Page 38 of Where We Began

The real him is more than my imagination was capable of conjuring. His palms move up to hold my face. He tilts his head to kiss me deeper. Athudfills my ears. I dropped the book. Neither of us cares.

Deep down, I know I shouldn't be doing this with him. Not until I understand what he wants, what he's been through. He might as well be a stranger to me and here I am, giving myself to him in the middle of an empty library.

Thick fingers play through my hair. One makes a fist, tugging my braid until my scalp tingles. The sensation drives a cold image into my mind—Dominic catching me from behind as I tried to flee.

Your heart can't help you get home.

“Wait,” I say, forcing myself out of his grasp.

Dominic watches me with his chest rising rapidly. The red, burning coals haven't left his eyes. I retreat a step; he follows. “I can't wait,” he whispers, his voice husky. “All this time, Laiken, I've thought about you. I want you more than you could ever understand. More thanIunderstand.”

His raw admission steals my strength. I come close to falling into his arms, but before I do, I see the book lying on the floor. “Dominic, no.” The rejection cracks my heart. I see it hurts him too. “You were right earlier. I can't use my heart, I have to use my brain to get out of this mess, to get myself... my family... home. Letting you close to me, when I don't even understand who you are anymore, is reckless. What are you hiding from me?”

His body coils like a spring. I think he's going to tackle me, but he stays where he is, his every vein bulging. My eyes slide over his hard abdominals that push through his shirt. That's when I see the massive shape of his erection flexing through his jeans.

I'veneverseen a man naked before. I'm a virgin, through and through.

Once, last summer, there were some landscapers working in the yard. One of them was my age, his hooded eyes making his intentions known as he stared at me whenever I was around.

He got me alone one evening and tried to kiss me. He didn't care if I said no. He thought I'd be easy. I wasn't. After I bit his forearm, he left me alone. Word got around and no one else tried to approach me after that.

I wantso badlyto see Dominic in all his glory.

“I can't tell you the things you're asking about,” he whispers, gritting his teeth like he's being stabbed.

“You can't tell me now, or ever?”

He closes his eyes. His lashes are thick and beautiful. “I'm not sure.” He opens his mouth, shuts it. When he looks at me again, some of the icy cold has returned to his expression. “No, I definitely can't ever tell you.”

“Then this,” I say, motioning between us. “Can never happen again.”

He laughs, the brittle sound echoes through the room. “You're going to have your work cut out for you, do you understand that?”

“What are you talking about?” I didn't think he'd laugh at my threat.

“You want me to say no to you?” A wickedness moves through his voice and enters my blood. It sticks there, making me shake with an excitement that feels wrong. “Fine, I'll do my best to hold back when you're near me. But are you sure you're going to be able to do the same? Living under the same roof and seeing me constantly is going to take a toll.”

I'm stunned by how he twists my words around on me. “I'm not an animal, I can control myself.”

“That's good,” he says, and though he doesn't come any closer, I feel his presence as if it's rubbing over my whole body. “Because if you wanted me as much as I want you right now, this would be impossible to prevent. So thank goodness,” he chuckles, turning away, “that you're strong because I'm not. The first hint I get that you're about to break and to give yourself to me,” He smiles. I can taste the kiss that we experienced just minutes ago. “I'm going to make you mine.”

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