Page 90 of Sweets and Sycamores
He was the luckiest man in the world.
Chapter 33
WITH HAZELNUT CREAM
Allie woke up caged by two heavy arms. She glimpsed the dark sycamore tattoo and wondered if being held down by one of its branches would feel the same. Yet nothing would ever feel as good as waking up in Dom’s arms. Allie shifted under the covers, inching away from him, but Dom’s ironclad hold activated, and the arms pulled her into a hot, naked chest. She inhaled greedily, again and again, stamping his scent into her mind and soul, so she could always remember it vividly. Remember him.
With each day, Allie’s heart grew heavier at the idea of leaving Sycamore Falls. Mia had suggested she could stay longer, but Dom…hadn’t. She didn’t want to pressure him by asking because she was mostly convinced the Mage would allow her to stay longer. But Allie wanted Dom towanther to stay. And if she asked, and he said yes, would that be because she urged him, or because he wanted her here?
Allie hoped it would be the latter, and that was why she kept quiet about it.
The thought of going back to Pearls Fields, to old magic, to a house of sisters who barely tolerated her, and to that abominable, endless heat made her chest constrict. A twinge ofsadness sneaked into her heart for her past self, for the Allie who had wanted that life because it was the only one she knew. She had spent years drilling into her brain that Witches didn’t make their way into the world, didn’t live outside a coven, unless they chose solitude.
And she didn’t want to be alone.
Looking back, the coven’s decision to send her away was the best thing that had happened to her. Allie had learned this new way of life, met all these wonderful people, and created a life of her own, one not dictated by her power—or lack thereof.
Giving it up was close to impossible, and she was in for a lifetime of heartbreak.
Dom squeezed her to his chest with a low purr that vibrated through her body.
“Good morning.”
“Morning.” Allie placed tiny kisses on Dom’s chest as he rubbed her back.
Something shifted around her feet, and Allie looked down to see Ekko sprawled on his back, feet up, snoring between their legs. She laughed while Dom gave a hoarse chuckle.
This was the life she wanted. Waking up in Dom’s arms, their cat-like dragon curled at their feet. A bakery to run—more like assist with, but a girl could dream. Friends to go out with for coffee and delicious food. Cold weather for Hallows Eve.
“How are you feeling?” she asked Dom, running her fingertips over his hip.
“Good.” He inhaled loudly and moaned into her hair. “And I’m about to get so much better.” Dominic rolled her over, pinning her body down with his and bringing mischief-filled green eyes to the center of her universe. She was addicted to his sexy, arrogant smirk, the way he kissed her and worshipped her body.
“Are you sure you’re feeling well enough?” Allie asked, despite her instincts that screamed at her to shut up and take anything Dom gave her.
“Why don’t I show you?”
Allie bit her lip and nodded before a purple smudge took flight from the bed and soared out the bedroom door.
Maybe he was dead. And he must have done some good deeds, seeing as how he was living his happiest life. Or death?
Dominic couldn’t remember when he’d ever been this happy before. He couldn’t care less about the past anyway because his future was beautiful, and bright, and red-headed. He loved how easy it had been to convince Allie not to leave his bed. Short of asking her to move in with him officially, everything was as it was supposed to be.
They spent the first half of the week before Hallows Eve tangled up in sheets, running the bakery, cooking, talking about everything and nothing,laughing.Right. He was one of those men who laughed now. Because she was funny and witty, and interesting, and his.
Dominic planned to ask Allie to stay in Sycamore Falls during the Harvest Festival this weekend. Not longer. Forever.
If she had to go back to Pearls Fields to settle anything with the coven, he’d go with her. If she wanted him to. Regardless, Allie’s place was in Sycamore Falls, with him, and not in some overly-hot place surrounded by wicked Witches who didn’t care about her.
His blood pressure increased dramatically every time he remembered this. It hit him harder with every piece of Allie he got to know. From the moment she stood homeless at hisdoorstep, to her struggling with her fire, to the fucking seal—they’d shunned her when they should have helped her most, and Dominic would never forgive them. In fact, he’d love to go with Allie to Pearls Fields to become the first Mage who cursed a Witch.
“What did that dough do to you?” Allie wrapped her arms around his waist and looked at him over his arm.
He instantly relaxed and let that rage go. Well, notgo, but he bottled it back up from where it had escaped. “Nothing. Sprinkle more flour over here, please.”
Allie went around the table and did as instructed. “What else do we have on the schedule for today?”
Hearing her say “we” was the highlight of his day, every day.
