“You naked is always better.” I moved her hips down just enough to tease her, the head of my cock grazing against her clit and drawing out a loud moan. I stifled a smile, thinking of the looks we’d get from my neighbors if we saw them in my hallway tomorrow. Thea could be loud, and I loved it.
She moved down one glorious inch and took me inside her. My hips lifted off the bed to get as deep as I could, and it still wasn’t enough.
When it came to Thea, it never would be.
Dominic
Present
As many timesas I blinked, Thea didn’t disappear. Walking into the dining area and watching her talk to Joe as if a lifetime hadn’t passed since the last time I’d seen her, I was sure my imagination had conjured her up. She raced through my thoughts all the time lately and had even snuck her way into a couple of dreams—my subconscious taunting me and reminding me of how much of an asshole I’d been four years ago.
The dreams hadn’t done the real-life Thea justice. She was so beautiful, all the air had drained from my lungs. The second I saw her, I wanted to wrap my arms around her and tell her how much I missed her and beg for the forgiveness that I’d never deserve but still craved. My arms hung at my sides as I lost the ability to speak with any kind of coherence.
I’d thrown away the best thing that ever happened to me, and even though I’d come to that realization years ago, seeing her again made the loss barrel over me and hurt so much I could barely breathe.
Joe rattled off all the questions we’d come up with together since I struggled to say my own damn name.
As she spoke to us about the proposal, I focused on the absence of a ring on her finger instead of the details I was supposed to be paying attention to. Did she just not wear a ring, or was she not engaged, anymore? The burning need to know distracted me from anything else.
“Before you make any final decisions,” Violet lifted a finger and pulled out her phone, “we’ll take you on a tour of the space on Monday. I know it may be hard for the three of you to be away at once, but maybe we can do something early, like 7 am. Will that work?”
“Works for me.” Joe leaned his elbows on the table. “We’ll probably have to bring our daughter with us, but hopefully she’ll be asleep in her stroller.” Joe squeezed Caterina’s hand and she nodded in agreement. “And if it looks like a definite yes, I’d like my lawyer and my financial advisor to give the contract a once over. Is seven all right with you, Dom?” Joe lifted a brow at me, as if to say, “Answer this time, asshole.”
“Yeah, that works for me. We open at eight on Mondays, but Pentier Beach is close enough, so that shouldn’t be an issue.” I searched Thea’s face for, well, I wasn’t sure what. Other than our awkward greeting, she didn’t look my way again.
I thought the dreams had been torture. Thea not giving me a second glance was a far higher level of punishment.
“We’ll let you guys get back to your day.” Violet stood. “Thea and I have a lot of places to see in Ocean Cove today, so we need to get going.”
“Where are you off to?” I asked her while my eyes stayed on Thea.
“I’m meeting with a few vendors to see if we can get a little more local help. As I’m sure you know, Pentier Beach is a nice area but on the sleepy side. I think many of the residents come to Ocean Cove for restaurants or bakeries. As we prep for the hotel’s opening, we’re trying to bridge the gap a bit.”
“Well, Maria’s is the best bakery we have. I hope you’re making a stop there.” I stood, a sudden urge to step in front of Thea and stop her from leaving before we had a chance to talk alone.
“I am,” Violet said. “We’re just taking a look at the different properties and area as a whole. It’s a slow afternoon as far as work at the hotel, so I suggested we take advantage of the nice day to divide and conquer. Thank you for your time, and we’ll see you on Monday.” Violet shook all our hands before turning to Thea. “See you back at the hotel later.”
Thea nodded before Violet headed out the door.
“It was really nice to see all of you. I’m excited to meet your little girl.” Thea pulled her purse strap over her shoulder. A weak smile tickled the side of my mouth when my eyes landed on the freckles covering her arm. Whenever she caught a little sun, freckles would break out all along her skin. She’d leave the shore in eight weeks covered in them.
“Hopefully she’ll be asleep,” Caterina said. “She’s a nosy little thing, so I’m guessing probably not.” Her brows pulled together. “The site isn’t dangerous is it? From the construction?”
“No, just empty space and drywall. I’ll let you get back to your day.”
“See you Monday,” Joe said, looping his arm around his wife’s shoulders before making his way over to the bar.
Before I knew what I was doing, I grabbed Thea’s arm as she turned to leave.
“Seeing Ocean Cove would be better if you had a tour guide. I could come with you, show you the highlights.”
Her eyes fell to where my hand rested on her elbow.
“I appreciate the offer, but I already have a list of places. Thanks, anyway.”
“But I can give you the inside track. Can’t get that off Google, right?”
She stiffened before she shook her head. “I’m sure I’ll be able to manage.” She backed away and jerked out of my hold.
