CHAPTER 126: FOOD’S NOT WHAT I WANT YOU HUNGRY FOR

The car rolled into the driveway.

The mansion loomed ahead, lit only by soft garden lights and the glow of the upstairs windows

My chest was still buzzing, from his teasing, and the fact that I was about to step inside his house.

Dominic cut the engine and leaned back, stretching like he wasn’t just casually destroying me ten minutes ago.

Then he glanced over. "Don’t overthink it, Rivera. The staff are around, yeah, but they’ll be asleep by now. Nobody’s gonna bother us."

I nodded. "Okay. I’m just... a little nervous

"Don’t be." His hand brushed mine. "You’re with me. We can pass the back, so you won’t see anyone."

We slipped out of the car. The night air was colder than I expected.

Dominic led the way to a back door, punching in a code. The heavy door swung open.

My eyes flicked everywhere...windows, corners, shadows...like someone was waiting,

But the only sound was our sneakers and the low creak of the door as Dominic pushed it open.

The house was silent. No staff, no footsteps, no curious eyes peeking around corners. Just empty hallways lined with expensive arts.

Relief loosened my chest a little. Maybe he was right....maybe no one would interrupt

We went straight upstairs, Dominic’s hand brushing against mine every few steps like he was making sure I wouldn’t bolt. When we reached his room, he pushed the door open and flicked on the light.

Dominic pushed the door open, nodding me inside first.

His room smelled like him.

"Sit down," he said, setting his keys on the desk. "Let me grab you dinner. Be right back."

"Dinner?" I blinked. "Dom, it’s literally past midnight."

"And? You haven’t eaten since we left the hospital. You’re not starving on my watch." He shot me a grin and slipped back into the hall, shutting the door behind him.

The second he was gone, my chest tightened again.

I sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the door like someone else might walk through.

My paranoia wouldn’t shut up.

But then my gaze caught on the details around his room... his Ice hockey jacket tossed on a chair, sneakers lined up in boxes on the other side, a small framed photo of him and Liam grinning at some party.

He wasn’t acting. He was just... being Dominic. Sweet, annoying, thoughtful Dominic who brought snacks to a cliff just to see me smile.

How could someone capable of murder also be this soft? This romantic?

I pressed my palms into my knees, fighting the urge to spiral.

How could I suspect someone who made me feel this... safe? This wanted?

God, I didn’t want to doubt him. Not tonight. Not when all I wanted was to forget the Coil, forget the homicide, forget the fear pressing against my ribs.

Just one night. One night of peace, of pretending it was only us.

One night of letting him hold me without wondering if those same hands were stained with blood.

I exhaled and flopped back on his bed, staring at the ceiling. "Please," I whispered to myself. "Just let me have this."

The door creaked open, and Dominic walked back in with a plate balanced in one hand and a soda in the other.

Steam rose from the food... pasta, garlic bread, something that smelled really delicious.

"Dinner is served. Relax," he smirked, setting the stuff on his desk. "You look like you just got caught watching porn on the family computer."

I rolled my eyes, but my chest warmed anyway. "You literally microwaved it, didn’t you?"

He gasped, clutching his chest like I’d stabbed him. "Wow. You wound me. And here I was, trying to be romantic."

I laughed.

He chuckled, walking over. "What, no thank you for bringing you food? No ’you’re the best boyfriend ever, Dom’?"

I rolled my eyes, but then his hand slid onto my thigh, warm through my jeans, and the rest of my words just... stuck in my throat.

"Haaa. Open up."

I tilted my head back, glaring at him. "You’re not actually gonna feed me."

"Oh, I am." He twirled the fork, lifted a bite of pasta, and held it to my lips. "Be a good boy for once."

Heat shot straight to my face. My chest, my throat, even lower. God, why did his voice have to sound like that?

I tried to play it off, leaning forward just enough to take the bite. He smirked.

The pasta tasted way too good for something that came out of a microwave.

"See?" His hand brushed my chin as he pulled back. "Not so hard."

I swallowed, glaring at the desk just to avoid his eyes. But my pulse was racing. Every time he leaned closer, I swore I could feel him.

"You’re shaking," he murmured.

"I’m not."

He tilted his head, studying me. Then, like he was testing me....he leaned in, close enough that his breath brushed my cheek.

"Do you want me to stop?"

"Dom! You’re... distracting me from eating," I muttered.

"Good," he said, and his thumb traced a slow circle on my thigh. "Food’s not what I want you hungry for anyway."

My whole body lit up, my face burning. I turned my head toward him, and he didn’t miss his chance.

His mouth was on mine.

It wasn’t soft. It was hungry. I could feel his tongue like he’d been waiting all night for this. I melted instantly, clutching at his hoodie.

When he pulled back, my lips were swollen.

"See?" He grinned, thumb swiping the corner of my mouth where a crumb still lingered.

"Always making a mess." Then, instead of brushing it away, he sucked it off his thumb, staring at me.

My entire body went hot.

"Dominic," I started, but then his hand slid higher, cupping between my thighs through my jeans, and my breath came out as a broken sound.

"You’re still shaking," he teased.

"You that scared... or that turned on?"

"Both," I whispered, because it was the truth. My body only cared about the way Dominic’s hand was pressing me into the bed.

He laughed softly. "God, you’re so cute."

His lips crashed into mine again, deeper this time, his tongue sliding past my lips.

I gasped, and he pulled back just enough to whisper.

"Say the word and I’ll stop. Or..." His teeth grazed my bottom lip. "...say the word, and I’ll make sure you can’t walk straight tomorrow."