Page 24 of Elemental Love
“I can assure you, Mr. Castine, that it is correct.” Pitt’s nose wrinkled and his eyes narrowed, daring Dominic to dispute his words again. “And to my beloved grandson, Evrain James Brookes, Hornbeam Cottage and the remainder of the estate amounting to a value of some two million, five hundredthousand dollars, on condition that he makes Hornbeam Cottage his permanent residence with immediate effect.”
Evrain drew in a sharp breath.
Pitt stood and gave a small bow. “I’ll give you a few minutes’ privacy while I organize some coffee. Needless to say, gentlemen, I would be honored to offer any further legal services you may require.” He left the room quietly. The click of the closing door seemed to resound through the silence like a thunderclap.
“Holy fuck! I don’t know about coffee, I feel the need for hard liquor.” Evrain ran a hand through his hair. “I had no idea…”
Dominic stood but kept his head bowed, his pretty eyes firmly fixed on the Axminster. “I’m so sorry about this, Evrain. Please believe me when I say I knew nothing about the bequest, Aggie never said a word. I’ll sign everything over to you. I’m sure Mr. Pitt can make the necessary arrangements and just deduct his fee or something. It should all be yours by rights, I don’t know what Aggie was thinking. I never expected anything, she never said… I’m sorry this has happened. I’ll sign whatever I need to sign and you won’t have to see me again.” He stumbled over the words then took a rough breath.
Evrain wondered if he’d need a paper bag. Dominic was on the verge of hyperventilating. He’d never heard so many words come out of the man’s mouth in one go. He needed gagging before he got any more stupid. Now, there was an idea worth experimenting with. Evrain pictured Dominic’s lips stretched around a ball gag and decided to add it to his list of things to do before he hit twenty-two. Most of the items on that list involved Dominic naked and a wide variety of restraints.
“Oh no, you don’t.” Evrain stood directly in front of Dominic. He put his hands on Dominic’s shaking shoulders and squeezed lightly. “You don’t escape me that easily.” He kept his tone low and commanding. “My grandmother had good reasons foreverything she did while she was alive and I have more sense than to question that now she’s gone.”
Dominic kept shaking his head. The words weren’t sinking in.
Evrain squeezed a bit harder. “Look at me, Dominic.”
No response. Coppery lashes still concealed Dominic’s eyes.
“Look. At. Me.”
Dominic jerked in Evrain’s hold. He gasped as if shaken from a trance, then made eye contact. “Sorry. I’m just… I can’t believe it!”
“Don’t be sorry. You have nothing to apologize for.” Evrain didn’t loosen his grip. “I have no use for land. You do. I’m more than happy to let you commit yourself to hard labor in my stead.”
“But all that money! I haven’t earned it, any of it.” Dominic sounded genuinely in distress.
“And you think I have?” Evrain cupped Dominic’s face with one hand, expecting him to pull away. He didn’t. “She’s left me more than enough to ensure that I don’t have to work again unless I want to. Cunning old biddy—I thought she was as poor as a church mouse, not rolling in loot.”
Dominic trembled beneath his touch. It would only take a second to lean in and kiss the worry away. Evrain swayed toward Dominic. He had such lovely lips. Kissable. Or maybe a quick nip. Gentle pain to pull him out of his state of shock.
Dominic had lowered his eyes again. That wouldn’t do. Evrain took a single step back and removed his hands from Dominic’s body.
“Look at me.”
Dominic shifted nervously but didn’t meet his eyes.
“I said look at me, Dominic. Don’t make me ask you again.”
Anxious blue eyes gradually met his own. Evrain preened at another small victory. “Please believe that I’m happy for you.” Evrain clasped his hands behind his back to stop from touchingDominic again. He had to move with glacial slowness or risk frightening his quarry away completely. “Accept that something good has come out of a horrific act. Aggie wanted this for you. For us. Accept it with grace.”
Dominic gave a single nod. Evrain caught his breath as the light glinted in Dominic’s hair, reflecting the warm, deep red tones. Evrain had a sudden urge to run his hands through it—he remembered how soft it felt. It was the perfect length to get a good grip, to tug Dominic’s head back and hold him still for a punishing kiss. He lifted his hand, and Dominic froze. His body was sending out signals that said ‘touch me, please touch me’. Whether his mind was thinking the same thing was debatable. Evrain didn’t care. He felt the electric tension in the air, deciding that Dominic’s lack of movement gave him permission to continue. However, his planned exploration was abruptly curtailed as the office door clicked open to admit Angus Pitt and his secretary, who was lugging a heavy tray of coffee.
Evrain scowled his annoyance and frustration but moved away. Dominic let out his breath with a slight shudder, making Evrain wonder if Dominic was about to laugh hysterically or sob with relief. He smiled. He liked having Dominic off balance. His vulnerability just made him all the more attractive to Evrain’s predatory nature. That was tempered by a need to comfort and protect. He wanted nothing more than to pull Dominic into his arms and keep him safe.
Evrain endured twenty minutes of polite small talk and cups of over-brewed coffee, before he and Dominic left. After the stultifying atmosphere of the office and the obsequious attentions of Mr. Pitt, Evrain craved fresh air. He pushed through the door with Dominic close on his heels. Outside on the rain-slicked pavement, they looked at each other and shared a smile but then some of the tension returned, the atmosphere shifting like the calm before a storm.
“I’m so glad to be out of there. I couldn’t breathe,” Dominic said.
“I know exactly what you mean. That man sucks all the oxygen out of the air, I swear.”
“Definitely creepy. I just want to go home. Take a shower.”
“How did you get here?” Evrain asked Dominic before he could make some excuse and disappear. “Have you got your van?”
Dominic nodded. “It’s parked just around the corner.”
“Good. You can give me a lift back to the cabin. If I have to move in tonight, and apparently I do, I need to take a look around and decide what to bring from my apartment.” He hoped that if he was decisive enough, Dominic wouldn’t have the courage to question Evrain’s right to tell him what to do.
