He envelops me, his hands now stroking my hair, holding my head in the crook of his neck, the bristles from his jaw rubbing against my cheek.
My fists clutch his hoodie, not wanting to let go of the safety net. His lips brush against my ear, then below, pressing gently along my neck. He peppers light kisses against my skin, and I swear I can feel them between my thighs. I suck in a breath. His lips move closer to my mouth. I’m paralysed and at his mercy.
He pauses, then pulls away with a clenched jaw as if pulling away from me is causing him pain. “Get your things together. You’re staying with me.”
It wasn’t an offer. It was an order, but I’m in no position to refuse. The idea of staying here alone now terrifies me, and I have nowhere else to go other than to start over in another city.
Finally able to breathe, I break free from Dom’s arms, and step over the broken pots into the bedroom. My empty drawers hang open with my underwear strewn all over the room. “My money’s gone.” Dropping on the bed, I bury my face in my palms.
“How much did you have?”
“A couple hundred saved.” I lift a pillow from the bed and launch it to the other end of the room with a rattled scream.
Dom sighs. “Where did you hide it?”
“I stuffed it in my socks.”
He flicks his eyes to the ceiling. “That’s the first place I’d look.”
I roll my eyes. Of course, it’s a stupid place to hide money, but I didn’t think anyone would go through my sock drawer. Or my underwear drawer, for that matter.
Footsteps outside cause me to bristle. Dom stiffens. Clutching the knife in his hand, he looks out the window. A young couple, my neighbours, laugh and talk, then disappear.
Dom disappears, then returns with two black bin bags. “Let’s go. I don’t want you to be here if the burglar comes back.”
I take a bag and throw my toiletries in, then my clothes. Dom picks my underwear from the floor, taking his time to rub the lacy garments between his fingers before dropping them into the bag. The next garment he picks up are my not so sexy big comfortable knickers. My cheeks burn as I snatch them from his hand and throw them into my bag before he gets a good look.
His lips curl in the corner. “You don’t need to hide your underwear from me, sooner or later I’m going to be peeling it from your body.”
“Don’t be so sure. I don’t plan on sticking around.”
“Well, I don’t plan on letting you go.”
A shiver shoots down my spine, but it’s not fear. It’s something else. Something only Dom has managed to do to my body. I can’t deny how much I want him. Amid all this chaos, I’ve found some peace with him. Last night was the best night’s sleep I’ve had since I came up north. Once I finally slept, that is, with all his six-foot nakedness an arm away.
The costume jewellery I have glitters on the floor. Everything accounted for except my ruby necklace. Probably the only thing I had worth anything. Though it’s more sentimental than valuable. My dad gave it to my mum before he died.
I search the area, looking under the bed as I collect another pair of tights. “My ruby necklace is missing.”
“Was it valuable?”
“Not overly. It was just an unusual piece of jewellery. A snake necklace with red stones and green eyes.”
Dom searches the room, shoving the rest of my belongings into the bag as he hunts for the piece. “Where did you keep it?”
“I had it in my locker at work until a few days ago when I put it back in my jewellery box.” My knees weaken. I drop to the floor in front of my broken jewellery box. A tear drips down my face as I lift the broken ballerina resembling just how I feel inside; tired from years of wear and tear with a broken spirit. I stare into the cracked mirror on the wooden lid, not recognising the woman staring back at me.
Whatever life threw at me, I always picked myself up and carried on, regardless. But right now, I just don’t have the energy.
Dom crouches next to me, his soothing hands enveloping mine. “Everything will be all right. I promise you.” He wipes the tears from my cheek, his fingers no more than a whisper.
“This was a gift from my mum. I always wanted to be a dancer. I guess now I’m just like this ballerina, tired and broken.”
He lifts my chin, forcing me to gaze into his warm eyes. “That’s not what I see. When I look at you, I see a feisty as hell, strong, confident woman.” He takes the ballerina from my hand, then places her inside the wooden box with a broken hinge. “I can fix this.”
“Can you fix me?” I gaze at him through watery eyes. Despair fills my lungs like I’m drowning again.
“You don’t need fixing, Red. But I’ll carry you when you fall on hard times, and I’ll always protect you.” He stands, pulling me with him, then places the jewellery box in his black bin bag with the rest of my things.
