Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 96129 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96129 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
“I’m gonna come,” I gasped. “Dom—”
His climax overlapped mine, my name sounded like a curse spilling out of his mouth. We were both panting when we fell onto the bed. Dominic turned and got out of bed. I heard him in the bathroom. Felt him wiping between my legs. At some point in my haze, I sat up, went to the bathroom, put my shirt and underwear back on, and went back to the room. He was sitting at the edge of the bed, shirtless but wearing his black boxer briefs. Under any other circumstance, I would’ve joked that he looked like he was planning to take over the world, but this felt serious, heavy. I got in bed, pulled the covers up, and looked at him, waiting.
“Your dad and brother hate me.”
I blinked. Not at all what I’d been expecting him to say. “So?”
“So?” He glanced at me over his shoulder. “That’s a big deal for you.”
“They’ll live.”
“Rosie.” It was a groan as he turned to me and got under the covers. I moved closer, so we were facing each other on our respective pillows. The agony in his eyes sank into me and weighed down on my chest. “You shouldn’t want to be with me.”
“I know.”
“You called me your boyfriend.” He smiled softly. “You said I lost my boyfriend privileges.”
“Isn’t that what you were?”
“I should’ve been a better boyfriend.”
“You were.” I reached out and ran my fingers over his jaw. “You were the best boyfriend I’ve ever had.”
“Don’t say that.” He swallowed thickly. “Please don’t say that.”
I took my hand back. “Don’t tell me what to say and what not to say. You came here. You asked to sleep here. You initiated this, and for what?”
“Because I needed to see you.”
“But not because you’re going to stay for good,” I said, turning onto my side and facing the other way so he wouldn’t see the tears in my eyes. “I can’t do this.”
“I just need time. I need to –”
“Time?” I scoffed. “It’s been a month, Dominic.”
“I know.” He groaned. “Don’t you think I’ve been counting every second of every fucking day that I’ve been without you?”
“Well, you could’ve fooled me.”
“Jesus, Rosie. You know I’m crazy about you. You know I’m so in love with you that if you told me to leave all of this behind, I fucking would.”
My heart leaped. He was in love with me. Wasn’t that what I’d been wanting to hear from him? Why did it hurt so much now? I breathed in shakily, wiping my face again, and turned around to face him.
“I’m not asking you to do that,” I whispered. “I haven’t asked you for anything at all, Dominic. I just want you.”
He shut his eyes. “I know.”
“But you can’t give me that,” I said, then corrected myself. “You’re not going to give me that.”
“I want to. I want to so much, Rosie, but I can’t. Not yet.” He looked at me again and I saw the same brokenness I felt reflected back onto me. There was no triumph in this, and there would be none because the ball was in his court, and he refused to make a play. The worst part was that somewhere deep inside, I understood him. I understood his fears and his reluctance. I understood that his need to take care of the people he loved exceeded his need to do what made him happy. It didn’t make it hurt any less.
“I won’t be around forever.” I wiped my face.
“I know.”
That was the last thing we said to each other before we went to sleep. The next morning, he was gone, the only sign that he’d been there at all was the ache between my legs and the remnants of his smell on the pillow. It hurt like hell.
46
DOMINIC
“So you’re going to personally collect payment from now on?” Santiago asked from behind the counter. “I thought you had guys doing that for you.”
“I do.” I walked up to the counter. “I’m not here on business.”
“What are you here for?” He raised an eyebrow, expression weary.
“I’m in love with your daughter—”
“Nope. I’m not having this conversation with you.” He went back to his task of counting inventory.
“Did she tell you about the football player she went out with?”
His face soured. “The QB for the Jets? Yeah.”
“And you’re going to just let this happen?” I asked, since I knew if there was a person on this planet who hated them more than me, it was Santiago, the die-hard Miami Dolphins fan. Of course, he hated my Patriots too, but I could set that rivalry aside for now.
“I’m not going to give you my blessing to date my daughter,” he said after a moment.
“I don’t need it, you know,” I said. “She made it clear that she didn’t care what you or Santi said about us.”