With a chuckle, he tilts his head, regarding me with an assessing stare. “I can be useful.”
A trickle of heat works its way down my spine, the atmosphere shifting in an instant.
He steps closer, his tongue rolling under his top lip, the tip just barely poking out as his eyes roam over me, so slowly I get a little dizzy. It’s not until his eyes stop at my hips that I finally take a shallow breath.
“Is that mine?” The corner of his mouth lifts in that lopsided smirk I’ve never been able to resist.
I look down at the red, and black checkered shirt he’s staring at. I grabbed it out the hall closet because I was freezingwhen I got here, only to get overheated while cleaning and tying it around my waist. I assumed it was my dad’s.
Before I can answer he loops his thumb over the knot and tugs me forward, his forefingers rubbing against the fabric.
“It is,” he says, a hint of amazement in his voice. His eyes lift to mine. “Funny that it’s been here this whole time.”
“Mmhmm,” I manage, fighting the urge to squirm. I was already hot, but now I’m on fire.
Our gazes hold as he lets me go, and I can’t decide if I’m relieved or?—
“You always did look good in my clothes,” he says while his eyes rake over me again, even more heated, if that’s possible.
“Stop,” I shout-whisper. It’s not as if anyone can hear me anyway, it’s just hard to speak normally when I’m being blatantly checked out. I’m fighting to not go in that direction but he’s leaning all the way into it.
“Stop what?” he chuckles, knowing exactly what I’m talking about. He’s doing this on purpose.
“Stop looking at me like that.” I step back, folding my arms. “You’re looking at me like I’m a five-course meal. And you’re obviously doing it to get under my skin.” I gesture to my outfit. “We both know I look terrible.”
His smile eases as he shakes his head. “Ellie girl, you’ve never looked terrible a day in your life. Always the most beautiful woman in the room.”
Not allowing me a chance to respond, he starts walking toward the hallway, leaving me with a slacked jaw and wrapped in his scent, only further turning me into an absolute puddle.
Just as he’s about to turn the corner, he stops short, and glances back at me. “About that five-course meal,” he begins, tugging on his bottom lip, his eyes staring at the increasinglywet spot between my thighs before his attention finally lands on my face. “I am starving for it.”
CHAPTER 25
Dominic
WALK LIKE A MOUSE
PRESENT
“Expect there to be payback for that little stunt,” Ellie practically hisses at Marisa on the other side of the closed door, completely failing at keeping her voice from traveling. Marisa answers with a giggle, followed by Ellie groaning.
As soon as I entered the living room, Ellie was right behind me, grabbing hold of Marisa and dragging her into the bathroom. I’d feel bad, but I wouldn’t have ended up here otherwise, so I can’t help but be a little thankful for Marisa’s meddling.
It’s still surprising Ethan landed himself a bright ray of sunshine girlfriend, when the guy’s usually a dark cloud. I like her, though. She’s good for him.
And apparently good for Ellie, too.
Even if she is all worked up at the moment. It’s my fault. I told myself I wouldn’t be anything more than friendly, but the second I saw her, in my old shirt no less, I couldn’t help myself. She brings it out of me, whether she means to or not.Watching her react, getting to see that pretty pink flush take over her creamy skin because I’m affecting her, it’s like a drug. And all I want is more of it. Somewhere in there, she still feels the pull between us, now I just have to figure out how to drag it up to the surface.
Ellie and Marisa walk out of the bathroom, Marisa whispering a sorry as Ellie hands her a toilet scrubber. “You’re on bathroom duty.”
Marisa’s shoulder slump but she reluctantly accepts the toilet brush. “Fine,” she sighs and heads back toward the bathroom her and Ellie just exited.
“Where do you need me, Ellie girl? I’m all yours.”
She coughs, a visible heat rising up her neck. She can deny this all she wants, convince herself she just wants to be friends, but her body is telling me everything she’s refusing to admit.
I step closer, invading her space, and her breath hitches. “Tell me what you need?”
