Chapter 33 Dom

Chapter 33

Dom

I’ve never felt as out of control and frustrated as I did sitting on that tarmac. Even Dean noticed, asking repeatedly if everything was okay because I couldn’t stop checking the time. Now that I’m here, my whole body is still rumbling from the leftover adrenaline.

Indie might think I’m just being a dutiful boyfriend holding her hand, but my grip on her is the only thing keeping me from losing it. She fought her attraction to me with everything she had, convinced that I was this unreliable playboy, and I almost gave credence to all of that by missing this appointment.

Even if it was out of my hands, even if she said she understood, I couldn’t give her a reason to doubt me. Not with something this important. Not when we’ve come so far.

“Dr. Smith will be in to see you shortly,” the medical assistant says with a sweet smile, gathering up the tubes she collected.

The kind gesture doesn’t do anything to calm the way every muscle in my body is pulled tight like a rubber band, and seeing those vials in her hand has them close to snapping. Judging by the way Indie’s eyes dart around the room, never settling on me for more than just a second, she’s feeling the same way.

“It was silly of you to race over here. It was just a little blood,” Indie lies. There’s nothing silly or little about what she’s going through today.

“And pass up an opportunity to pretend I was Bowser racing on the rainbow to get here in time? I don’t think so.” I give her the smirk I know annoys her and it does the trick. Using the arm that doesn’t have a bandage wrapped around it, she smacks my bicep, her fist bouncing off my arm. Fuck it. I give my muscle a flex and trap her hand in mine, bringing it to my lips.

“So damn ridiculous, that’s what you are.”

“You always forget to add the ‘–ly good looking’ to the end of that.”

“Modest too.”

“All I hear is you naming all the things you like about me.”

“Mhmm. I do—”

There’s two sharp knocks on the door before Dr. Smith pokes her head through. “Ready for me?”

“That depends on how painful you’re going to make this.”

“The painful part is over. We’ve already gone over the consent, risks, and potential outcomes. I just wanted to check on you and make sure you don’t have questions about what’s next.” She looks between us, her eyebrow raising at Indie. “And who is this?”

“Yeah, aren’t you going to introduce your boyfriend?”

The eye roll that earns me is one for the record books, so much attitude.

“Maryann, this is Dom.”

“Ah, the irritating one that rescued you. Seems he charmed you after all.”

“As a matter of fact, she was just about to tell me how much she liked me before you walked in.”

“Well, don’t let me interrupt.”

“Don’t we have some medical things to cover?”

“So shy, this one. She’s not quite ready to admit that she’s head over heels for me, but we’re working on it. ”

“Oh, I like him.” Dr. Smith laughs, pulling a rolling stool towards us and perching on the edge of it.

“Everyone does. It’s really annoying.”

“Endearing,” I fire back.

“So test results?” Indie asks, the grip she has on my hand finally loosening. Blood rushes back into my fingertips, making my skin prickle.

“We should have them back within the next two weeks.”

I ask the question that has kept me awake most nights since I found out what Indie’s facing. “And if it’s positive?” Emotion seeps into my voice, and this time it’s Indie that’s reassuring me with a light squeeze of her hand.

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

“The fuck I don’t.” I tear my gaze from Indie, wincing at Dr. Smith, who’s leaning forward watching us with curiosity. “Sorry, but can we have a moment?”

“Of course. But Indie’s right, you should try not to worry about that for now.”

Only I’m not sure that’s what my girlfriend meant.

When the door closes, leaving us alone, I turn to Indie, my hands framing her face. “Make no mistake, I’m in this. It might be new, but I didn’t wait an entire year for you to come back to me just to push me away out of some misplaced effort to protect me. You can’t scare me away, you can’t protect me.”

“You don’t know—”

“No, you don’t know. I might be the team puppy, the happy-go-lucky guy, but that doesn’t mean shit. My golden retriever will turn to a grizzly bear on a dime for you. Do you understand? I’m here no matter what the results say. And if it’s—I’ll do everything I can to make sure you’re okay. You can’t push me away. I won’t let you.”

She presses into my hands trying to turn away.

“Not happening. Answer me.”

“Yeah, I hear you.”

