Page 70 of Miss Treated

But Kelsey’s words about me had cut deep. Logically, I knew whatever she said to her mother was not something I should take personally, and perhaps if I was more secure about my career and future, I would’ve been able to laugh it off. That’s what my older brothers would’ve done because there was no question they were successful. But me? It wasn’t a stretch to say the only thing I had going for me was my baby face and the family money.

Still, I needed to separate my hurt from hers right now. “Talk to me, Kels. Are you okay?” I drove back toward our hotel.

She was visibly upset. “My mom is a narcissist.”

My brows jumped up. I’d been in her presence less than five minutes and had come to the same conclusion. “One hundred percent.”

“I’m sorry for what you overheard. It was—”

I faked a smile. “It’s fine. Really.”

“No, it’s not. What I said is absolutely not true. It was for my mother’s benefit, so she wouldn’t see you or your family as someone to sink her claws into.”

“But it is true. I don’t have anything of my own. Anything I do have, like my condo, was purchased with family money.” My grandmother had left each of us boys a large sum. “I surfed my way through college, quit altogether once, and barely graduated with a bachelor’s degree. I bumbled post college, and now I’m going through the motions in a job I’m grossly underqualified for and will be lucky if I last the entire year in. I have absolutely no career trajectory nor the drive to become wildly successful.” I hated the insecurity oozing out of every word. “You weren’t wrong when you called me nothing.”

We pulled into the hotel parking lot. I went to get out of the car, but Kelsey grabbed my arm.

“You’re everything, Nic.”

Her emotional declaration had me turning toward her.

“Don’t you see? I spent my entire life surrounded by people who only cared about material things. It was always about comparison, always about the best brand name, the right restaurant, the who’s who. But you don’t care about any of that. You’re nice to people because it comes naturally to you, not because you want something from them. You remember things about their lives because you know it matters to them, not because you hope to use it against them. You want to do good in this world for the sake of doing good, not because you’re hoping someone is watching.”

“Kels—” I had a lump in my throat.

“No, let me finish. I’ve spent my entire life accommodating to people who should’ve cared about me. To my father, who never paid attention to me. To my mother, who used me when it suited her, and then Joel, who only wanted to control me. You’ve always seen me, Nic. I don’t care about your title, your career, or how much money you make. If you did value those things, I’d be running for the hills. You’re everything I never knew I needed in my life.”

I crushed her mouth to mine. There was so much I wanted to say, but I couldn’t do it here. “Let’s get upstairs.”

I needed to get out of public and behind closed doors. Then I’d be able to say what I needed to tell her. I led her wordlessly into the hotel and up to our floor, finally letting out a breath of relief once we were in our room.

Taking her hand, I pulled her into my arms and laid us both on the bed. “Your mother and your ex are not only narcissists, but they were threatened by you. You’re beautiful, smart, and kind. In order to ensure the light wasn’t on anyone but them, they devalued you. They made you think you were the one lacking, but it was always them. Because you’re everything too.”

Her tears about broke my heart, but then she attacked my mouth. Fuck. This level of intensity felt like it would consume us, but I didn’t care. I wanted to be consumed. I wanted to fall without a net. So long as she fell with me, I didn’t care how we landed.

“Are you on birth control?”

“Yes.”

“I want nothing between us.” The thought of coming inside of her was primal. I craved nothing more.

“Me too.”

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Kelsey

Dominic made short work of stripping me of my dress. He nuzzled my neck and kissed down my throat to my breasts, spending extra time on my nipples, licking, sucking, and biting them until I mewled with the pleasure.

This was different than any of our other times together. More intense. More intimate. As if we were taking an important step in our relationship.

He positioned himself at my opening. As he slid inside of me slowly, his gaze stayed locked on mine. “Keep your eyes here.”

God, it was almost too much to watch his face as he filled me.

Then he lowered, and his lips met mine in a slow, sensual kiss for the ages. But when he starting moving—good Lord. I felt as if the earth was moving with us. Never had I experienced such a high.

Thrust after thrust, I met him. Gripping on to his ass, I pulled him deeper.