Page 58 of After Midnight

Ashton nodded then and let me off the hook. Even though his face conveyed he was truly sad about it. He wasn’t the only one.

In the end, I couldn’t stay away from Dominic. Well, okay, maybe my dads intervened and talked some sense into me, too, after my heart-to-heart with Ashton.

“Honey, just because someone is your first true love doesn’t mean they aren’t your forever love too. Sometimes lightning strikes early,” Dad said while making heart eyes at Papa K. “Knowing you feel as you do, you deserve to know if Dominic is your forever person. You’ll regret it if you don’t try again.”

So, that’s how I found myself on Dominic’s doorstep, hoping he wouldn’t slam the door in my face as soon as it opened. Thankfully, he didn’t do that, but the poor man stared at me for what must’ve been a full minute before he invited me inside. “I’m sorry to arrive unannounced, but I’ve got to fly back to Chicago tomorrow, and, um, I’ve missed you.”

“It’s okay. And… same.” He ducked his head bashfully, then grinned at me, causing my heart to skip a beat. “Do you want something to eat? Miss Rita made lasagna.”

“No, I’m good. Can we sit and chat, or maybe go for a walk?” I was so nervous. I didn’t know if I’d be able to get everything I wanted to say out without puking. So, definitely a hard pass on lasagna.

Dominic looked toward the kitchen and shook his head. “If you don’t want an audience, I recommend we go for a drive. No walking, it’s too freaking cold.”

I chuckled and followed him out the door. I drove us to the same park as the night he broke down on me because, well, it remained a place we weren’t likely to be mugged.

I ignored my sweaty palms and uptick in heartbeat and blurted out before I could back out, “I like you a lot. Like, more than I’ve ever liked anyone. I think about you all the time and it’s been awful not talking to you and I know you’ve made it clear you aren’t into me like that, but I don’t think I can leave again without you knowing…”

Dominic ended my rambling with his mouth. With his lips, to be exact. His kiss was hard, demanding, and maybe impulsive on his part, but it held passion and heat and a whole lot of promises.

My surprise melted into pure bliss when Dominic undid his seat belt so he could lean in to deepen the kiss. The man was practically sitting in my lap with his tongue down my throat, and I couldn’t hold back a low moan.

When he finally pulled back, he looked sheepish. “I’m sorry, I’ve been so stressed. I’m sort of an idiot and I…”

Now it was my turn to shut him up, and I hauled him in for another blistering kiss. I didn’t like hearing him talk about himself that way, or any way that was less than glowing. This man was nothing but pure sunshine, at least when his life wasn’t in a complete shambles, and an amazing human being. No way was I going to let him keep spewing negative things about himself.

When we came up for air, I immediately launched into what I knew to be true. “You are perfect, Dominic, and your emotions are perfectly normal. Don’t downplay or make apologies for how you feel about anything or anyone, not with me. I like you just as you are.”

He fell back against his seat, eyes fixed on the dashboard. “I think it’ll help if you can tell me why you like me.”

He then turned his striking green eyes on me, his face pleading, like hearing me say the words aloud would somehow make my feelings more real.

I took a deep breath, sensing that the future of our relationship hinged on whatever came out of my mouth next. “Do you remember the first time we spoke? Ashton was giving me grief about listening to him rehearse, and you took my side?”

He nodded, a small smile forming at the memory.

“Well, before I even saw your face properly, I heard you speak and shivers went through me. You have averysexy voice.”

Dominic laughed out loud, then leaned over and whispered in my ear, “And how does my voice make you feel now?”

“You’re playing dirty,” I said, earning another laugh.

My statement must’ve had the same effect on him as his teasing did on me because his smile faded and was replaced with a look of longing.

“When I laid eyes on the man who went with that voice, my god, I nearly offered myself up to you on a silver platter. When I fantasized about my perfect man, Dominic, you could’ve been the model. You’re absolutely gorgeous, but tall, dark, and handsome doesn’t even begin to cover it. You’re also kind, caring, courageous, and witty. Looking back, when you read your sisters that bedtime story on our first date, that’s when I was sunk. Hook, line, and sinker.”

Dominic laced our fingers together and kissed the back of my hand. “Wanna know when I was hooked on you?”

“You’re hooked on me?” I asked, a huge grin splitting my face. Damn, I wanted to hear him say it again.

He nodded. “The same day, on our date. When I came back from the kitchen with popcorn, you were sitting in between my sisters on the couch, happy as a clam watching that ridiculous movie. You were fully present, just enjoying their company. That’s when I felt it, that you were someone who could be family. Sounds crazy, doesn’t it?”

I shook my head. “No, it felt right to me too. Your home felt like a happy place where people loved each other unconditionally and the girls and you were connected. I liked it, even though I’m sure it scared me at the time. It was very, um, domestic,” I said, chuckling.

“Itisdomestic, that’s why I was surprised you were interested in round two, or three, or any of them.” Dominic glanced away but I caught the sorrowful look that’d returned to his beautiful eyes. “When things got bad with Margarette, or whatever her real name is, I couldn’t imagine the world seeing me as anything but an abusive monster. All of the spiteful things she’d ever said to me, calling me worthless and a loser, I started to believe it after the girls were taken away. I felt so powerless, I couldn’t even protect my sisters from her hate.”

“But you did protect them and used yourself as the shield. I’ll never forgive that wretched woman for how deeply she hurt you, all of you, with her words as much as her actions,” I said. “God, she was out of control at the party. I’ve never seen anyone so unhinged.”

“Yeah, about that, I’m sorry. If I’d known she was going to be there…” Dominic’s words trailed off as he stared at his shoes.

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