Page 52 of Breaking Free

“You can’t judge someone from what it looks like on the outside.”

He dips his head. “Touché.” After a deep breath, he says, “My dad died. That’s why I’m here. My mom needed help, and I live with her to make sure she’s okay, to keep things afloat, and right now I’m the only one working.”

My eyes widen as air rushes from my lungs. “Oh my God. I’m so sorry, Dominic. That’s...wow, that’s gotta be awful.”

He snorts, surprising me. “Dear old Dad isn’t missed. Not by me anyway, so don’t feel bad about that.”

My shock turns to confusion, but based on his tone, there’s something way deeper there, and I don’t think it’s my place to push him to go into details.

We’re both quiet for a while, but he breaks the silence. “So, anyway.” He hops off the counter. “I’ll be sure to wear my speedo for you tomorrow.”

I grin, shaking my head. “Please don’t.”

“I had fun tonight,” he says, hands in his pockets as he watches me.

“Me too.”

“Give me your number so I can annoy you via text.”

I chuckle. “Give me your phone then.”

He pulls it from his pocket and hands it over. “I expect a lot of dick pics.”

I bark out a laugh. “You send one first.”

“Think I won’t.”

I give him back his phone. “I know you will.”

He takes his phone with one hand, grabbing my wrist with the other and tugging me into him. “Or we can FaceTime while you fuck yourself with a toy.”

“Oh God.”

“Mm. Yeah, I want to hear you moan those words.”

I eye his lips, wanting to kiss him again. He notices but doesn’t make a move, instead waiting to see what I do.

I lean forward slightly, and when he still doesn’t come forward, I just press my lips against his, grabbing the back of his neck. His hand pushes against my ass, bringing our bodies closer.

When he pulls away, he studies my face for a few seconds before saying, “See you tomorrow.”

I nod once. “Yeah. Tomorrow.”

22

From the whitechaise lounge chair at the side of the pool, I watch as Dex carries Vi on his shoulders, playing chicken with Jayden and a girl named Tiffany. On the other side, Ronan, Renzo, Tim, and Deshawan play a game of basketball with the poolside hoops.

Dominic hasn’t shown up yet, and my stomach is knotted up with nerves waiting for him to strut back here. Next to me, Shea and his girlfriend, Shannon, are basically dry humping, moaning with every kiss, so I get up and head to the shaded area to grab a drink from the cooler.

As I watch the scene in the pool, the door behind me opens. I glance back, expecting to see Dex’s dad, but instead, Dominic’s hulking figure emerges.

He grins. “Waiting for me?”

“Maybe.”

“This house is crazy,” he says, closing the door.

“Dex’s dad owns a billion dollar company.”

---