Dom (Alliance, #3)

by S.J. Tilly

“Jesus,” he groans. “That feels good.” I catch myself before I agree, even though it does. It does feel good.

When I reach his neck, his shoulders hunch before he lowers them with a shudder.

Still bent over, Dom turns his head to face me. “I’m gonna need you to do that a hundred more times.” “I can agree to that,” I whisper.

Those eyes that look like they see too much roam across my face. From one eye to the other, down the slope of my nose, settling on my lips. The tip of his tongue wets his lips. My chest rises and falls. By the way one look from him affects me, I don’t know if I want to experience more. Because more might kill me.

Dominic leans down, putting his face nearly in my lap, and reaches under the seat in front of me to drag my backpack out.

It doesn’t take an expert to guess what he’s doing, and he confirms it when he sets my phone in his lap and removes his own from his pocket. He just glances at it, checking to make sure the message went through, then he puts it back in his pocket and hands me my own back. I open my texts, and sure enough, at the top of the thread is an outgoing one from me to Big Guy.

“Well,” he says, settling back into his seat. “If you’d’ve given me a nickname to work with, I would’ve used it. But it appears that only one of us is feeling the endearments. And, wife”—he cuts me a look—“if you’re Shorty, then I’m Big Guy.”

I reach for my screen, but his big paw shoves my hand away. “What?” I laugh. “My screen, Valentine.” I bite my lip before I mutter, “Bossy.” “Better than lovely.”

“We’ll need to use yours.” My eyes follow the same path his just did. “Why?” Dom unfurls the headset he got from the flight attendant. “Because, Shorty, one of us is gonna need to lean over a bit to make this work. And I think it will be more comfortable for me to do it.”

“Keep teasin’ me, see where it gets you.” Pretty please, let it be pinned to his bed.

Instead of handing me the earbuds, Dom stretches across me, bringing his masculine scent back into my space. He slides the metal tip into place under the screen. And I don’t even question why, but that action makes me press my thighs together. Uncoiling the cord, Dom hands me one of the little plastic earbuds.

The movie starts, and all my attention is on Dominic Gonzalez as he gets comfortable next to me. His elbow goes to the armrest between us, and he puts his chin in his palm, propping his head up. But since he’s not a shorty, he has to hunch over. And it puts him in my space.

And then I watch him take his clothes off. Okay, so it’s just his suit jacket, but he might as well be getting naked with the way my panties are soaking themselves.

“Here.” Dom holds out his jacket. “What?” My voice is so breathy it sounds like I’m panting. “You’re cold.” Dom glances down, and at first, I think he’s referring to my nipples that are surely trying to break free of my bra, but then I remember the goose bumps on my arms. “Thank you.” I accept it. Because if anyone thinks I would skip the opportunity to be wrapped in his warmth and scent, they’d be wrong. They’d be so goddamn wrong.

And as more time passes, Dom lowers, his head sinking until he’s resting his temple against my shoulder. And after a few more minutes, his head gets heavier—with sleep. Because this big, beautiful man just fell asleep against me.

I saw the way the flight attendant looked at him a few moments ago, and I get it. Even if he really was my husband, I wouldn’t fault her for that look. In slumber, he changes from someone intimidating to someone adorable.

Dom’s far hand, the one that had been draped across the armrest, shifts, sliding forward until it’s on my knee. My bare knee.

Just lean in, Val. Taking Dom’s words literally, I tip my head to the side. My cheek meets the top of his head, the short length tickling my skin. The feeling is so nice, so pleasant, that I nuzzle against him.

But that’s all he does. So I stay there, just like that, resting against a man I met at the airport who is asleep against my shoulder. And I feel… My chest tightens as emotions swarm my senses. I feel kinda happy. No, that’s not even right. I feel happy. Like a real level of happy.

And in that time, I was able to remind myself that we exchanged numbers. Or, more specifically, Dominic took my phone and entered his number after sending himself mine. I’m not under any delusions that we’re going to date. But maybe, just maybe, we’ll see each other again. And that has to be enough.

“Guess I should add human pillow to my resume,” I joke. The weight against my shoulder increases before Dom lifts his head. “I’d hire you.”

“Guess you were tired.” “Guess so.” He drags a hand down his face before narrowing one eye at me. “Or maybe you drugged me.” I snort. “You’ve found me out. I’m not really a web designer. I’m actually a drug lord.”

