Page 56 of Better Left Unsaid

“Har. Har. I still beat you in our race to my place. I’ve been waiting out here for, oh, I don’t know, six minutes now just so I could greet you when you finally arrived.”

“I caught the red light, and you know it.” He pointed at me, narrowing his eyes.

Wait, let me bring you up to speed. See, we’d placed the cake order (yellow cake with strawberry cheesecake filling), Dom had refused to enlighten me as to what he’d bought me, and we’d agreed to race back to my house (as safely as possible, of course). And that last line from Dom had just been an excuse. An excuse, I tell you! So, naturally, I shrugged. “A race is a race, my friend, and I won. You may bow down to your highness.” I rolled my wrist in a wave like a royal. “And you may show me what you got me,” I teased, eyeing the bags in his hand. The curiosity was seriously starting to get to me.

Giving me a once-over, Dom stopped and turned as he opened my door for me. “I’m not sure I like this side of you.”

“Where I show you up?” I joked, really enjoying this. It wasn’t that different from our usual interactions, but it felt good to know we hadn’t caused any real damage to our friendship. I also secretly kind of liked the idea of beating him at something. Dom was the kind of man who excelled at everything he did, made magic out of everything he touched. It was nice to be reminded he was human like the rest of us.

Coming over, he put the bags down and had his hands out like he was going to tackle me, so I grimaced and dropped my purse on the floor, trying to anticipate his next move. But there was no way I could’ve anticipated how he was going to tickle me to death. His hands were all over my stomach, his fingers wiggling about, knowing just where to get me.

I bent over and tried to pry his hands off me, but his arm was wrapped around my waist, and his grip tightened. “I can’t believe you just said that,” he said in between rolls of laughter over my reaction.

“I’d say it again, too,” I managed to ground out in between squirming away from him. I was seriously ticklish, and Dom knew it. Weaknesses. . . they’d get you every time.

“Take it back.”

“No.”

Hitching me in the air and spinning me, he tried again, his tone deep as he demanded, “Take it back, Maria.”

“Never!” I couldn’t keep my laughter at bay.

Between all the laughter, I wasn’t sure if he finally lost his grip on me or I managed to wiggle free, but I finally collapsed on the floor, gasping for air. “You have an advantage because you know exactly where to touch me,” I said in between breaths.

Collapsing next to me on the floor, Dom turned and softened his expression, his eyes connecting with mine. “Maria—”

My cheeks flushed at his intense gaze, and I felt little flutters fill my stomach. “Dom.”

He brought his hand between us and watched me as though waiting for me to stop him. Which I think we both knew I wasn’t going to do. He cupped my cheek with his palm, and I melted into his touch, loving the way it felt to have his hand on me. I continued staring into his eyes and couldn’t help but wonder. . .what the hell did he get me?

Casually stretching my arm, I wiggled my fingers, going for the bags on the floor.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Dom asked, his voice hoarse and deeper than usual, like he was being weighed down by something. Something I knew all too well where he was concerned. Desire. It was a deadly sin that I couldn’t stop myself from feeling for this man. I wanted him.

I batted my lashes and looked up at him as he moved his hand to cup my chin, bringing his thumb to my lower lip and pulling on it until my breath was coming out hitched. “Nothing,” I lied.

He didn’t blink. Didn’t move an inch. Only stayed right where he was, staring at me like I was the only thing in the world that mattered. Like I was special or something.

I’d never felt that way, not from the way a man looked at me.

It was refreshing actually. To feel wanted and desired.

But no! This was Dom. My best friend. Geez, write it on the back of my hand so I remembered it. What was the matter with me lately?

The corners of Dom’s lips curled upward, and he smiled. Full-on smiled. “Fine. Get it. It’s yours anyway.”

While I crawled to the bags and found the one with my name on it, he got comfortable, placing an elbow on the floor while he propped up his head and continued staring at me.

Judging by the smirk he was wearing, I was seriously questioning what he got me.

I pulled the box out of the bag and—

Holy crap.

Okay.

Hmm.

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