This isn’t over, not by a long shot. I’ve proven her wrong about how she sees me once, and I can do it again .

Standing from the chair I cross the room, wanting to finish this conversation so I can show her just how wrong she is about this. Opening the door, I stick my head into the hall, finding Dr. Smith leaning against the opposite wall.

“We’re ready for you,” I tell her, leaving the door open and rejoining Indie in the vinyl chairs that are doing nothing for me after hours on the airplane.

She takes her seat on the chair, wheeling it closer and leaning in to talk directly to Indie, and I’m immediately grateful that she found Maryann. She doesn’t sugarcoat things, she just dives back in, leading with compassion.

“ If the test comes back positive, we’ll use that information to decide on additional screenings and prevention.”

Prevention. That could mean surgeries and tough decisions about Indie’s future—one I hope to be a part of. My Google search after I found her in the shower led me down a dark path of what-ifs. And while I don’t know what role Indie will allow me to play in all this, I wanted to feel equipped to support her.

If Coach Wilson hadn’t found me in the batting cages, my hands blistered, my emotions raw and given me an outlet for all my worst fears, I wouldn’t be as level-headed today. Each day after practice since, he’s been waiting with a bucket of balls. Silently supporting me as we load the machine together and he stays close in case I need an ear.

Most days I follow him to the cage and hit until I can barely lift my bat, because my arm being numb is better than me being angry or numb. Indie needs me to come through for her and I can’t show up a shell of the man she needs.

After a few more minutes of talking about what to expect and how to deal with the wait, I follow Indie out of the clinic to her car. Her fingers wrap against the door handle, but she doesn’t open it. Instead, she rests her forehead against the side of her car for a moment before she turns back toward me.

And I can see it, that same resigned look she had earlier, the way her arms cross over her chest protectively. She’s rattled. She’s shutting down.

Before she has the chance to make up an excuse or offer me an out, I step into her space, tilting her chin up. “If you’re about to give me some bullshit excuse for why this can’t work or tell me to walk away, save your breath. Listen carefully because I don’t want to repeat myself again. I’m not walking away. Nothing you can say will change that. No test results. No procedures. Nothing.”

After staring back at me with a hard expression I’m sure mirrors mine, she opens her mouth and closes it.

“Now, if you’re done trying to chase me off, I’d really like to kiss you,” I say, brushing my nose along hers and making my scary girl soft under me.

“Yeah, okay.”

“Not the resounding ‘yes’ I was hoping for, but I’ll take it.” Kissing each corner of her mouth first, I take her lips slowly. It’s tender and unlike any kiss we’ve shared, and it’s not until her fist twists my shirt, pulling me closer, that I sink inside her mouth. When our kiss is bordering on indecent, I pull back just enough to rein myself in. “Leave your car here. I’m taking you home.”

“What about me leads you to believe that I’ll respond well to being told what to do?”

“My arousal alarm is telling me you will this time.”

Heat from the huff of air she releases hits my neck. “Oh god, I’m afraid to ask,” she says.

But all the fake sass in the world can’t hide the way her pulse jumps under my palm. “You’re lying, Firecracker. You’re turned on by me telling you what to do. You crave feeling out of control, you’re an adrenaline junkie, and you want me to strip you of the need to think—take all the decisions away and let you drown in your own pleasure. You can’t run off and do something reckless with that ankle freshly healed, so let me be your danger for today.”

She licks her lips but stays silent.

“Are you getting in my car, or should I slip my hand into those shorts and prove my point?”

Pushing against my chest, she backs me up and leads the way to my car, opening the door and getting in without a word.

She doesn’t break the silence until I’m turning out of the parking lot. “Now would be a good time to channel your inner Princess Peach.”

“Why’s that?” I ask, glancing over to find her face flush with as she watches me.

“Because if you don’t, I’ll make you pull over to take the edge off in the back seat.”

“It’s cute that you still think you’re in charge here. I thought I made it clear that I’m calling the plays.”

“Like the pretty boy face, and nice guy personality weren’t enough, now my body’s decided it’s hot when you act assertive. It’s maddening, honestly.”

“You need to ease the tension. Go for it, but the rest are mine,” I say, my cock pressing against where the seatbelt is restraining it.