The other side of his mouth lifts until he’s smiling at me. “I like you, Valentine Gandy.”

“Don’t leave me hanging, Shorty.” I tip my head to the side so he can see my exasperated expression. “I guess I like you, too, Big Guy.”

standing in front of me is Dominic. He’s still not wearing his jacket. And now… Heavenly Harrison. Now he’s rolled up his sleeves, and he’s undone his top two buttons.

“So, um, how long is your layover?” I ask. And as soon as the question is out of my mouth, I snap my jaw shut. Oh god, I hope that didn’t sound like I was inviting him over. I mean, it’s not like I wouldn’t invite him over. Maybe if he has a really long layover, I should invite him over…

I peek up at him and see those amused crinkles next to his eyes. I roll my eyes. “You know I didn’t mean it like that.” “I know. And that’s a shame.”

Landing is always the worst part. “I got you.” Dom’s voice draws my eyes to his mouth, and then movement lower brings them down to his hand, palm up, fingers spread, on the armrest between us.

But it’s always been him reaching for me, him pulling me in. I’ve never gone to him. But I want to. I slip my arm out from under his jacket and slowly, gently, set my palm against his.

When I turn my back to Dom, standing at my full height, fingers brush against my ponytail, and he chuckles, “Shorty.” Teasing. Stick with the teasing so you can keep smiling when your paths part.

And because my lust is stronger than my decency, I let Dom nod me forward into the lactation pod. I let him hold the door as I go inside. I let him step in behind me—with our fake baby in his arms. I let him lock the door.

“I need a taste of you, Angel. A taste of whatever you’ll give me.” My eyes immediately jump to the abstract drawing of a pair of boobs on the wall. Dom groans. “Fuck, Valentine, I’d kill for just a kiss. But I’ll taste those too if you let me.”

He leans down. I stretch up. My eyes close. And our lips meet. They come together in a frenzy. There is no closed-mouth peck. No sweet kisses to start. None of that. Our mouths open the moment they connect.

One hand slides up. And up. Between my shoulder blades. Up my neck. And then he grabs hold of my hair, grips the base of my ponytail, and tugs.

“You’re gonna have to stay real quiet.” Dom’s lids are half-lowered as he tells me. And I can’t help myself. I roll my hips, my heat pressing into his length. His jaw flexes, and I revel in the low sound he makes. “We’re both gonna have to stay quiet,” he corrects.

“I want you to fuck me.” Dom makes a choking sound,

I’m currently having sex with the hottest man I’ve ever talked to.

“I can’t believe we did that. In here.” I press my lips together, keeping the larger laugh inside. He shifts his weight from side to side. “Me either. This bench is hard.” I smile against him. “Well, my seat was perfect.” Dom nuzzles into my neck as he slides his hands down to grab my ass. “So fucking perfect.”

This isn’t the only time.” His words swell inside my chest. “Tell me you believe me.” I wet my lips, my mouth feeling suddenly dry. “I believe you.” “Good.” Dom leans in and presses his lips to mine in the gentle kiss we didn’t start with.

The door clicks shut after Dom, and he drapes his arm around my shoulder, keeping us moving.

Still walking, Dom holds me to his side as he lowers his voice. “It was nice to meet you, Valentine.” He presses his lips against my temple, and then he’s gone.

And I can’t help but wonder if I’ll really see Dominic again. And I wonder if he meant for me to keep his jacket, the bundle currently shoved into the top of my bag.

Big Guy: Let me know when you make it home safely, Valentine.

Me: I’m home! Sorry I didn’t text sooner. I figured you’d be in the air, and I wanted to get all my crap unpacked before bed. And there was this guy today who bought me a new backpack, so I had to take the proper time to appreciate it because I was a little flustered when I got it. Hope your flight was smooth! And I’d love for you to return the favor.

Me: Sorry! I meant for you to return the favor of letting me know when you get home safely.

Me: Not like return the favor “return the favor” because that was already very much returned.

Me: Not that you’d have to do that every time. It’s not expected or anything.

Me: Please delete these and block my number without showing your friends. That’s all I’ll ask of you.

Which will make witness protection easy. Because clearly, I need to change my name and disappear.

“Hello?” My voice comes out high pitched. “Angel.” I can hear the smile in Dominic’s voice. “Just to be clear, you should absolutely expect me to return the favor when we’re together.”