DOM: Alliance Series Book Three (10)

I look away from Dom.

For so long, it’s been just me looking out for me.

Most days, it still feels like that.

Sure, King has a security guy drive me around. But I think that’s just to make him feel better. So he can sleep next to Savannah at night and confidently tell her he’s keeping me safe.

Savannah, my half brother’s wife, is the only Vass I don’t share blood with, but I think she might be the only one who really loves me. The only family I have that feels true affection toward me, not just obligation.

But her first loyalty will always be to King. And that’s why I still feel so alone.

Fingers that I forgot were wrapped around mine shift. I think he’s letting go when his palm leaves the back of my hand, but instead, Dom slides his hand under mine so we’re palm to palm.

I have to swallow.

Savannah’s casual hugs are the only real human touch I get anymore.

And oh my fucking god, I need to stop feeling so damn sorry for myself.

“Sorry,” I whisper, hoping like crazy he thinks I’m just upset over flying and not picking up on the fact that we went from harmless flirting to me flaying my insides open.

“Never apologize.” His stern tone has me looking back up.

I take in his face, take in his seriousness. “Never?”

“Never,” he repeats.

“You don’t ever apologize?”

“Not ever.”

I roll my lips together, considering this. “Why not?”

“Because I mean everything I do.”

“Everything?” I don’t know why I ask. There’s nothing about Dominic that doesn’t scream confidence.

“Yeah, Valentine. And when you do things with purpose, you have nothing to apologize for.”

The plane straightens out on the runway, then picks up speed.

I let the velocity press my head against the back of the seat, my neck still turned to look at Dom. “Then I’m not sorry.”

I don’t even remember what I was apologizing for anymore, but I know it’s the right response when Dom nods his head once before mirroring my position. “Good.”

The plane tips up, and we leave the ground.

My fingers tighten around Dom’s.

“Sor—” I start when I notice that I’m squeezing his hand, but I stop myself.

And Dom’s expression is pure approval.

I loosen my grip but don’t let go as I tell him, “I usually fly alone.”

“Usually?” he asks.

I let out a little laugh when I think about it. “I always fly alone. I’m not used to having someone to…”—comfort—“distract me.”

“I’m happy to be your distraction.”

His tone is back to teasing, and I vow to myself that I’ll stay there with him.

“How very generous of you.”

He huffs out a little laugh. “So, why do you always fly alone? Work?”

“Yeah. I design websites. And you’d be surprised how many people want you to come to them in person to show them how stuff works.” I shake my head. “Ninety percent of the time, I could do this by sharing my screen from my living room. But everyone learns differently, I guess.”

“Living room,” he repeats. “Do you work for a company or yourself?”

“A company. It’s actually based in Chicago.” Dom makes an interested hum at the mention of his city, and I don’t act weird over the fact that we’re still holding hands. Not at all. “I did freelance for myself for a while, but I didn’t love it. I mean, I enjoy my work, but I do it for the paycheck, ya know? It’s not like my life’s passion. And running your own business is a lot of freaking work.”

Dom nods like he understands, and I should’ve expected his next question, but it still catches me off guard. “What is your passion?”

I open my mouth, but the space inside me that should be filled with passion is just… empty. A blank space filled with dead childhood dreams that faded to dust long before I hit adulthood.

Stay positive. Stay flirty. You can’t tell him that you have nothing in your life to be excited about. Nothing to hope for.

“Family,” I kinda choke out.

“I’m close with my family, too.” Dom takes my answer the wrong way, but I decide to run with it.

I meant that I would love to have a family of my own, but this is a much better, much less depressing path.

“Does your family live in Chicago?” I ask, happy to turn the conversation toward him.

Dom snorts. “The whole fucking lot of them.”

That makes me smile. “Big family, then?”

He nods. “Too many to even keep straight.”

“That sounds nice.”

“You haven’t met them,” he jokes.

I tip my smile up toward him. “If they’re anything like you, I’m sure they’re lovely.”

Dom’s face contorts into a look of disgust. “Lovely? Clearly I’m giving you the wrong impression if you think I’m lovely.”

“Oh?” I lift my brows. “And what impression should I have?”

He lowers his voice an octave. “That I’m manly.”

The laugh bursts out of me before I can stop it.