57

He stepped forward, his arms snaking around me in one fluid motion, tugging me flush against him. My breath hitched, my heart pounding so hard I swore he could feel it. His hands slid lower, fingers digging into the soft flesh of my lower cheeks, squeezing firmly.

“Dominic—” I gasped, my voice coming out breathless as I darted a nervous glance toward the door. “The door—someone could—”

His lips curved into a slow, teasing smile as he tilted his head, his eyes dark and amused. “It’s locked.”

My stomach flipped.

“How do you know it’s locked?” I demanded, trying to sound firm even though I was hyper-aware of the way his grip never loosened, the way he was holding me so tightly it felt like he was branding me into place.

“Because I locked it,” he murmured, his voice a smooth, dangerous hum. He leaned in, his face so close that his nose brushed mine, his grin wicked. “Problem solved, sweetheart.”

I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the heat radiating from him. “You’re an asshole,” I muttered, shifting slightly to put some space between us, but his hold only tightened, making it impossible.

“That’s not what you were saying five seconds ago,” he teased, his voice dipping lower. He was watching me—no, studying me—with an intensity that made my skin flush. His gaze darted to my lips before meeting my eyes again. “Why are you so nervous, Ellie?”

“I’m not nervous,” I shot back, glaring at him even as my chest rose and fell faster. My breath came in shaky bursts, betraying me.

His smile widened, and I could see the spark of victory in his eyes. “Liar,” he whispered.

“I’m not—” I tried to push him away, my hands flat against his chest, but he didn’t budge. Instead, his arms flexed, holding me tighter, so tight that I was practically molded to him. And that’s when I felt it—his arousal, hard and pressing through his jeans against my stomach.

I froze.

“Dominic,” I said, my voice a mix of warning and mortification.

He had the nerve to chuckle, the sound low and rumbling against my ear. “What?” he said, feigning innocence. “It’s your fault, you know. Walking around like this… all bare and flushed. I’m only human.”

I glared up at him, my cheeks burning hotter than ever. “You’re disgusting.”

“That’s not what you were calling me last time—”

“Shut up,” I snapped, trying to wriggle free again, but all it did was make me more aware of him. Every inch of him.

He stilled, his expression shifting just slightly as his gaze softened, locking onto mine. For the first time in the past few minutes, he wasn’t teasing. “I just… like having you like this,” he said, his voice quiet and rough, almost like he wasn’t sure if he wanted me to hear it.

The words hit me harder than I expected, and it was then I realized that my fists were still clenched in his shirt, knuckles white as if letting go might make him disappear. I blinked up at him, stunned, as my chest continued to heave.

“Dominic…” I whispered, but before I could say anything else, his mouth crashed against mine.

The kiss was hard and demanding, his lips moving over mine like he’d been holding back for years. And God help me, I kissed him back. My body betrayed me completely as I melted into him, matching his intensity with my own. My hands moved up, tangling into his damp hair as he groaned softly into my mouth.

When he finally broke away, we were both panting, our breaths mingling in the small space between us. Before I could catch my breath, his lips were at my neck, trailing fire along my skin. He nibbled, his teeth grazing the sensitive spot near my collarbone, and I swore my knees buckled.

“Dominic—” I tried to protest, my voice barely more than a moan. “We can’t. Not right now. This is—this is—”

My words faltered as he pressed a kiss just beneath my ear, his hands roaming along the curves of my waist before settling back on my hips.

“You sure about that?” he murmured, his voice smug and teasing again.

“Yes,” I gasped, except it didn’t sound convincing at all. I hated how breathless I sounded, how my body arched into his touch even as I tried to pull away.

“You don’t sound sure.” He nipped at my neck again, grinning against my skin when I let out an involuntary whimper.

“Dominic, seriously,” I said, trying to sound firm, but my voice trembled as he ran his hands up my sides, his thumbs teasing the underside of my breasts.

“Hmm?” he hummed softly, deliberately ignoring me. “What were you saying?”

“You’re impossible,” I muttered, my words punctuated by a sharp inhale as his mouth moved lower, brushing over my collarbone.

“And you’re still not pushing me away,” he said, his voice a deep murmur that sent heat pooling low in my stomach.

I couldn’t argue with that. I was still clutching him like he was my only anchor to reality, my body betraying me completely. I didn’t know whether to slap him or kiss him again, but the way he was looking at me—hot and intense, like I was the only thing in the world that mattered—made the choice damn near impossible.

He pulled back just enough to look into my eyes, his lips curved into a small, smug smile. “Tell me to stop, Ellie,” he whispered, his tone daring me.

I opened my mouth, but the words didn’t come. Instead, I swallowed hard, feeling my pulse hammer in my throat as I stared up at him.

“That’s what I thought,” he murmured, his lips brushing mine again, softer this time. His hands tightened on my hips, pulling me closer until there wasn’t an inch of space left between us.

I hated him for this—hated the way he could break me down so easily. But I hated myself more for letting him.

“Asshole,” I whispered against his lips, though it came out weak and breathless.

