Page 120 of The Obsession
“I am?” he asks with vulnerability that tugs at my heartstrings.
“Yes. You’re the answer to all my prayers, you big dummy. You’ve given me a place where I can finally breathe, where I don’t have to pretend, where the broken pieces of me aren’t a burden.”
He blinks, his eyes softening, and for a moment, the walls he keeps so tightly in place begin to crack. I see it, the fear that he isn’t enough. I don’t know what put that in his head or what he’s been through, but I’ll do everything I can to prove him wrong. “I don’t want you to feel broken, Emily,” he whispers. “I … I don’t know how to fix things without making it worse.”
I squeeze his face gently, holding his gaze. “You don’t have to fix me, Dom. You just have to be here. That’s enough. That will always be enough.”
“I swear to you,mia tortina,” he murmurs as his forehead rests against mine, “I’ll never do anything to make youfeel unsafe. Not ever. I’ll continue to stand by my comment that you’re too good for me, because it’s the truth, but I’m going to spend every day trying to prove that I’m worthy of you anyway.”
When his mouth bears down on mine, there’s no hesitation. Every doubt, every fear, every tear from the night before melts away under the heat of him.
My hands clutch at his broad shoulders as the world narrows to the press of his lips. It’s messy, urgent, and desperate, but it’s ours, and next time I see Lucia, I’m going to give her the biggest hug, because Operation Takedown seems to have been a success.
I don’t know how long we make out in the alleyway like a pair of teenagers, but by the time we head back inside, my body is humming with need.
When Dominic drew out of the kiss, he grabbed my hand and said,“Let’s get out of here,”but I couldn’t leave without saying goodbye to Lucia. I know she’s inside with her husband, but we came together, so it feels like the right thing to do.
I’m not sure what will happen when we arrive home, but I’m hoping for something, especially after everything we discussed. My heart races at the thought, and for the first time in a long while, that hope feels like it might be enough.
This thing between us has been burning in the background for far too long. It’s time we took things to the next level and see how things pan out from there.
I’m not going to force this. I’ve already put myself out there; now it’s up to him to make the next move.
Chapter 39
Dominic
Thankfully, Romeo called one of his men to pick him and Lucia up from the club, rather than accepting the lift I offered. Any other time, I would’ve insisted I take them home, but tonight’s different because it would’ve stolen precious time away from Emily.
It’s been years since I’ve had a woman in my bed—too many to fucking count—because when Lil’ Peach came into my life, she became my world. My first and only priority. She will always be my number one, because I’m all that little girl has, but Emily has become a close second.
I want this with her.
I want it all.
I want it so much I can taste it, but those niggling doubts won’t let me relax. I don’t want to fuck this up. I don’t want to put this woman through anything more than she’s already been through. But I’m sure of one thing, nobody will care, protect, or cherish her the way I will.
Nobody will make her the centre of their world the way I will. No one will fight for her as I would, or move mountains to keep her safe.
Every thought I have, every plan I make, every choicefrom now on will be with her and my niece in mind. Emily deserves that, and I won’t let her settle for anything less.
My family of two has now become three, and I’ll do everything in my power to make this work. Not just for me, but for Peach as well. She needs Emily in her life just as much, if not more, than I do.
Emily’s small hand is clutched in mine as we move briskly towards my car. There’s desperation in my movements, and my mind feels scrambled, like I have tunnel vision.
Am I really doing this? The answer is yes. I’m no longer going to let my own insecurities stand in the way of losing her.
We round the front of the vehicle, and I shove my free hand into my pocket to retrieve my keys, pressing the fob to unlock it.
I move ahead of her, opening the passenger door, but before she can climb in, my hand comes up, and my fingers curl around her chin. I tilt her face towards mine, not giving her a second to think about it before my mouth crashes down on hers.
The kiss is anything but gentle. It’s hot, demanding, full of everything I haven’t said out loud.
Every promise I plan to keep. Every line I’m ready to cross. And when I finally pull back, my grip lingers, and our eyes remain locked long enough for her to feel it.
To understand that this isn’t over. Not even close. It’s just the beginning.
When I dropped Lil’ Peach off at Dante and Arabella’s, they insisted I leave her there until morning. I agreed, because there was no point waking her for a second time.
