Page 41 of Always You
I bite my lips to stifle my laugh, and he hangs his head in defeat. His eyes flash angrily for a moment, but I can’t tell if it’s at me or at himself.
“So, what’s my type?” I ask.
He lifts his head up. “Angel, you like them rough around the edges. You want a man that will bend his will for you.”
I squirm in my chair, glaring into the pool of desire floating in those whiskey eyes of his. I take this as a way to fuck with him; after all, he put me through.
“Hmm, you’re right. I’m sure I’ll find him, my soulmate.” My smile widens wickedly.
He sneers with jealousy. “Mila, I’m your damn soulmate. Five years ago, in that hospital room, I told you that I’d hoped you’d find a second chance at fate. I’m not dead; you get no second chance. You keep your first, and if you’re so damn determined to find a second chance, I’ll be it. I’ll be your first, second, third, whatever it is, it’s me.” He pounds his chest, like a damn gorilla.
My anger rises. He dare to get all caveman on me?
“You had a fiancée. Did you bend for her? Did you not propose to her? Damnit, Dominic, why tell me this bullshit when you belittled me and had a life outside of me? Why are you trying to control me?” I blow a hot air of steam.
“She was never my queen to bend for, and I would have never bowed to her or any other woman. A king has one queen, and that’s you, Angel.” His gaze is so intense it is almost tangible.
My heart gallops hastily.
“No other women stood a chance. You, baby girl, are the only woman for me. I was empty—hollow inside without you. She might have had me, but you, baby, always had my heart, and no one could have taken that from you. No other woman can replace you.” Dominic laces his hands over mine.
His lopsided smile makes him look love drunk. He was moving on, so isn’t that replacing when you’re getting engaged?
“Mila, what are you thinking, baby?” he murmurs as he rubs the pad of his thumb on my knuckles.
“You were engaged and in a long-term relationship. So please don’t tell me no other woman could replace me.” At this moment, I regret coming here.
“You’re so damn beautiful, Angel. You’re heart-stopping beautiful. I was a fool for trying to, baby. In my heart, you were irreplaceable. I never looked at another woman the way I look at you.” His voice is smooth as silk.
His words seem sincere, but I don’t trust him yet.
He literally sucked the air out of me. I hope he’s true to his words. My body floods with heat as I swallow the knot in my throat. With a shaky breath, I reach into my purse and hand him pictures of Dante.
* * *
“Oh, Mila, he’s beautiful, Jesus, he’s perfect,” he beams with so much pride.
My boy is handsome.
“What’s his full name?”
“Dante Delgado.”
He sighs in relief and quietly murmurs, “Thank you, Angel, for giving him my name. He looks so much like me,” he says, his voice strained.
“He does and has your protectiveness and arrogance.”
His shoulders deflate as he stares at the photo. He looks sad. “Does he know about me?” His voice comes out raspy and airy.
“Yes, I spoke about you to him and showed him pictures of you,” I admit.
He clears his throat and swallows hard. He is still peering at Dante’s baby photo. He looks up at me his eyes a little glossy, and whispers softly, “Thank you.”
“He doesn’t know you’re alive, he thinks you’re in heaven,” I say, trying to break it to him gently.
“Baby, when I earn your trust, how will we tell him about me? I know he’s small, and it will be confusing to him.” He takes a sip of his drink and adds, “I’ll do anything, Mila, to earn yours and Dante’s trust.”
“When the time comes, we will think of something that will help him understand and not confuse him.”
