CHAPTER 196: PRETTY SURE THAT’S NOT THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN IN THIS BED

I set my spoon down, watching Alia doodle little smiley faces on her napkin with ketchup. My chest tightened. "Hey, baby, can I ask you something?"

She blinked up at me. "Mhm?"

She looked up, blinking, a noodle dangling from her fork. "Yeah?"

"Your teacher, Mrs. Torres... she said you’ve been quiet in class. Putting your head down on your desk. Not talking much. Is something wrong?" I softened my eyes, trying not to sound like I was interrogating her. "Please talk to me."

Alia groaned dramatically, flopping against her chair. "Ughhh, that only happened one time! I was tired after P.E. and I slept off. You make it sound like I’m depressed or something."

I leaned forward. "Are you sure? You’d tell me if someone was bothering you, right? Like, if someone was bullying you or saying mean things...."

"Is it Violet?" I pushed, my chest was already burning with anger.

"Ash, calm down." Dominic’s voice cut in. He rested his hand on mine under the table. "She’s okay."

"Yeah! I’m okay." Alia stabbed a piece of chicken. "And besides... me and Violet are, like, friends now. Ever since Jayden dumped her for that new girl in class."

I blinked. "Really?"

"Yeah." She leaned closer like she was spilling gossip. "Ever since Jayden ditched her for that new girl, Violet’s been nicer. She cried in the bathroom, and I hugged her. We’re besties now."

Dominic choked on his drink, laughing.

She reached across the table, tiny hand grabbing mine. "Ash. I promise. I’m okay. Nobody’s being mean. Nobody’s hurting me. I just... get tired sometimes. But I’m fine. Really."

I rubbed my forehead.

Her eyes were so wide, so sincere, that my throat locked up.

"See?" Dominic murmured beside me, his thumb rubbing slow circles against my back. "She’s fine. Breathe now."

I glanced at him, my chest aching at how steady his eyes were.

Alia yawned, stretching her arms high. "Okayyy, I’m sleepy now. Thanks for the snacks and homework rescue." She slid off her chair, skipped around the table, and hugged Dominic first. "You’re the coolest, Dom." Then she hugged me tighter, whispering, "And you’re the best, Ash."

Before I could say anything else, she disappeared down the hall into her room, shutting the door behind her.

I stared at her door, turning back to Don. "What if she’s just hiding it from me? What if she’s not really okay?"

Dominic stood, stacking the plates and carrying them to the sink. "Ash." His tone was steady. "She’s tougher than you think. And she’s got you. That’s more than enough."

I stood, moving toward him. "Leave that. Let me do the dishes."

"Nope." He flicked the water on, rolling up his sleeves. "Go shower."

I frowned. "Dom..."

"You’re stressed, Ash. You need to rest. I got this." He glanced at me over his shoulder, and smiled softly. "You’ve been carrying all this weight all day. Go and freshen up. I’ll handle this."

I couldn’t stop the small grin tugging at my lips. "God, you’re perfect."

He smirked, rinsing a plate. "I know."

I rolled my eyes, still smiling, and finally turned toward the bathroom.

Even when I showered, the hot water rolling down my back, still couldn’t wash away the fear.

What if they really came back for her? What if she wasn’t telling me the whole truth?

After shower, I sat cross-legged on the bed, with Alia’s sketchbook open on my lap. My fingers traced over the pencil lines.

She’d drawn Taylor screaming while some giant slime monster devoured her backpack.. Somehow, the slime had eyelashes for some reason.

I burst out laughing, covering my mouth.

She’ll always be my baby girl. No foster home would ever understand her the way I do.

I was lost in thought when the door clicked open.

Dominic walked in with a towel slung low on his hips. His skin was still glistened with drops of water.

"Wooaaw," I blurted, eyes wide before I could stop myself. "Damn." I slapped the sketchbook shut. Ash. Control yourself!

He raised a brow. "What was that?"

"Nothing!" I glanced all over his body. "You’re dripping." I pointed at his hair, not his chest, not his abs, not the way the towel barely hung on.

He grinned and shook his head like a dog, sending a spray of water all over me.

"Ew!" I squealed, and shoved another towel at him. "You’re disgusting."

He caught it, grinning like a menace, then kicked the door shut with his foot and locked it.

"Dominic..." I warned, leaning back on my elbows.

"What?" His voice dropped into that teasing low tone. He tossed the towel aside instead of using it, walking closer until his knees brushed the mattress. "Don’t like a little water?"

I tried to glare but my breath betrayed me. The scent of soap still clung to him.

The water traced down his collarbone and over the hard line of his abs, disappearing beneath the towel. My eyes followed without permission.

"Use the damn towel before you get my bed wet," I muttered.

He leaned in, bracing one hand by my hip. "Pretty sure that’s not the worst thing that could happen in this bed."

My whole body flushed. "You’re so....seductive."

"I know..." His lips tilted into a smirk, scanning his eyes all over my body. "And, you can’t stop staring."

I swallowed, trying to look away, but then he dropped the towel right in front of my face onto the bed.

"Oh my!" I slapped my hand over my eyes, choking on air. "Are you kidding me right now?!"

Dominic chuckled, way too pleased with himself. "What? It’s just trying to say hi."

"Omg," I said through my hand. "Don’t do this to me."

I kept catching glances through my hands, because of how obnoxiously perfect he looked standing there, completely naked.

Right in front of me. His dick was staring at me, and I was staring back.

I was at the edge of losing every self control I had in me.

He leaned in, and tilted my chin toward him with two damp fingers. My breath caught.

"Dominic..." I whispered.

"Mm?" He kissed the corner of my mouth, then the other, his breath was warm. "You gonna stop me?"

I shook my head without realizing it.

His lips pressed fully to mine....tasting faintly like mint from his shower. My hands curled into his damp shoulders, pulling him closer to myself.

The kiss deepened, melting into something intense. I tugged at his wet hair and he moaned in my mouth.

His hand trailed down, his fingers brushed the inside of my knee before sliding lower, grazing my thigh.

Every nerve in my body lit up, my breath caught.

"Dom..." I moaned in his mouth, my body kept leaning into his touch.

He pulled away from the kiss to look at me.

"Babe." His eyes softened. "You spend every second taking care of everyone else," his eyes softened "Alia, your mom, even me when I don’t deserve it. But who takes care of you, Ash? Who holds you when you’re tired?"

My throat went tight. I wanted to say something, but all I managed was a small smile.

He tilted my chin up. "So tonight, I’m going to do just that."

His eyes flicked up to meet mine, checking me....making sure I was okay with his next move.

Then, he pulled back just long enough to tug at the waistband of my shorts.

We’re doing this, we’re really doing this.

My heart started racing.