“To be honest, I’m surprised you listen to books like this.” Dominic’s suggestive expression has me sweating.
But I refuse to let him shame me. “Oh, please. You work at aromance book storewith me. You knowexactlywhat kind of smut I read!”
“Maybe, but listening to smut is a vastly different experience,” Dominic argues, a dark smirk on his face. “I can’t believe you’ve been gatekeeping this for months.”
“Wh-what?” I want to argue back, but can’t seem to find the words. In all honesty, he’s not wrong. Listening to audiobooks is an entirely unique and special experience, especially when I listen to my favorite narrators.
Dominic's laughter bubbles up from deep within, carrying a warmth and richness that instantly brings a smile to my face. It's a rare sound, one that I don't often hear from him. Despite the embarrassing situation that caused it, I can't help but appreciate this moment of levity with him.
He takes a few steps closer to me and my body immediately goes into high alert. His masculine scent surrounds me, making my knees weak. "I see what you mean though," he says as his voice deepens, "the voice really elevates it, doesn't it?"
"For me, it does," I manage to say without my voice shaking, although my whole body feels like it's trembling.
"Do you remember that scene?" His words make my pulse pound loudly in my ears.
"Yes," I whisper.
"Hmmm." He takes another step closer, the warmth of his breath is on my skin as he exhales. Thank goodness I'm wearing this sweater; he can't see the goosebumps rising all over my body from this conversation or how hard my nipples have quickly become. "Do you want a man like Drake?" Dominic asks, referring to the character in the audiobook.
“Who wouldn’t?” I barely choke out the words, my mouth suddenly feeling like it’s full of a Nature Valley granola bar.
I take a step back but bump into a shelving cart. Dominic follows, leaning down and bracing his arms on the top shelf near my waist, trapping me. "Tell me, Pea," he whispers. I can barely breathe under his heated gaze, "you want a man to talk dirty to you like that? Tell you exactly how they want you? Promise to make you come so hard you scream?"
Oh. Dear. Lord. I might pass out. My heart begs for me to say yes but my brain is too busy short-circuiting. Dominic leans even closer, his face just inches from mine. "When you're ready to admit it, let me know."
Suddenly, Dominic steps back and I immediately feel the loss of his dominating presence. Frozen in place, I watch him walk through the back room towards the break room.
"Everything's entered in the system. I'm clocking out. And Pen?" His words snap me out of my trance and I see him with his hand on the break room door, ready to leave. That damn smirk is still on his face— how is he so unaffected by the moment we just shared? Meanwhile, my heart is racing, my cheeks are burning, and sweat is dripping down my lower back. Not to mention the flood happening between my thighs.
"Send me some more audiobook recs when you have a chance."
Fuck. Me.
EIGHT
april
DOMINIC
Within a few weeks,I’ve marathoned through four audiobooks. Penelope never gave me further recommendations, but she didn’t need to; I simply searched online for more romance books with the same narrator and kept on listening.
I’m not a fool— I’ve never seen Pen as flustered as she was in the back room that day. And while it was fun playing with her, there was more truth behind that stunt than I’m ready to admit. She’s not the only one holding back on how she’s feeling.
Penelope was always on my mind, even after years of being apart. I never expected to see her again, but as my life in Kentucky fell apart and I found myself living with Aunt Gloria… well, here we are. And now she's constantly on my mind, whether she's physically at the store or not. I want her to be mine, but I can't shake off this feeling that I'm not in a good place right now and I don't know how long I'll be staying. Plus, if she had her eye on a loser like that Andrew guy then I don’t think I’m what she’s looking for.
I continually make mental lists in my head— reasons to stay in Prairie Ridge and reasons to go. No matter how many reasonspopulate the “leave” list, all it takes is a moment thinking of Pen, being in her presence, and the “stay” list becomes unbeatable. But it wouldn't be fair to get involved just to leave in a few months. My indecision and, let’s face it, the fact that I’m just not a good enough man for her are holding me back from pursuing anything with Pen.
And yet… I’m incapable of leaving her alone. The thrill I get from making her blush, hearing her stammer or the way her breath catches is indescribable. I’m not willing to give that up.
Add to all that the fact that at least if I’m here I can keep an eye on her. Make sure she’s being treated right by the next idiot she sets her sights on.
“What are you listening to now, lover boy?” Grace smirks at me as slips on her coat, umbrella in hand. The weather has been unpredictable lately, varying between sleet and cold sheets of rain. Another reason on my “leave” list— the fucking unpredictable weather in the Midwest.
“Ha. Ha.” My laugh is forced and empty. My gaze flicks to where Pen is busy clearing a corner of the store for some display. She arrived an hour ago, energized to put this spontaneous display together tonight. I missed many of the details since she was speaking so quickly— bags of supplies rustling as she headed to the back room. “If you must know, I just finished a shifter romance that had a bit of a darker edge to it.”
“Ooooh boy, you are really diving deep into audio, huh?” Grace laughs. “I could never get into audio. I prefer hearing the voices in my head.”
“Ah, that explains a lot.”
