepen the kiss. My hands clutch onto his shirt, and I kiss him back with just as much passion.

I feel my back hit the side of his car. The entire length of his body flattens against mine as he devours my mouth. When a moan slips from my lips, he swallows it with a growl and presses into me even harder.

I don’t know if I’ve ever been this turned on in my life. Every time Dominic touches me, it feels like a new level of attraction, a new level of need. I don’t know or care where we are right now, I just know I need him closer. I need him closer.

Which means when he pulls back, a whimper slips from my lips. Then I notice with a start that I’ve wrapped my leg around his hip and am shamelessly grinding against him.

“Easy, baby,” he breathes. I love hearing his raspy breath, and feeling his chest heaving against mine. It gives away how much he got caught up in it too. “That’s not why I kissed you.”

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