Page 49 of Cross Check My Heart
Lilly’s gaze lingers on my face for a moment before she speaks.
“Losing someone you love changes you. They take a piece of you with them when they go and sometimes all you can see are the scars that are left behind. But just because you’re no longer who you used to be with them in your life, it doesn’t make this new version ofyouany less worthy or deserving of happiness.”
She cups my cheeks gently in the palm of her hands, leaning forward to place a gentle kiss on my lips before pulling back. Only once my eyes clash with her shining gaze does she say anything.
“The boy they loved and raised is still a part of you. Just because you’re not who you were when they were here, doesn’t mean that the man you are now isn’t someone to be proud of.” She places another one of those light kisses on my cheek before whispering, “And for whatever it’s worth, I think you’re amazing.”
It was as if a weight had been lifted off Dominik’s shoulders. After he opened up about his sister, we stayed out on the dock long after the sunset. We watched the stars take over the sky and he told me more about his sister and growing up in Colorado.It wasn’t until my stomach interrupted us that we realized we forgot to eat dinner.
Thankfully, Dominik thought ahead and made us stop to grab a few groceries before checking in. We spent the rest of Friday night eating cereal at the kitchen counter, talking about anything and everything.
It’s almost weird how easy talking to him is. I feel like for the first time outside of my relationship with Paige, I can say anything and not be judged.
Yesterday was absolute heaven that ended in both of us coming upstairs to shower together. We hadn’t even fooled around or bothered putting clothes on, simply kept talking until we curled up with each other in bed and passed out.
Neither one of us had planned to wake up early, in fact after our late night on the dock and midnight dinner, I had assumed we would both sleep in. Yet both our internal clocks were on the same wavelength. We got up and went out to explore before nine. I had searched for places to go that wouldn’t be too busy right now.
Seeing as how we are still in Florida, it wouldn’t be totally out there if someone noticed Dominik. He was confident that we’d be flying under the radar, safe out in public since the season doesn’t “officially” start until Tuesday. But better to be cautious than have our picture flying around the internet.
I moved down here in such a rush that I never thought to look up things to do in the state prior to last week. When Dominik asked me to go away for the weekend, it finally gave me the perfect opportunity to research and make a list of things to do. Not only in the Florida Keys, but back in Tampa as well. Searching for activities and making a list was something that I’ve always done before trips, so I hadn’t thought much about it until Dominik saw it on top of my notes with my laptop. He asked about some of the things that I jotted down and even soundedexcited about them. But still, I woke up Saturday morning and a part of me hadn’t expected him to remember any of those things.
Dominik constantly surprises me though.
He woke up, suggested we get breakfast before we spent the day out and asked where to go first. He didn’t even complain about my dragging him around Key West, if anything, he was genuinely happy to follow me around to see typical tourist points.
After the nonstop moving and exploring that we did yesterday, we both agreed to just take it easy today and take full advantage of the rental. So, neither of us were in a rush to get out of bed this morning.
I’ve only been awake for a few minutes, and I can’t decide if I’m ready to get up or not. Cuddling has never been one of my favorite things. Until Dominik held me all night long that first night we slept together. Since then, anytime we spend the night together, I fall asleep in his arms. Considering I can’t ever seem to stay still in my sleep, we usually don’t wake up that way. Typically, I’m spread out like a starfish, but still touching him either with my legs tangled into his or my head resting on him instead of the pillow.
Some nights though, I wake up to realize we had stayed curled up with each other all night long. Which is how I am right now.
His arms drape protectively around me, holding me to him tightly so that there isn’t a single inch between my back and his front. His face is buried into the nape of my neck, one hand pressed between my ribs and the mattress while the other is resting above our heads.
Trying to move gently, not wanting to wake him, I wiggle slightly. The only thing that does is cause his hand on my ribs to shift to my breast as he sleepily tugs me closer. Heat courses through my body, settling low in my stomach as his already hard cock presses against my ass. His thumb lazily traces over mynipple before cupping me in his palm. If it weren’t for his steady breathing on my neck, I would assume he was awake and feeling me up. When he lazily grinds his hips into me, I know he won’t be asleep for much longer.
I reach behind me, shifting my ass away from him so that I can grip his cock. My heart races as he hardens even more in my hand, and he lets out a sleepy groan. I pause, unsure if the groan was meant as encouragement or because I’m annoying him by waking him up. I’m about to release him when his hips snap forward, trapping my hand between us.
His lips graze my shoulder as he lazily kisses a path to that spot just below my ear.
“Were you pulling away because you decided you don’t want to follow through with what your hand on my cock started or because you got in your head?” I swallow thickly, before whispering.
“I got in my head. I worried you might want more sleep and maybe didn’t want me touching you.”
“Waking up to you gripping my cock is hands down the best way to be woken up.” He nips my ear. “If your body is craving me, you have my permission to wake me up whenever and however you see fit.”
His hips ease back as he nudges my hand away when he pushes back against me his cock slips between my thighs. The tip of his cock brushes past my entrance without going in, drawing a whimper from my lips as he nestles his hips to me. My own hips move on their own accord, trying to get him to move.
His hand trails along my ribs, moving down my thigh until he reaches my knee and hikes it back over his muscular legs. He holds me there, his cock still resting against my throbbing heat as he kisses my shoulder again.
“Tell me what you want, Sunshine. You woke me up and I will gladly give you whatever you ask for.” He shifts slightly causinghis cock to tease at my entrance before brushing past again. It’s impossible to think of anything else, my mind focused solely on the feeling of him against me. His hand traces back up my leg, dipping down to trace a path toward my pussy.
Keeping his touch teasing and feather light, he circles my clit a few times and my hips try to surge forward, seeking more. His other arm slips between me and the mattress, until his palm is spread out on my stomach and halts my movements. There’s no stopping the groan that escapes my throat, something that earns me another chuckle as he kisses my neck.
As his fingers move past my clit, pushing his cock away so he can run his fingers through my folds until he reaches my entrance. He stifles his groan by biting into my shoulder.
“You’re fucking soaked, Sunshine.” I can only nod as I wait on bated breath for him to push those glorious fingers into me. Which he does, but he barely puts the tip of a finger in before he pulls back out and teases my entrance.
“What do you want?” He repeats the movement, drawing a desperate whimper before the need for him takes over and has me forgetting everything else.
