Page 63 of Frost Bitten
“Um, Sunshine?” Corey’s voice comes from just outside the curtain.
“Yes?” I ask, coyly. I open the curtain, since I’m still dressed, and he, Bast, and Dom are standing right there, blocking the view of the shop. “Guys, I’m busy. I need to find a dress for the party.”
“We know, Angel, but we needed to tell you that you look fantastic in this dress.” Bast is always my sweetheart, in public. He’s my devil in disguise, and I can’t help but blush from the dirty thoughts that begin to race through my head at pulling all three guys into the dressing room.No,bad Cait. I giggle at the scolding I give myself, but Dom picks up on my train of thought.
“If only, Baby Girl. By the way, I’m buying this dress, so take it home. I’ll tell the cashier this one is on me. Then, when you wear it to come over tonight, it’ll be on my bedroom floor. Make sure you eat well and hydrate. I have plans for you.”
Fuck,my mouth hangs open at his filthy words.“Damn, Dominic! I didn’t know you were such a dirty dog! Bow-chicka-wow-wow!”Oh my god, Ella!
“Ok, that’s your cue to leave, guys. Dom,” I say, turning to face him, “Thank you.” I lower my gaze to the floor before peering up at him through my lashes. “I’ll make sure and let the cashier know. And I’ll do my best to eat, but I just ate a really heavy lunch. I’ll see you tonight,” and standing up on my toes to reach him, I place a soft kiss on his cheek before turning and shutting the curtain again.
“Fuck all, Ella. Do you seriously have to embarrass me like that?” Exasperated, I turn on my friend’s image on my phone. She’s barely holding in her laughter, but I ignore her and strip down to try on the last dress.
This last dress is the first that caught my eye and is most like my style of all the dresses I initially picked. It is a rose gold sequin dress, one shoulder that flows into a billowy sleeve and cinches at the wrist. The bodice is fitted, and it has a wrap-around skirt that ties on the opposite side of the sleeve. It’s very asymmetrical, and yet it’s balanced with the sleeve and belt. The color is a softer rose gold, so it doesn’t compete with my hair even though it has faded slightly, and I pick up nude strappy stilettos to not contrast.
“Girl.”Ella’s shocked face is all I see on my phone, and she’s speechless.
“This is it, huh?” I ask with a smile on my face.
“This is the dress. My best friend is a freaking fox!”
I chuckle at her exclamation, but it’s bittersweet. This might be the dress I wear when I last see the guys. At least, it’s perfectly me.
* * *
As Dom asked, I wear the fancy cocktail dress and shoes he bought me to his condo that night. He’d texted me the address as I was on the phone with the moving company that afternoon, and I struggled to eat a proper dinner because I was nervous, but I did drink my water. I figured I might be getting a workout later, and I sipped on water all evening.
As I pull up to his condo building, I am so nervous. I had to slip soft leggings on underneath the dress because it is absolutely freezing, and I couldn’t climb into my Jeep with the fitted skirt around my thighs, so once I step out, I pull the skirt of the dress down over my thighs while I slip off the leggings. Wearing my slippers to drive in, I change my shoes before walking up to his door. I did wear my big, heavy winter coat to cover it all up, but that couldn’t be helped.
When I knock on the door, it doesn’t take Dom long to answer. When he pulls open the door, he is dressed in black, fitted dress pants and a navy, long-sleeve button-down shirt, the sleeves rolled up, showing off his muscular forearms. My mouth fell open, and I might have drooled a little at this incredibly sexy image before me.
“Baby Girl, don’t just stand there staring, come inside and get comfortable.” Mmm, the rumble of his sultry voice was like a slow caress, starting at my ears and rubbing itself all down my body without a single physical touch.
I step inside, and he shuts the door, pivoting to take my coat from my shoulders. Once he hangs it on the coat rack, he spins back, and it’s his turn to stare, slack-jawed.
“I was going to offer you a drink, but honestly, I-I…” His words are broken, but I understand the thoughts behind them. He needs me. The chemistry we’ve had since the cabin has been off the charts, and I’m ready.
I set my keys and purse on the coffee table, then slowly approach him with long steps. My hands gravitate to his chest as his arms encircle my waist. Reaching up with one hand, I cup his cheek and brush my lips against his. “I’m here. I’m here, for you, Dominic.”
He bends down, sweeping his arms under my knees, and lifts me securely in his arms as he devours my lips. I don’t even notice him climbing the stairs to his bedroom, but when he lowers me to my feet, I’m backed up against his bed. We stand there a moment, doing nothing but breathing each other in.
“Dom,” I moan, his name a prayer on my lips. I need him. He just doesn’t understand what this means to me. I’ll never be with Cam, especially now, and my heart pounds with the need to be close to someone. Dominic has been a fantasy since that first day at Lift; I never thought he would be into me, but this man exudes masculinity and sexuality with his presence. Just watching him frozen, just as nervous as me, is both comforting and stimulating.
“I need you,” I beg, and immediately his roaming eyes shift back and lock on mine. His icy eyes darken to a steel blue as he slowly unbuttons his shirt.
“Don’t move. Stay exactly like that, Baby Girl. Think you can trust me to take care of you? To not hurt you?”
My eyes close as I revel in the confidence that rolls off of him in waves. Dominic is a totally different person in the bedroom, and while I’m nervous, I’ve gotten to know this man, and I do trust him. “Yes,” I whisper.
“Can I trust you to speak up if I do something you don’t like?”
“Yes,” I softly repeat the word, this time opening my eyes to stare deep into his.
“Do you want safe words? Will that make it easier for you to communicate until I learn your needs?”
“No.” Damn, I’m breathless, and he hasn’t even touched me.
“Good girl. I’m going to hold you to your promise to communicate. Otherwise, we might have to stick with specific rules. Now,” he says as he stands shirtless, having shrugged off the dark navy cloth that wrapped his firm chest and arms, “tell me. Did you drink your water today? Did you eat dinner?”
