Chapter Twenty-One
Dominic
Sighing in relief, I put the little creature who was adamant on trying to lick my face during the short elevator ride up to my apartment on the floor. We enter the living room, and the silence that greets me has my eyes narrowing as I glance up at the top of the stairs.
The lack of metal clanking and explicit cursing has me moving towards the stairs, taking them two at a time, curious as to whether the little viper has managed to escape her cuffs and made a run for it.
Moving silently down the hallway towards my bedroom, I strain my ears, hearing the distant crunching of her pet eating its food in the kitchen, and the faint creak of the floorboards beneath my feet with every step I take.
When I reach my bedroom door, I unholster my gun that's strapped to the side of my body, and flick the safety off before turning the handle and slowly pushing it open.
When the silence remains undisturbed, and no one jumps out at me, I push the door open further and lower my gun, peeking around the door to see into the room.
Light from the dark city outside the windows behind my bed spills across the room, casting everything with a dim glow. My eyes scan overthe dark figure on the bed, watching as her chest rises and falls in an even pattern.
Turning the safety back on, I holster my gun and tentatively step into the room, moving towards the left side of the bed so I can see Alicia's face.
Although she's lying in a seemingly uncomfortable position with her hand locked against the bedframe and her body twisted to the side, her face looks peaceful and calm.
If I'd thought she was effortlessly beautiful before, it's nothing compared to how she looks now. Without the scowl on her face, and with the slight tilt of her lips, she looks relaxed.
My hand is reaching out towards her before I can think about what I'm doing, and my fingers delicately skim against the side of her face, teasing the smooth skin of her cheek as I brush a thick strand of hair away.
Warmth spreads through my fingers from the connection, and I snatch my hand away, stumbling backwards as I finally tear my gaze from her face, shaking my head.
What is wrong with me?
I'm letting her draw me in when I'm meant to be keeping a distance from her.
I don't want to be tempted.
I can't afford to be distracted by her.
Keeping focused is essential, considering I'm still learning the ropes.
I need to keep Alicia at arm's length, and if that means I have to be more of a dick than usual, then so be it.
I walk out of the room, berating myself as I trudge down the stairs and back into the living room, turning on the lamp beside the sofa soI can see my apartment clearly as I shuck off my holster, placing it on the coffee table, and then strip off my T-shirt.
Grabbing the blanket that's draped over the arm of the sofa, I lie down and cover myself with it. Moving one of the soft pillows my mother had bought to add some 'character' to the room, I fluff it up before leaning my head against it.
Staring up at the ceiling, I busy myself with thoughts of work, mentally going over the paperwork I was looking through earlier on in the day, and thinking about the stock we'll be bringing into our warehouses soon, dispelling thoughts of the woman currently sleeping in my bed, in the hopes I'll manage to drift off to sleep.
I'm roused from my sleep as a weight settles on my chest, and something warm and wet drags along the length of neck, all the way from my collarbone up to the start of my beard.
My muscles lock up, and my eyes snap open to find the bastard dog staring down at me, panting in my face with it's retched breath. I grimace, grabbing hold of the fluff ball and moving it back to the floor as I sit up, rubbing my hands across my face.
Sunlight pours through the windows, hinting it's morning, and a yawn escapes me as I grab for my phone on the coffee table.
Grumbling when I see it's almost seven, I stand and stretch my long limbs before ambling up the stairs and straight into the bathroom.
Turning on the shower, I allow the water time to heat up while I take a piss and then start brushing my teeth.
Seeing the feminine products that now occupy the sink to my left has my brows drawing down and my stomach turning.
Glancing at the closed door beside me—which I know leads to Alicia's room—I take a step towards it before shaking my head and deciding against it.
It's best I don't enter her room and see what she's done to the place in the short time she's been here.
