Penny Serenade (22 page)

Dominic nodded and checked the rearview mirror. “That was very generous of him. He must’ve cared a great deal about your dad.”

“I think so too. And while I was there I…ran into his son, Lucas.
A very nice man.
Of course, the circumstances were a bit strange.”

“Strange how so?”

“I was almost pulled out to sea, and not knowing how to swim it wouldn’t have ended up good. But Lucas rescued me.”

The car jerked across the white line for a split second and she turned to see Dominic’s face a deep red. “Wait,” he growled. “Who the hell is Lucas?”

“I just told you. He’s the son of the man who is the one who gave me the savings bonds. I’m very fortunate he was there when he was. I almost drowned.”

She noticed his fists clenched tight around the steering wheel.

“Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

“Why were you with this Lucas?”

“I wasn’t
with
him,” she said, surprised by his behavior. “He pulled me to safety and bought me a tea at the inn. Don’t even tell me you’re jealous.”

“What else did you and Lucas do at the inn?”

She chuckled.
“Nothing else.
He has a wife he loves, two twin boys, and a dog.”

“Oh.”

Audrey looked at him, studying his face and posture.

“Unbelievable. You were jealous.”

“You’ll never hear me admit it.”

“Hmm, you don’t need to. I witnessed it. And you were more concerned about Lucas then the fact I almost drowned.”

“Sounds like you had a knight in shining armor help you.”

She groaned.
“Oh brother.
Anyway, there’s no reason to be jealous. I didn’t go there to look for men.”

“Damn straight you weren’t.”

“Hang on now. It’s not like we’re seeing each other exclusively. Or, are we?”

“You’re the only woman I care to see or plan to see.”

Audrey couldn’t help but smile. “Oh. Then I guess we
are
seeing each other exclusively.”

He turned down a road that was anchored with cherry trees, all pink and white and startling beautiful. An apartment complex loomed in view, nice by her standards, and pulled into the spot marked 12B.

She followed him along the curved pathway and upstairs. The exterior looked nice in
a creamy
white stucco, and appeared newly painted. He unlocked the door and gestured her to go in.

“After you,” she said and giggled at his exasperated sigh.

Inside his apartment she gazed around, stopping to look at everything. It was cleaner than she’d expect and admired his taste in furniture.

He gestured to the couch. “Have a seat. Did you want some tea, or something stronger to drink?”

Audrey sat and patted the cushion beside her. “I don’t want you to play host. Come sit down with me, or I’ll never relax.”

“Done.”

She welcomed his closeness. For several minutes they sat, looking to one another, not saying anything. Thoughts of the fire kept forcing itself into the forefront of her mind, making it difficult for her to let go. She’d been so stupid. The fire could’ve been prevented. Even Dominic’s company couldn’t help shake the images from her head. If she were going to have a breakdown, she wanted to do so in private.

Dominic leaned toward the coffee table and picked up a velvet green bag with a gold ribbon and tassels. His hand reached for hers and turned it, gently prying her fingers open so her palm lay flat. He reached into the bag with his other hand and took out a shiny copper penny. Ever so gently he pressed one into her hand.

“Penny for your thoughts.”

Audrey’s eyes filled with tears at the loving gesture. “I don’t think I should have come here.”

His brow furrowed. “And why is that?”

This time she thought her words through first. “It’s pathetic but I’m sitting here feeling sorry for myself, and it’s not what you need to deal with.”

“I have to disagree. I’m here for you. What can I do to help make things easier?”

“Nothing.”
She shrugged, wishing she had an answer. “I can’t stop thinking about the fire.”

He nodded. “Understandable.”

“And it was preventable,” she continued. “I was lighting the candles and, somehow I spaced out or something and one thing led to another. It happened so fast. I can’t believe that I don’t have a fire extinguisher in the store. I meant to get one and kept putting it off. It’s my own damn fault.”

“Lesson learned, right?”

“Kind of an expensive lesson,” she grumbled.

“How about first thing tomorrow we’ll go buy a fire extinguisher?”

Audrey nodded.
“Deal.”

She smiled. He knew the right words to say. If she’d been paying better attention, she might’ve realized he’d been saying the right things the whole time. She’d almost let a wonderful man get away over a silly comment.

Dominic reached into the bag and pressed a second penny into her palm.

“Another penny, another thought,” he said accompanied by his charming smile.

Her eyes searched his. “Are you sure you want me to stay?”

“I’d like you to stay the night.”

“Um.”
She bit her lip. “I don’t—”

“I thought it might help so you won’t be alone tonight. You know, in case of bad dreams. It helps to not be alone. But, whatever you’re comfortable doing.”

“I want to,” she said, and she truly did, “but I should go soon.”

Dominic’s shoulders slumped. “Dammit, you’re so stubborn.”

He leaned forward and took her in his arms. All the lust and emotions and…hell the stirrings of love, returned in a surge. Being with him felt safe, right. Perfect.