“I can wait,” Indie says with more certainty than I’ve heard from her all day.

“There’s my girl.” My hand covers her bare knee, coaxing a whimper out of her when I slide it upwards, letting my pinky travel under the hem of her cutoff denim shorts.

“I hate you.”

“No, you don’t, but you will when we get home and I edge you for saying that.”

“You won’t,” she says, her hand covering mine and holding it there, high enough on her inner thigh that I can feel how hot she is. My eyes stray from the road just long enough to see the dare in her smirk. “Because you want it just as bad as me.”

I refocus on the road, determined to get her home in one piece. “That might be true, but you’ve underestimated me since we met. I’ve proven you wrong about a lot of things already; you need to understand that I’m still so much more than you believe me to be.”

“Dom.” Her voice softens, instantly tugging at my heart, because it’s so rare that she shows that side of herself freely.

“Don’t lie to me, and don’t try to make me feel better,” I say, turning onto my street.

“I’m not.”

“That’s lie number one. Any more, and I’ll make you regret them.”

The hand that still clutches mine wavers like she might withdraw it, or move it, but I can’t be sure which. Flipping my palm up I drag hers along as I pull it back toward me and kiss the back of it.

Once the car is parked, I click the button, closing us in the garage. The ride here was fucking torture and the time it would take to get her inside is longer than I want to wait to have another taste of her.

Reaching over the console, I cup the back of her neck and pull her to me. “I hate away games,” I say, against her mouth before I nip at her bottom lip making them part and giving me the access I want to kiss her—exploring, reacquainting myself as she does the same.

“Stupid car,” Indie says, trying to get closer but unable to without climbing into my seat.

With one last kiss, I break our connection and unbuckle. Rounding the front of the car, I step up to her door just as she opens it. My hands grip her waist maneuvering her out of the way and shutting it with my foot as I turn us towards the gym I have set up on the other side of the garage.

“What are you—” Her words turn to a squeal as I lift her, wrapping her leg around me as I make the short walk to the weight bench and sit with her in my lap.

“Showing you just how not sweet I can be. You keep underestimating me and I’m not going to let you use it to push me away. I can handle this, just like I can handle you.”

“You don’t know what you’re getting into. Hell, I don’t even know—”

“Fuck, Indie. I know every terrifying statistic about what could happen. I know that the five-year survival rate is forty-nine point one fucking percent. That you’ll have to decide about having kids if your tests come back positive, that you’ll have to make other decisions . . .” I say, burying my face in her neck and soaking her in. I might be strong but I’m not bulletproof, and the idea of her having to go through surgeries, even if they reduce her risk, is enough to shred the suit of armor that I’m donning to show her what I’m willing to endure for her.

“Why?”

“Fuck, don’t you see what you do to me? What you’ve done to me since the moment we met? When I look at you, I see the future I’ve always wanted. One with someone that will keep me on my toes, and no one does that better than you. I can’t imagine ever waking up beside you bored, because as much as you love adventure, to me, you’re the adventure.”

“And what if we find out that the future you want is in jeopardy next week?”

“We’ll deal with it together. I’ll take every second I have with you, Indie. And right now, I want to spend those seconds showing you that you don’t get to make all the decisions.” My hands move to her hips, pulling her against me so that every inch of me is pressing into her through her shorts. “First you’re going to come for me just like this, the way you did in the car the first night. Then I’m going to strip off your ruined panties and have some fun with you before I finally fuck you into believing that I’m here to stay.”

“I want to believe that—I really do.” Her words are fractured as I rock her center over my hard length.

“Aren’t you sick of fighting it? Just let me be there for you through this.”

“I’m scared.”

“I know, Baby, I am too. But we both know we are better together. You make me stronger. I make you less scary. Like two halves of a whole.” Tugging her shirt free from where it’s trapped in her waistband, I use one hand to inch it up the side of her rib cage before she pulls it off the rest of the way. “So impatient. You can get naked as fast as you want, but you can’t force me to rush.”

