Page 16 of Graves

“A once-over, remember?”

“Giving something a once-over is checking it out with your eyes. Not ripping the thing apart.”

Dominic reaches over, wrapping his hand around my thigh as he looks at me.

“Take a breath. I told you I’m gonna take care of it. Trust me.”

Blowing out a heavy breath, I nod. I’m not sure how I feel about the way he can calm me down so easily and the way he makes me feel so seen with the simplest gestures. Or the way he seems to know exactly where my insecurities are and shines light on them like they deserve it.

He squeezes my thigh once more, sending a rush of that same buzzing feeling through me before he opens the car door and strides around to get my own. I thank him as I step out, and he rests his hand on my lower back as he guides me into the auto repair shop.

As soon as we step in the door, the receptionist practically bounces to her feet, a wide smile on her face as she stares at Dominic.

“Mr. Graves, I didn’t know you were coming in today.”

“Carl is looking at a car for me. Call me when it’s ready,” he says as he continues ushering me up the stairs to the right.

“Of course! Let me know if there is anything else I can do for you,” she says with her hidden innuendo plastered across her plastic face. She doesn’t miss the opportunity to send me a withering glare, though, before she goes back to her computer.

“Where are we going?” I ask as we continue up the stairs. The waiting room was clearly next to the receptionist.

“My office.”

“Your office?” I say over my shoulder. “So when you said you knew the owner, you meant you really know him? Share all your meals with him, grew up with him and all that.”

He gives me a crooked smirk as he nods. When we get to the top of the stairs, he reaches around me to input a code into the keypad on the door. As soon as it opens, an airy room is in front of us. It has a few windows, one looking over the shop and another looking out over the parking lot. A simple desk and chair along with a few cabinets, are really all that fill up the room. It doesn’t give much insight as to the person who occupies it, but then again, I think that’s just who Dominic is. Quiet, reserved, mysterious, and all.

“What?” he asks.

I turn to see that he’s watching me from the corner of the room.

“Huh?”

“You have a look on your face,” he says. “What are you thinking?”

“Oh, nothing.”

He walks away from the corner, shutting the door behind him as he closes the distance between us.

“Tell me.”

“I was just thinking how the room doesn’t give much away. You’re as much a mystery now as you were the night I met you.”

He hums under his breath as he slowly reaches out a hand, running it through my hair. My eyes fall closed on instinct as he continues weaving his hand through the strands.

“I’m not so sure I’m the mystery between the two of us.”

I opened my eyes at that, to find him staring at me hungrily. Anticipation thrums in my veins as his grip on me tightens just slightly, pulling me in closer, as his other hand goes to my hip.

“What do you wanna know?” I tease with a soft smile.

He doesn’t smile back, though, as his eyes practically drill me into place.

“Everything,” he murmurs.

My heart beats out of rhythm at that, and the next thing I know, my lips are on his. I don’t know who initiated it, but all I know is I never want it to end. Our tongues are battling for dominance, our hands everywhere and anywhere. Just like before, the kiss is rushed, frantic, and ravenous. It feels as though he’s attempting to consume my very soul with this one kiss, and God willing, I’d let him.

I feel the palm of his hand glide over my back before resting on my ass. His other hand takes up the same position before I’m suddenly being lifted into the air. My legs wrap around his torso as he carries me several feet before releasing one of his hands. I hear the sound of things clattering to the ground as he swipes his desk clean before laying me down on top of it.

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