Page 42 of My Playboy Neighbor

Chapter Ten

Dom

She woke to the unfamiliar sensation of strong arms wrapped around her and the steady rhythm of Dom's heart against her ear.Morning light filtered through the windows of his suite, casting everything in soft gold that reminded her of the first time she'd photographed him—except now there were no barriers between them, no professional distance to hide behind.

"Good morning," Dom's arms tightened possessively around her.Even half-awake, his need to hold her was instinctive.

"Morning."She turned in his arms, studying his face in the daylight.No trace of the polished model remained—just the man who'd laid his heart bare for her."No regrets?"

His gaze was canny despite the early hour, that familiar intensity focused entirely on her."The only regret I have is wasting time pretending I could live without you."His hand cupped her face with gentle authority."How do you feel?"

"Like myself for the first time in days."She leaned into his touch."Like I can finally breathe again."

"Good."Dom's smile was possessive, satisfied."Because I have plans for you today."

Before Maya could ask what kind of plans, Dom's phone buzzed insistently on the nightstand.He ignored it, licking the sensitive spot beneath her ear.

"Shouldn't you answer that?"Maya managed as his lips trailed fire down her throat.

"No."His voice carried that edge of dominance."The world can wait.Right now, there's only you."

The phone buzzed again, then again.Dom growled with irritation as he finally reached for it, his arm never leaving Maya's waist.

"This better be important," he answered curtly.

Maya watched his expression change as he listened, going from irritation to shock to something that might have been wonder.

"Are you serious?"Dom sat up straighter, his hand absently stroking Maya's hip as he processed whatever Jake was telling him."All of them?"

Maya couldn't hear the other side of the conversation, but she saw the tension leaving Dom's shoulders for the first time in days.

"Yeah, I'm listening," Dom said, his voice carefully controlled but unable to hide a note of disbelief."Send me the details."

When he hung up, Maya propped herself up on her elbow to study his face."Good news?"

"Apparently, my public breakdown was exactly what the industry needed."Dom's laugh was incredulous."Three major brands called Jake this morning.They want to discuss campaigns focused on 'authentic masculinity' and 'emotional transparency.'"

"Are you kidding?"

"The photos you took—the ones where I actually looked human instead of perfect—they've been circulating in industry circles.Apparently, there's a movement toward showing real men with real emotions instead of unattainable perfection."Dom shook his head in amazement."My supposed career suicide might have actually saved it."

A surge of vindication mixed with pride coursed through her.She'd known those unguarded moments were powerful, had seen the honesty that made Dom more compelling than any posed shot ever could.

"So what does this mean?"she asked.

"It means I might actually have a future in this business.A different kind of future, but a real one."Dom pulled her closer."And it means I don't have to rebuild my career by pretending to be someone I'm not."

"You were never going to do that anyway," Maya said softly."Not after everything we've been through."

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