Page 46 of California Wild

He didn’t push.

That’s what she liked about him.

Dom could see people like x-rays. But he never ripped you open unless you invited him in.

“Jesse used to love that song,” he said after a beat, almost absentminded.

She blinked.

Swallowed.

“Did he.”

Dom nodded once. “Said you sang it once in some shitty garage in National City and he thought he was gonna marry you on the spot.”

Her throat tightened.

“Cool,” she said.

Dom looked away. “I didn’t say that to hurt.”

“I know.”

But it still did.

God, it did.

Caiden found her somewhere between water and another shot she never should’ve taken.

He grinned, leaned in close, put his hands on her hips like he had a right to.

She didn’t push him away.

She didn’t do anything.

Because Jesse wasn’t here.

Because Jesse didn’t want her.

Because Jesse had told her to forget him.

So when Caiden kissed her, she let him.

His mouth was hot. Skilled. A little too confident.

And it tasted like nothing.

No spark.

No ache.

No hunger.

Just noise.

Her hands slid into his hair anyway. Because this was what she was supposed to do. Let the guy who wanted her have her.

She felt like she was watching herself from across the room.

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