He chuckled, relaxing his shoulders. “I know you’re not, and I figured you knew, which is why I tried to stay away from you. I don’t usually date. It’s impossible to reach me and work often calls me away, as you’ve seen. I had a great time with you on our last date, but I don’t want to hurt you. I don’t want you to expect something I can’t give you. You understand?”
Not really. It felt like he was breaking up with me, but we weren’t even together. My chest constricted as I stared at his tortured expression, wishing I could do something to help him while simultaneously plotting his demise if he’d brought me here just to tell me goodbye. Needing to steady my nerves, I downed the rest of my wine.
“I really like you,” he said, sounding amused and a little nervous as he watched me set the empty glass on the table beside his gun. “When I dropped you off that night after our date… everything went to shit on the job front. Made me realize I can’t… I don’t have the time to be in a relationship. And it’s not fair to you. I tried to leave you alone, but I couldn’t stay away. I can’t stop thinking about you. I… I had to see you.”
Staring at my empty wine glass and wishing it would refill, I nodded. He was saying everything I wanted to hear, but made it sound like goodbye. Why did he call me? Why was he screwing with my emotions like this?
“Are you… Is this goodbye?” I asked.
His body tensed beside me. “What? No. Not at all. I’m trying to explain why I can’t let you go. I should, damnit. My being with you puts you in danger, but I’m too goddamn selfish to leave you alone. I know you need more than my silence, so I’m tryin’ to lay this shit out and hope it doesn’t scare you off. But you deserve to know what you’re getting into.”
I got it. Dominico lived a dangerous life. He couldn’t promise me tomorrow, or even the next hour. I should be upset about that, and want more stability and safety, but I didn’t care. Whatever this thing was between us, I wanted to explore it. Relieved he wasn’t dumping me, my brain was entirely too jumbled to answer him with words, so I leaned in and kissed his lips.
He seemed startled at first, then Dominico shifted, pulling me onto his lap and deepening the kiss. A little voice in the back of my mind screamed at me that we were alone and this thing between us had the potential to go further than I’d ever gone with a guy, but I didn’t care. I needed him as much as he needed me. In his arms, I wasn’t worried about college bills, or Papa’s depression, or restaurant stress… There was danger and fire, and strangely enough, it felt almost like floating.
We made out until the pizza came, then we broke apart long enough to eat and drink more. The conversation was easy and flirty, like it had been during our last date, and by the time I changed into my swimsuit, something big had changed between us.
“You look… wow,” he said, eyeballing me as I emerged from the bathroom.
The swim trunks he wore rode low on his hips, drawing all my attention to his sculpted abs. Maybe it was the wine, but I had the sudden, foreign urge to run my fingers—and possibly my tongue—all over his stomach. My entire body heated at the thought.
“Thanks, you too.”
“I mean it, Net. You have no idea how gorgeous you are.”
“Net, huh?” I paused midstep, thrown off by the nickname.
He grinned and leaned forward and ducked down until we were almost nose to nose. “Yep. It’s fitting. You’re definitely ensnaring.”
He’d gone and given me a sweet nickname, making me feel even more warm and fuzzy inside. I needed to combat these feels with a witty retort, but before I could form one, he spun around and headed outside.
I followed him into the hot tub and leaned against the side. Stars lit up the Vegas sky, and a slight breeze chilled my exposed skin. I sank deeper into the hot water and let the jets massage my sore muscles. Everything felt so wonderful. Closing my eyes, I leaned my head back against a head rest. Despite the wine, the heat, and the jets, I was far from relaxed. My entire body felt charged, alert, and acutely aware of the proximity of Dominico’s shirtless body.
Opening my eyes, I checked him out again. His shoulders were broad, and the muscles of his arms and chest were as defined as his abs. He slid closer to me until our legs and arms were touching, and I continued my visual investigation of his body.
A thick scar ran down the side of his left pec and another one circled his forearm. Feeling way more brazen than I ever had in my life, I reached out and traced the one on his forearm before letting my fingertips trail up to his pec. His body shivered beneath my touch.
“Sorry,” I said, pulling away.
He grabbed my hand. “Don’t be. I like it when you touch me. You can touch me anywhere you want.”
A loaded invitation if I’d ever heard one. My fingertips went back to their exploration of his pecs and my gaze drifted to the water bubbling against the middle of his stomach. Wanting to touch him with so much more than my fingers, I licked my lips.
Dominico wrapped his arms around me so fast my hand was trapped between our chests. Firm, demanding lips found mine, effectively capturing me as his tongue explored my mouth. He tasted like beer and desire, and as I melded my body against his he pulled me closer. Pressed hard against him, I still wasn’t close enough. I wanted more of him all over me.
My hands drifted down his sculpted sides and abs. A strangled moan escaped from his lips before he pulled me from the hot tub and toweled me off. I wanted to return the favor, but he picked me up and carried me into the house. He laid a blanket on the rug in front of the fireplace and pressed the button to start the flames. Then he sat me down on the floor in front of him and brushed my hair over my shoulder so he could trail kisses down my neck.
“Can I take this off?” he asked, hooking a finger under my bikini strap.
Nervous but wanting to be naked with him, I nodded.
He tugged the tie free and released my breasts. Leaning back, he looked me over. Feeling exposed, I reached for the corner of the blanket, but he grabbed my wrist.
“No. Don’t cover up. You’re gorgeous.”
Releasing my wrist, his hand traveled up my arm to my breasts. He shifted to his knees, freeing up both his hands to explore. I leaned back on my arms, giving him complete access. Soft, gentle caresses evolved into kneading and squeezing. Then his hands were replaced with his lips. Flames ignited in my core. Wanting to explore his body as well, I balanced on one arm and tugged on the waistband of his shorts.
He chuckled. “These in your way?”
