His lips twitch, his gaze moves away from mine, and his thumbs stop their gentle movements as he sighs.
"Not exactly," he says, creasing forming around his eyes.
I raise my brow in question, lifting my hands to cover his, pulling them away from my face.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It's his way of stalling," Jess states from behind me.
"It means he's got something to tell you," Sophia adds. "Something he doesn't want to tell you because he's unsure of your reaction."
Dom's eyes slice over to the women on the sofa, and he shakes his head again.
"Will you two butt out?"
Glancing over at them, they both wear matching amused smirks on their face as they nod.
"Maybe we should give them a minute," Rory suggests timidly, nervously glancing at Dom.
"No. You can stay," I tell her, waving my hand. "Dom can tell me whatever he wants to with you all here."
He swallows roughly, his hands squeezing mine.
"Kaleb's gone to find your brother," he states, his eyes hesitantly darting back to mine.
Sophia sighs from across the room, muttering something under her breath, but I'm unsure of what, because I'm distracted by the words Dom just spoke.
Squinting my eyes and tilting my head, I look up at him, brows drawn down.
"Is that it?" I ask.
The tension falls from his face and shoulders immediately, and his eyes widen slightly.
"It doesn't bother you?"
Squashing my lips together to keep myself from laughing, I shake my head.
"You thought it would bother me?"
He nods, and thatdoesmake me laugh.
He releases my hands, steps back, and takes a seat on the stairs as he sighs, dropping his head into his hands.
I crouch down in front of him, a smile still on my face as I duck my head low until his eyes meet mine.
"He has terrorised me my whole life, Dom. Ever since I was a child. He's the bad apple. Everyone knows it. All he's ever caused in life is trouble, and after trying to kill me and hurting Percy, he deserves everything he has coming his way."
His hands clamp around my jaw, and he drags my face to his, pressing our foreheads together as he closes his eyes.
"Thank god for that. I was worried you'd hate me."
"Well, it wouldn't be the first time," I retort, chuckling.
Almost two hours later, Kaleb returns to the apartment, simply nods at Dom, and then ushers the girls out of the apartment, leaving Dom and I alone. We're sitting in the living room, Jellybean on my lap with each of our hands stroking through her fur.
Dom plays with the little pink bow placed between her ears with one hand, while his other rests on my stomach beneath my top, rubbing small circles along my skin.
His chest is against my back, his legs either side of my hips, and a blanket lain over both of our bodies.
