Page 11 of Starts With a Bang

Dom:Where are you texting me from? You’re missing the party.

Me:I’m arranging a private celebration as we speak.

Dom:Then why are you messaging me?

Me:Come upstairs. Take a right at the top of the staircase and walk to the end of the hall. Lucinda converted that tiny spare bedroom into a laundry room. No one will look for us there.

Dom:Absolutely not!

Me:Just a kiss. It’s the only gift I want this year. I’ll keep my hands to myself. Promise!

Dom:No way.

Me:Not too proud to beg. On my knees, if needed. Please. Just one kiss.

A few minutes later, Dom closed the door and stalked toward me with the intensity of a big jungle cat, and I’d never been prouder to be a man’s prey. “This is a terrible idea,” he said.

I backed up because I knew it would only trigger his carnal instincts even more. Dom’s nostrils flared as he slowly pursued me. My butt backed into the dryer, and there was nowhere else for me to go unless I darted left or right. Dom lunged forward, caging my body between his and the machine.

“Got you now.”

I wanted to loop my arms around his neck and press my chest to his, but I’d promised. Instead, I placed my palms against the cool metal of the dryer and notched my chin higher. “Kiss me.”

Dom searched my eyes for what seemed like eternity. The internal battle he waged played out in his vivid green gaze. I wanted this man more than anything in the world, but he needed to make the move here. The fog of indecision cleared from Dom’s expression seconds before he claimed my mouth. My breath snagged in my throat, and my pulse raced when he teased my lips open and slid his tongue over mine. I’d been foolish to think one kiss would be enough. I gripped the edge of the dryer hard enough to bruise, but I kept my word, even when Dom pressed the full length of his body against mine.

He pulled back abruptly and stared down at me, his lips wet and puffy from the intensity of our kiss. “Touch me, damn it.”

The savage whisper had barely left his mouth before I complied with his demand. I relearned the planes of his chest and the strong muscles in his back. I wanted to explore below the belt but knew it would be a mistake. I’d be on my knees with his dick in my mouth at the slightest provocation, and Dom would likely resent me for it later.

“Sven!” Lucinda yelled from downstairs. “It’s time to cut the cake!”

Dom jerked away from me and gasped like she’d dumped a gallon of ice water over his head. “Fuck!” He turned away from me and shoved both hands in his hair. “I can’t go down there like this.”

By this, he meant the rock-hard erection pressing against his jeans. I had a similar dilemma and used my limited brain cells to come up with a solution.

“Sven!” Lucinda called out.

“Be right down!” I called before she came looking for me. “You stay here and cool off,” I told Dom. “I’ll head to thebathroom across the hall. Splash my face with water.” I placed my arm on Dom’s shoulder, and he flinched away from me. It would’ve hurt less if he’d stabbed me in the heart. I cleared my throat and stepped away. “See you down there.”

But I knew he’d be gone by the time I got downstairs, and I’d been right. I tried not to be obvious when I searched the house and backyard for him. I even pasted on a fake smile that fooled everyone into thinking I was the happy birthday boy. Well, all for one surprisingly astute asshole named Kerry Hart, who followed me outside when I left.

“You deserve better,” he said.

I whipped around in the driveway so fast that I nearly dropped my leftover birthday cake. “Better than what?”

“Than who,” Kerry corrected. “I’m talking about the Marlowe guy you’re moping about all the time. You’re a year older and a year wiser. I want you to be happy.”

“I am happy.” Or I had been during those precious minutes I’d had Dom all to myself. At Kerry’s skeptical scowl, I said, “Or at least I’m working on it.” The intensity of Dom’s kiss felt like a step in the right direction. “And that’s good enough for me right now.”

Kerry shook his head sadly. “Stop settling.”

“Can’t wait for your next birthday so I can attack you about your love life.”

Kerry held up his hands and backed away. “Fine.”

I’d won the skirmish, but the war would rage on.

Wed, Jun 7, 2023 at 7:30 am

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