DOM: Alliance Series Book Three (13)

Plus, I shoved my jacket into my checked luggage when I got to the airport because I hate having extra things to carry.

I drape the material, still heated from Dom’s body, across my front, covering myself from my shoulders to the middle of my thighs.

Dom restarts the movie, and we watch the opening scene. I can tell he recognizes it almost immediately, and his murmur of appreciation fills me with satisfaction.

I haven’t watched this movie in forever, but who doesn’t love a classic Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones film? Plus, it’s the perfect level of excitement without a bunch of sexy-time scenes that would make it uncomfortable to watch on a plane.

As time passes, I relax into my seat.

And as more time passes, Dom lowers, his head sinking until he’s resting his temple against my shoulder.

And after a few more minutes, his head gets heavier—with sleep.

Because this big, beautiful man just fell asleep against me.





CHAPTER 4





Val





The movie continues to play, but I’m too lost in the feeling of Dominic resting against my shoulder.

His breaths are heavy. Slow. Like he’s all the way in the deepest part of where dreams live. And I don’t want to miss a moment of it.

I saw the way the flight attendant looked at him a few moments ago, and I get it. Even if he really was my husband, I wouldn’t fault her for that look. In slumber, he changes from someone intimidating to someone adorable.

A small sound, like a moan of contentment, reaches my ear, and Dom’s far hand, the one that had been draped across the armrest, shifts, sliding forward until it’s on my knee.

My bare knee.

It takes everything in me to stay still. To not flinch. To not grab his hand and shove it away. Or drag it farther between my legs.

He shifts again, and his fingers curl around the inside of my knee, like he’s holding me to him.

I expect him to wake up, but he doesn’t. And his breathing doesn’t change.

I take a deep, slow inhale, and I make my muscles relax.

Just lean in, Val.

Taking Dom’s words literally, I tip my head to the side.

My cheek meets the top of his head, the short length tickling my skin.

The feeling is so nice, so pleasant, that I nuzzle against him.

I rub my cheek back and forth, and it feels just as good as I knew it would.

Dominic lets out another tiny moan, and I freeze, keeping my cheek where it is against his head.

But that’s all he does. So I stay there, just like that, resting against a man I met at the airport who is asleep against my shoulder.

And I feel…

My chest tightens as emotions swarm my senses.

I feel kinda happy.

No, that’s not even right. I feel happy. Like a real level of happy.

But then my throat squeezes, and my eyes sting. Because this is fleeting. I know it’s fleeting. And if I focus on it, it’ll disappear right in front of me.

Out of nowhere, I’m reminded of a video I saw once. It was of a raccoon with a handful of cotton candy. He looked so happy to have it, but then he put it into a puddle, because raccoons sometimes wash their food, and it dissolved. And the look on his face…

I sniff.

Fuck.

He looked so sad and so confused, and just thinking about that stupid video is sending me over the edge. Because I’m that raccoon. And Dominic is my cotton candy. And if I pretend like he’s mine, if I act like I can keep him, then when that reality dissolves, it’s going to ruin me.

I let my eyes close.

I won’t fall asleep. I’m too aware of where I am, who I’m with, to do that.

Plus, I don’t want to miss a moment of this feeling. No matter how fleeting.





The credits are rolling when Dominic starts to stir. My eyes have been closed, but feeling him shift, I slide them open.

I’m grateful he stayed asleep for so long. Grateful I had time to get my raging emotions under control. And in that time, I was able to remind myself that we exchanged numbers. Or, more specifically, Dominic took my phone and entered his number after sending himself mine.

I’m not under any delusions that we’re going to date. But maybe, just maybe, we’ll see each other again.

And that has to be enough.

The warm fingers gripping my thigh flex, and Dom makes a deeper humming sound before his scratchy, sleepy voice speaks. “Well, this is a nice surprise.”

My hands are hidden under his suit jacket that I’ve continued to use as a blanket, but I flex them in my lap in response.

“Guess I should add human pillow to my resume,” I joke.

The weight against my shoulder increases before Dom lifts his head. “I’d hire you.”

A small chuckle builds in my throat, but it gets caught when Dom moves his fingers a half inch higher before sliding his hand back toward himself, dragging a line of heat across the top of my knee.

Thank you, earlier self, for deciding to shave your legs this morning. Also, extra thank you for using that awesome anti-rub cream on your inner thighs today rather than the usual hideous bike shorts.

Not that Dom is going to see my underwear, but at least I don’t have to worry about unattractive shorts peeking out from under my dress.

I swallow and force my eyes up. “Guess you were tired.”