As he pulled away, he reached into the bag and withdrew another. This time he didn’t say a word. Audrey knew what she wanted for the first time in a long time. She was certain of her feelings. Certain that she wanted to pursue a relationship. And adamant to stop fighting the sexual pull, and surrender.

She closed one hand around the coin, and the other around his hand. Standing, she pulled him with her.

“You.
Me.
Bedroom.
Now.”

Dominic’s eyes widened and he scooped her up.

“I’d hoped that’s what you were thinking,” he growled.

His room lay littered with gadgets and tools on every available surface, and the floor.
Messy.
Cluttered.
She loved it. Carefully he laid her on the bed and balanced his weight over her. His lips met hers again, the heat intensifying between them. He put his hand to her face and stroked her cheek with his thumb. Breathy moans accompanied her heated kisses, the sounds so erotic and sensual it jacked her pulse up. Under him she moaned.

In a sudden move he tore his mouth away and leveled his vision to her.

“Are you sure?
Because, we don’t have to right now.
What you’ve been through…I want you to be sure.”

“I’m very sure. I want to lose myself in the heat of the moment with you.”

Audrey slipped off her blouse and reached behind to unhook her bra.

“You’re beautiful,” he murmured, sending a steady rise of heat along her face and neck.

“My turn to see you.”

She tugged at his shirt until he got the hint and pulled it off. A glimpse at his massive chest elicited a single, wanton sigh. Finally she could smooth her hands along the hard lines and planes, just as she’d wanted to when he’d come into the store. Oh yeah, he felt every bit as good as she guessed. Not wanting to stop there, she drew her arms around him and grazed her fingers along his back, feeling his muscles bunch. He slid his palms down her arms and then slowly back up. Her nipples hardened at the way it both tickled and aroused. Much as she loved the sensual caresses and his careful hand, she already felt like an out of control inferno blazed deep inside.

“I’m not sure that foreplay is what I’m looking for right now,” she said and an immediate heat swept her face.
“Unless you want to, of course.”

Could she sound more needy and desperate?

Dominic didn’t miss a beat. “So, what you’re saying is, you want immediate satisfaction.”

She was where she wanted to be with the man she wanted. “Immediate.”

He had her skirt up, panties down, his jeans and briefs off, condom on, and his erection at the ready in an impressive count of three heartbeats.

In a breath-stealing downward slide, he entered her.

Her ragged cry sliced the air.

“You good?”

“Better than good.”

“You’re tight,” he groaned. “Damn.”

“It’s been awhile,” she offered. Never mind her nerves and his notable size.

“Honestly,” he grumbled. “I’m not complaining.”

Audrey tilted her hips and enjoyed the ecstasy of him sinking further inside.
Stretching her.
Opening her.
Filling her up.

With his breath heavy and hot over her sensitive nipples, he murmured, “You feel good.
Silky.
Warm.”

She watched the way he moved above her. Excited by the way he held her gaze. She hoped she looked as sexy and beautiful as she felt with him buried deep inside her. Like a goddess. No longer empty.
No longer afraid.

Dominic skimmed his hands beneath her bottom, bringing her up and into him in an angle that made her entire body flush with heat. She gripped fistfuls of the bed sheets and cried out, nearing the edge at an intense rate. Even with all her self-pleasuring she’d never quiet hit on the sweet spot that he’d somehow found.

Breath quickened, she blocked out her greedy sobs for more. She stared into Dominic’s eyes, noting his taut jaw and coiled muscles. He was close, she could tell, but she couldn’t wait for him or hold back or do anything except allow the free flow to happen. She bellowed as she climaxed, releasing cry after cry from the cavern of her belly. Dominic thrust once more and snapped his eyes shut, hollering like some jungle man swinging on a vine. Legs all entangled, he collapsed to his side and drew her right up against him.
His heartbeat thudding in sync with hers.

At some point, the sun had set, leaving behind an amber glow through the window. Audrey took a labored breath in and let her eyes fall across his body, glistening with sweat. His powerful arms held her, muscles corded and firm. She never wanted him to let her go again. Not ever.

Dominic’s lips brushed up against her earlobe. “I hope this doesn’t scare you off, but I think I’m falling in love with you.”

She’d read the phrase, her heart skipped a beat, in books, but had never experienced it before, until now. In fact it skipped two beats and then she broke out into a smile that almost ached it was so big. “I know I’m falling in love with you.”

“I finally figured out something worth being passionate about.”

“Yeah?”

“Maybe you can figure it out, too. It’s amazing, warm, thoughtful, beautiful, a bit temperamental, and damn sexy.
Oh, and ticklish too.”

Audrey giggled at his playfulness. “Stop it.”

“No need to guess. It’s you. I’m passionate about you.”

She could tell by his expression that he meant every word, but she threw him a look of disbelief.

“Ah, you’re looking for proof are you?”

Dominic straddled over her and dragged his lips from between her breasts to her bellybutton.
And then dragged his lips lower until his tongue found her clit.
Her body instantly jolted into mini spasms.

“Let me watch you.” He brought her hand to her apex. “Show me how you like it best.”

Audrey recalled the night she’d gotten herself off to the very thought of Dominic.