Page 136 of Dominic Powers Duet Box Set
“I will protect you with my life, baby, but it’ll behislife first.”
Chills cover my body, but this time they’re not the good ones that emanate from the sexy timbre of his voice. The hard, iciness of his voice says he’s made up his mind, he has a plan in place, and he won’t be deterred no matter what the outcome may hold. Dread fills me, knowing the outcome is inevitable–someone will have to die.
Dear God, please protect Dominic. I can’t do this without him.
With the turmoilin Dominic’s mind settled, we’re now able to enjoy the rest of the weekend with his parents. As we’re dressing Saturday morning, we’re talking about everything and nothing when I feel a sudden fluttering in my lower abdomen. I stop talking in the middle of a sentence and my hand flies to my belly. Dominic is instantaneously at my side.
“What’s wrong? Did I hurt you last night?”
I smile brightly at him, “No, Dom, you didn’t hurt me at all. I just felt the baby move for the first time!”
“What? Really?” he asks excitedly as he places his hands on my stomach. “Make her move again.”
“I can’t make him move. He just did it on his own,” I laugh. “There! Did you feel that?”
“No, I didn’t feel anything,” he says, his brow furrowed and his eyes boring holes into my stomach as he wills the baby to do it again.
“He must be too little for you to feel him move yet. I barely feel it, but it kind of tickles, like a hummingbird flapping its wings inside me,” I try to explain so he can experience everything with me.
“That’s amazing,” he replies in awe. “I can’t wait to feel her kick.”
“I’m sure he’ll be kicking all the time before we know it.”
“Do you realize that we are going to become parents in a few months?” He asks this as if he’s only just realized that my pregnancy will eventually end with the delivery of a small human.
“Yeah. Scary, huh?”
“No. It’s not scary at all. It’s incredible. If I had a choice before it happened, I would’ve waited a few years to give us more time together alone first,” he wraps his arms around my waist, “but I wouldn’t change it now for anything.”
Leaning into him, I deeply inhale the mixture of his intoxicating scent and his manly cologne. He knows I need this so he doesn’t rush me. After a few minutes of selfishly keeping him to myself, we walk downstairs to start breakfast for our guests. Dominic’s chuckle rumbles through his muscular chest when we hear noises coming from the kitchen and smell bacon frying.
“Mom’s cooking breakfast for us. You know it’s her thing.”
“Kayla! You’re out guest! You’re not supposed to do all the cooking when you come to visit,” I laughingly scold her.
“Honey, this is part of who I am now after thirty-something years of cooking breakfast for Rick. Besides, you and Dominic needed the extra time together. It’s almost ready so pull up a seat,” she says as she inclines her head toward the table. “Let’s have a family breakfast.”
Tucker and Shadow join us just in time. Shadow walks straight to the coffee maker and pours a cup while Tucker claims his usual place at the table. Shadow and Tucker’s eyes meet and they lock onto each other. Tucker’s narrow to mere slits as he glares at Shadow, while the amusement dances in Shadow’s eyes.
“What’s going on with you two this morning?” I ask, unable to withhold my smile. They’re like two brothers who constantly pick on each other–but wouldn’t allow anyone else to do the things they do to each other.
“Last night, I walked in on Tucker – “ Shadow begins but Tucker quickly cuts him off.
“Shut it, man. I don’t care what the CIA taught you. I will flat kick your ass right here in the kitchen.”
Shadow’s laugh reverberates off the walls and echoes throughout the house. Tucker’s face is bright red with embarrassment and anger. Shadow is fully bent over at the waist, his head almost to his feet, as he holds his stomach from laughing pains. “Oh my god, I can’t breathe!” he pants as he tries to regain his composure.
“You should fuckingknock first, man,” he swears under his breath as Shadow takes his seat beside Tucker. This only makes it harder for Shadow to quit laughing. He quickly covers his mouth and turns his head away from Tucker, burying his face in his own muscular shoulder as his body continues to shake.
Holding up my hands in surrender, I say, “Just forget I asked, okay? I really don’t want to know now.” I can’t withhold my own snicker, which comes out as a very unladylike snort. This is apparently the worst thing I could’ve done because Shadow launches from his chair just as he bursts out in laughter again.
Kayla, Rick, Dominic, and I all exchange humorous glances before we all erupt in laughter, at Tucker’s expense. Tucker covers his face with his big hands, but soon he’s shaking from laughter and joins us in openly laughing at himself. This is apparently something we all needed because everyone is wiping away happy tears before we begin breakfast.
Shadow retakes his seat and Tucker elbows him in the ribs, just for good measure. “For the record,” Tucker starts, “I’d like to clarify something.”
“Tucker, we really don’t need to hear about your nocturnal activities at the breakfast table. Just leave it at that,” Dominic says with a smirk.
The past twodays have flown by way too quickly. We just dropped Kayla and Rick off at the airport for their flight back home. It’s strange how quickly I became attached to them, having them around, and spending time with them. It’s much like the way I fell in love with Dominic–it only took a short time around him to know he is a wonderful man. He’s strong, confident, and loving.
