Page 43 of The Widow's Dom

“Go back to sleep.”

She felt him kiss the back of her head.

Janessa hadn’t ever felt safer or more cherished than when she was with Nick, and she hoped it never ended.

Chapter Twenty-One

It seemed like the time had flown by, and before she knew it, Nick had been living with her for six weeks. The Sunday meal a few weeks before with Chad went very well, and she loved how her boys and Nick got along. Even though they were considered men, they still needed a positive male role model in their lives.

The two had gotten into a routine that worked for them. He’d wake early and run with his friends while she cleaned the stalls. Since they had eight horses now, it took twice as long. When Nick returned, he showered and started working with his horses while she sat in the office editing.

Janessa sat back in her desk chair and rested. That day everything had gone normal and well, and Nick seemed happy. But there was still something he was holding back, and she was terrified she knew. The suspicion grew in her mind, and little things were said that made her more positive. If she was right, it would end them because she couldn’t give him what he wanted. But the thought of not having Nick in her bed every night terrified her.

She stood. It was ridiculous to worry about something when she could just ask him. She walked outside, breathed in the fresh air, and took in the bright blue sky. Her mind calmed, and her soul eased enough that it helped make her feel happy for a moment. As much as she wanted to keep doing it, she needed to finish what she’d come out to do.

She almost called out for him but then heard his voice on the other side of the barn. She headed that way but stopped abruptly when she heard the words.

“Hell, no, I can’t say anything,” Nick said, then paused to listen to whoever was on the other line. “We’ve already discussed it, Jake. I’m getting over it because I’d rather be with her than worry about the rest. I’ll get used to it after a while.”

Her stomach dropped. She had been right all along. God, the pain was excruciating, and she couldn’t listen to another word. As quietly as she could, she entered the house and went up the stairs. Her emotions were too wild. She dragged out a bag and started stuffing some clothes inside. She couldn’t face him yet because it would kill her to see his own pain.

Ascreamcaught in her throat when she came out of the bathroom and saw Nick leaning against the bedroom doorjamb with his arms and legs crossed,staring at her bag. He looked relaxed, but she could see the tension in his body.

“What’s up?” he asked softly,but she could hear the edge of the alpha in him.

She held her things against her chest. “I was going to visit a friend for a few days.”

His eyebrows rose. “Really? Were you going to tell me?”

“Yes. Of course. I was going to leave a note.”

She couldsee the muscle in his jaw tick.

“Don’t you think this is something we should talk over?” he asked.

“Oh, well. I didn’t think you would mind.”

Now just one of his brows was cocked. “Not mind, my sub is running off without discussing it with me. Maybe I’ve been a terrible Dom.”

“No, that’s not it.”

Her heart seized in her chest when he stepped into the bedroom, closed the door, locked it, and started to unbutton his shirt.

“Wait. What are you doing?”

“We’re going to get undressed and talk,” he said.

“Why do we have to get n-naked?” She could feel her heartbeat kick up in her chest with anxiety, but her body was still preparing her to take him inside of her, making her breathing deepen. Not in fear but arousal.

“Janessa, do what I’ve asked of you. You’re already getting punished. Do you want to make it worse?”

Her eyes widened. “Punished? Why?”

Once he was naked, he walked over to her and grasped her shoulders. “Because you were going to run from your Dom instead of talk about the problem as you should have. I know it’s hard for you sometimes to listen to me because you’ve been free for a long time. But you’re not now. We are in a Dom/sub relationship, and they are usually deeper than any marriage because they discuss everything, and the Dom makes sure to keep her safe and know what’s bothering her.”

She stared up at him and sighed. “I was going to talk to you. I’m just feeling lost and wanted some time to calm down.”

“That’s just it. I don’t want you to wait until you calm down. I want you in any and every way I can have you,” he said. “Now get undressed.”

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