Chapter 5: In The Shower

Aurora POV 

Dominic set the pancake down, his hands finding my waist again. "I do," he admitted softly.

The kiss deepened, and before we knew it, we were lost in each other again. There was the aroma of fresh coffee and pancakes wafting from the kitchen, but my senses reached out for him alone: his hands, clutching me as if I were some sort of treasure; his lips against mine, passionate yet so soft.

We were so caught up in each other that we hadn't heard the knock on the door until it became pounding.

"Dominic!" a voice yelled from the other side.

We parted, both of us panting. Dominic's jaw clenched, and he turned to the door.

"Stay here," he said, his voice brooking no argument.

"Who is it?" I asked, my heart racing now for an entirely different reason.

"Probably someone who doesn't need to be in here," Dominic muttered, marching toward the door.

As he opened it, I caught a glimpse of a man in a suit, looking grave. My stomach twirled with apprehension.

"Mr. Dominic, we need to talk," he said, looking past Dominic and locking eyes with me.

Dominic stepped in front of me, blocking his line of sight. "Whatever it is, it can wait," he said icily.

The man hesitated a moment, then nodded. "I'll be back."

As the door closed, Dominic turned to me, his face unreadable.

"What's going on?" I crossed my arms.

"Nothing you need to worry about," he said, though the tightness in his voice told me otherwise.

By the time we sat down to dinner, the pancakes were forgotten. Dominic had managed to whip up a simple yet delicious meal-grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, and a bottle of wine he claimed was "just something lying around."

Sitting across from him, I couldn't stop staring. The way the candlelight danced on his sharp cheekbones, the way his smile softened whenever he looked at me-it was intoxicating.

"You're quiet," he said, refilling my glass with wine.

"I'm just enjoying the view," I said, truthful to a fault.

Dominic merely smirked and leaned into the table. "You're not so bad yourself, sweetheart."

I could feel color rise in my cheeks from his compliment, from his heated look sending waves down my spine.

The meal proceeded, and the tension mounted palpably between us. His hand brushed against mine when he passed the bread across, lingering just one fraction too long. His knee nudged mine under the table, jolts of electrical tension racing through me.

"Dominic," I finally spoke up, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Hmm?" He leaned back in his chair and gazed at me with questions.

"I think… we should clean up," I said, though the words sounded foolish against the thrum of my body's sudden desire.

Dominic rose from the bed, slow, and in his eyes, deliberate, clearing off the plates. I, too, stood to do likewise. But no sooner had I bent toward a glass than his hand ensnared mine.

"Leave it," he rasped low, his tone full of some emotion I couldn't quite define.

"Dominic-"

“Shh,” he murmured, pulling me toward him. His hands found my waist, and he guided me back against the counter.

“I’ve been waiting for this all night,” he said, his lips brushing against mine.

My breath hitched as his hands slid up my sides, his touch igniting a fire within me. “Dominic…”

He didn't let me finish. His lips captured mine in a kiss so tender and insistent that I had no doubts about what he wanted.

We staggered into the bathroom, and my heart was racing by this time. Dominic turned on the shower, and immediately the water sound filled the small room, steam rising. He reached for the hem of my shirt, tugging it over my head with a gentleness that belied the fire burning in his gaze. His hands mapped every available inch of my skin, his fingertips leaving trails of warmth everywhere they touched.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered, his lips dancing across my collarbone.

My fingers tangled into his hair as he continued to kiss me, his hands working their way to rid me of the rest of my clothes. Soon enough, we were both bare, the heat of the shower mixing with that between us.

Dominic guided me under the water, his hands never leaving my body. Warm water cascaded down our bodies, but his touches took my breath away.

"You're driving me crazy, Aurora," he whispered against my neck.

"Good," I stammered, my voice trembling inside me.

He chuckled, deep and rich, moving his hands to my back, pulling me in until there wasn't space between us.

"I don't think I can let you go," he admitted as his lips met mine once again.

Water continued to spill over us, but I felt nothing except him: his hands, his lips, his heartbeat against mine.