"I'm sorry you lost it."
She sniffles against me, her body shaking slightly.
We stay like that for a few moments before she shuffles backwards in her bed.
I remove my arm from around her and move to stand up, but she reaches for me, shaking her head.
"No. I want you to stay," she mutters, releasing my arm and lifting her covers for me.
Instantly, I climb into bed beside her, sliding my arm beneath her head and curling my other one around her waist, pulling her closer to me.
She snuggles into me, throwing her leg over mine, and circling her arm around the back of my neck.
I press a kiss to her forehead, then rest my head on hers, breathing in her scent and rubbing my hand along her trembling back.
As I lie with her, listening to the sound of her breathing as she starts to relax, I can hear the faint sound of my phone ringing in the pocket of my jeans that are lying in a pile on the floor of my bedroom.
I know it'll most likely be Percy wondering where I am, considering I have a meeting this afternoon, but I don't move a muscle, and I don't plan on it, even once she's fallen asleep.
Work can wait.
Alicia is what's important to me right now.
She needs me, and I'll be damned if I'm not here for her.
Chapter Forty
Alicia
The next few days, I stay inside the apartment with Dom, not daring to go outside while Lenny's still out there.
Dom hasn't asked me any more questions about the man Leo shot, but I know he wants to in the quiet moments. I can feel it when we're cuddled up on the sofa, and his eyes assess me while I'm watching the TV. Or during the night when he's kissing me and drags his lips down to my neck, pausing for a few breaths as he stares at the faint bruising before he continues.
I'm thankful he hasn't asked, because I don't want to lie to him.
We're in a good place at the moment, and I don't want to ruin it.
I want to enjoy it while it lasts.
Lately, I've seen a completely new side to Dom, and I absolutely love it.
"When Leo gets back from walking Jellybean, I'm going to head out for a little bit. Is that okay?" he asks, twirling my hair around his finger and squeezing the thigh I have draped over his lap.
Tearing my eyes away from the TV, I look over my shoulder, catching him already staring down at me.
"Why wouldn't that be okay?"
He shrugs, the movement tousling my body beside him from where we're cuddled up on the sofa together, just as we have been for the past two days.
"I wasn't sure if you'd feel comfortable with me leaving you alone yet. Although it will only be for a short while."
Turning my body to face him, I move my hand to his jaw, capturing it between my thumb and my pointer finger. I bring his face down to mine so I can press a chaste kiss against his lips.
"As much as I appreciate you staying here with me while I've been down, I know you can't always be around, and you have other things to do," I tell him, kissing him again. "I'll be okay. Besides, you'll leave Leo downstairs, right?"
He nods. "Of course. Unless you'd prefer for him to be in the apartment? Would that make you feel safer?"
I chuckle and shake my head.
