Page 116 of Ruthless Kings of Obsession

The decision forms before I can overthink it.

I lean forward, pressing my lips to his in a kiss that's almost hesitant – testing, uncertain, waiting for the usual violence to surface.

But Domino surprises me, responding with a gentleness I didn't know he possessed. His lips move against mine softly, almost reverently, turning what should be another battle into something unexpectedly tender.

We break apart after several heartbeats, both slightly breathless. Our eyes meet, heavy-lidded and intense, and I watch his gaze drop to my lips like he's memorizing the moment.

"See?" A smirk plays at my mouth. "Did you die? Now you know what it's like to be a good boy."

He grunts, moving as if to leave, but I press closer, trapping him against the counter. The hard length of him presses against me, making his breath hitch slightly.

"Be good," I murmur, enjoying how his pupils dilate at the command. "At least until we figure out when The Blind One comes to collect. Then we'll handle whatever comes next."

A tired laugh escapes him. "And the hockey thing? You going to try to fix that too?"

"I could—" I start, but he cuts me off with a slight shake of his head.

"I'll handle it," he says firmly. "Don't need you trying to tame a bunch of fuckers who hate me for being on their enemy team and then joining in. They'll either get over it or they won't."

I open my mouth to argue, but he suddenly tenses. "The stew's burning."

"What?" I spin toward the stove, cursing – only to find the sauce simmering perfectly fine. "You bastard, it's not even?—"

The words die in my throat as I feel him step closer, his fingers threading through my shortened hair with surprising tenderness. The touch is so gentle, so unlike our usual interactions, that I find myself holding perfectly still.

His expression has shifted into something almost peaceful – an echo of Matteo's usual calm that looks strange but not unwelcome on his features. "How long until it grows back?" he asks softly, still playing with the silver strands.

"Six months, probably," I respond, watching him carefully. "Might try a new growth serum though."

He nods absently, letting his hand drop. "Gonna rest up for a bit," he says, turning toward the door. Then, so quietly I almost miss it: "Maybe I'll live long enough to see it full length again."

I give him a sharp look, but he's already moving away. "Make sure you throw your nasty hockey gear in the hamper," I call after him. "No one wants to smell sweaty hockey shit before dinner."

"Whatever," he grumbles, but there's no real heat in it.

As his footsteps fade, I turn toward the other doorway. "You can come out now, Ares," I say firmly. "And leave the gun in the other room. No weapons at the dinner table."

There's a moment of silence before he emerges slowly, looking both impressed and slightly sheepish. "How did you know I was there?"

I shrug, trying to hide my smile. "Took a chance."

His arms wrap around me from behind, warm and secure as he presses a kiss to the top of my head. His presence feels like an anchor, grounding me after the emotional complexity of the previous interaction.

"That was... interesting," he says carefully, his chin resting on my shoulder.

The understatement makes me laugh softly. "That's one word for it."

His arms tighten slightly. "Are you okay? That seemed... intense."

I lean back against his chest, letting out a long breath. "I honestly don't know," I admit. "Everything with him is so complicated. Just when I think I know exactly how to feel, he shows me something new."

"Like actually being capable of gentleness?" Ares suggests, his voice carefully neutral.

"Yeah." I close my eyes briefly, remembering the unexpected tenderness of that kiss. "It's easier when he's just the monster, you know? When I can hate him without question or doubt."

Ares hums thoughtfully, his fingers drawing patterns on my stomach through my shirt. "And now?"

"Now..." I search for the right words. "Now I see someone who's actually trying to change. Someone who's just as scared and broken as the rest of us, even if he shows it differently."

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