He grinned, pressing one last kiss to the corner of my mouth. “Your asshole,” he corrected, and I swore I was going to kill him.

Later. Maybe. If I could pull myself together long enough to let go.

Without warning, something inside me snapped. I grabbed his face and crushed my lips to his, kissing him hard, desperate, like I needed him to breathe.

Dominic didn’t hesitate. A low, guttural sound rumbled in his chest as he kissed me back with the same intensity, his hands gripping my ass so tight that I yelped against his mouth. The sting of his fingers digging into my skin sent sparks shooting through my nerves, but before I could protest, he tugged me up effortlessly.

“Dominic!” I gasped as my feet left the ground, my legs instinctively wrapping around his waist.

He smirked against my lips. “I’ve got you.”

His mouth was on mine again before I could respond, rough and unrelenting as he stumbled backward. I felt the hard press of his body beneath me, every shift of his muscles making me even more aware of how close we were. Finally, he dropped onto the edge of the bed, dragging me down with him so I straddled his lap.

My breath was coming fast, my pulse thundering as I shifted slightly. That’s when I felt him—hot and hard, his arousal pressing against me through the fabric of his jeans. My wet core pulsed at the contact, and my cheeks flushed deeper.

“What am I going to do with you?” I murmured, trying to sound annoyed, but my voice came out breathy instead.

Dominic tilted his head back to look at me, his lips curved into that damn smug smile. “We could start with fucking,” he teased, his hands still kneading my ass, holding me firmly against him. “Solve the police case after.”

“You’re impossible,” I shot back, ready to scold him, but before I could, he wrapped his arms around my waist and tugged me forward, pressing me hard against the bulge in his jeans.

A strangled moan escaped my lips before I could stop it.

“Dominic—”

“Hmm?” he hummed, his voice dangerously low, his eyes locked on mine with a look that sent a shiver through me. He started grinding me against him, slow and deliberate, the friction making my head spin.

The bed beneath us creaked softly at first, the sound almost lost in the shallow, panting breaths filling the space.

My hands flew to his shoulders, fingers digging into him as I bit my lip to stop another sound from escaping, but it was useless. Every shift of his hips against mine made the ache between my thighs worse, a heat spreading through my body that I couldn’t ignore.

“Look at you,” he teased, his lips brushing the corner of my mouth, his voice thick and smug. “So responsive.”

“Shut up,” I muttered, my words broken by a soft moan as he rolled his hips again.

“Say it again,” he murmured, pressing me down harder against him.

“You’re an—ah!” I gasped as he ground into me more firmly, my body betraying me completely as my hips started moving on their own, rocking against him.

The creaking of the bed grew louder, matching the rhythm of my movements—slower at first, then quicker as I lost control. The sound mingled with my shaky breaths and the low groan that escaped Dominic’s lips.

He groaned softly, his forehead pressing against mine as we moved together, the air between us thick with heat and tension. “That’s it,” he whispered, his breath ragged.

“You’re such an asshole,” I muttered, glaring at him, even though my own movements only grew more desperate. My core throbbed as the friction built, pleasure coiling tight in my belly.

“And you love it,” he shot back, his voice a strained mix of amusement and desire.

I wanted to argue, to shove him, but every thought scattered as his hands moved up my sides, holding me steady as I ground myself harder against him. The way his jeans pressed into me was maddening—just enough to tease, not enough to satisfy.

The bed groaned louder beneath us now, matching the faster rhythm of my hips. Each creak echoed in my ears, and I hated how the sound only added to the intensity building inside me.

“God, you’re insufferable,” I gasped, my words broken as a moan slipped through my lips.

Dominic’s smile widened, though his own breathing had grown uneven. “Says the one grinding herself on me like she doesn’t want me to stop.”

My cheeks burned, but I didn’t stop. Couldn’t stop. My forehead pressed against his, our breath mingling in short, ragged pants as the tension between us grew tighter and tighter.

“I hate you,” I bit out, though my voice shook as another wave of pleasure rolled through me.

“Liar,” he whispered, his voice dark and rough.

“Creep,” I panted through gritted teeth, my insult falling flat as a moan broke through again.

Dominic chuckled softly, low and dangerous, his hands tightening around me as he guided my movements. “Keep insulting me, Ellie. It only makes you grind harder.”

I cursed under my breath, my body betraying me completely as my hips moved faster, chasing a sensation I couldn’t stop. The creaking of the bed grew frantic now, each sharp sound punctuating my panting breaths and the unrelenting fire building between us.

Dominic’s head tilted up, his dark eyes searching mine as his voice dropped to a hoarse whisper. “Tell me to stop, Ellie.”

I didn’t.

I couldn’t.

Instead, I let out a broken moan, my head dropping to his shoulder as I clutched him tighter, grinding shamelessly against him as the fire inside me threatened to consume me whole.

And Dominic? He was right there with me, his own breath uneven, his grip unrelenting as he held me close. “God, Ellie,” he groaned, his voice low and hoarse.

I knew we were in trouble. Knew this wasn’t the time or place. But in that moment, none of it mattered.