Page 125 of Hard Wired

They both collapsed onto the bed. The room was quiet for a while as they lay there, just looking at each other while Dominic traced his fingertips over her arms.

Their second round of lovemaking was slower, sweeter, full of tender kisses and I-love-yous.

The third time was up against the wall of the shower, water spraying on Dominic’s back, after he’d made her climax with his fingers.

Then they were both completely spent. They wrapped up in a blanket and ate leftover takeout from the fridge on the living room couch. He had no clue what time it was, nor did he care.

“Tell me about the conversation with your siblings. Did it go well?”

“We all cried a little. We apologized and asked for forgiveness and talked about what was important in our lives. I told them about you.”

That made him smile.

“They want me to come visit.”

“Wow. That would be a big step. First time back there in over ten years?”

“Yeah.” Her blue eyes lifted to his. “Would you come with me?”

“Me? Really? Yeah, of course I will. If you think… I don’t know if they’ll like me. I’m weird around people now. I don’t know what to say.”

“Number one, who gives a shit if they like you? You’d be there for me. And second, just be yourself. That’s how I like you.” She kissed him on the nose.

“But what if they ask about my family?”

Hi, Sylvie’s mom and dad. I’m in love with your daughter. My background? Let’s see. Dad’s a former mobster, just like me. My uncle tried to have me tortured and killed, and my brother’s in federal prison. Oh, and my other brother is in witness protection after setting up two gangs to murder each other. Pass the potato salad?

“I can’t tell them the truth, right?”

She burst out laughing. “No freaking way are we telling them the truth about your family. But that’s okay. They don’t need to know everything. Just that I love you.”

“That’s good enough for me.”

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