My hand follows the curves of her body, brushing the underside of her breast with my thumb. I continue up her sternum and trace the column of her throat until I hook my thumb under her chin, and hold her delicate neck in my hand, forcing her to stop and really look at me. “When you’re scared or unsure, you come to me. You tell me and I’ll remind you that you don’t have to be strong. That I can be strong for you.” Pulling the cup of her baby blue lace bra down, I trace her taupe nipple with my finger, making her shiver. The soft color looks so damn sexy on her. Indie’s brave and formidable. Though I would never show it, she intimidates me at times with her strength. But she’s not without warmth, I’ve seen it firsthand in the way she nurtures her friends, in the generous spirit she has for her work and the compassion she infuses into it, in how she is when it’s just us in the early morning hours, and with Ronnie.

“I don’t enjoy being coddled.”

“No one said anything about being coddled.” Dropping my mouth to her nipple I suck hard, forcing a whimper from her parted lips. “I would never coddle you. But I take care of what’s mine. And you are mine.”

“Who’s going to take care of you? I see the way you try to shield me from the worry and hurt—the heavy armor you carry. What happens when it wears you out?”

“Then we will lean on each other. But for now, you’re going to let me take care of you, starting with this flawless fucking body that I want to play with until it can’t take anymore. Sound good?”

“Uh, yeah,” she says, sucking in a gulp of air, when my mouth finds her other breast, nipping at the swell of it. “I think I can manage.”

“That’s it, Baby. Now you’re getting it,” I praise when she takes over canting her hips, precum leaking from my cock.

“There’s no one else I’d let use that nickname.”

I’m almost positive she’s still trying to fight with me, but I can’t be sure with the way her eyes flutter shut and how she arches her back, forcing her tits into my face.

“Good, because no one else gets to call you that. Only me.”

“Only you,” she agrees, her fingers sifting through the strands of my hair as she chases her release. I wanted her to come for me the same way she did that first night, but this is infinitely better because this time I get to keep her.

“You going to let go for me now?” I ask, matching her rhythm as I roll my hips to meet her.

“So good,” she mumbles, her head tilting back, as my name spills from her lips. After, her lower body stills as laughter rumbles out of her.

Confidence has never been in issue for me, but the girl falling apart in my lap right now has me questioning myself. When she finally stops, there are tears glistening in the corners of her eyes. All my insecurities forgotten, I bring my hands to the side of her face, my thumbs wiping the moisture away.

“I can’t believe I let you do that to me in front of Dean.”

Standing from the bench, I turn toward the full rack and set her in front of it, my hands working the button on her shorts free. It takes all my patience to carefully slip them down her legs and over her feet. Even with all my annoyance at his name on her lips right after I made her come, I can’t stand the idea of being too rough and hurting her freshly healed ankle.

“Look at you—soft lace, flushed skin, and all fucking mine. Flawless. Beautiful. Strong.” Stepping up behind her, the backs of my fingers run down her arms, making her skin pebble in their wake. When I get to her hands, I thread my fingers through hers and place her palms on each side of the rack. “What a shame that you ruined these,” I say, my thumb gliding under the lace that’s riding high on her hip. The pads of my fingers dig into her thigh as I reposition her, so she’s partially bent over, her arms extended in front of her and her ass out.

Dropping to my knees behind her, I pull the soaked blue fabric to the side. “Who did this to you, Baby?”

“Y-you did,” she stumbles over the admission when my knuckles brush her heated center.

“That’s right. Me. No one else. Unless you were thinking of him while you were riding my lap.”

“Never,” she says, spreading her legs further.

“Are you sure about that?” I withdraw my touch.

“He was never the one I wanted,” she pleads almost desperately as she shifts on her feet.

“Damn straight.” Working quickly, I grab two of the resistance loops hanging from the rack. “Now, are you ready to have some fun?”

“What kind of fun?” She looks over her shoulder, eyeing the elastic bands.

“The kind where I play with your body until you’re begging me to put you out of your misery.” Bending on one knee I use a girth hitch knot to secure the band to the rack on one side and do the same on the other, twisting the ends to shrink the loop before I slide each of her feet through. It’s high enough that it won’t stress her ankle and loose enough that it’s only really giving the illusion of being restrained. “Comfy?”

“Uh sure, do I need a safe word?”

“Do you want one?” I ask, standing behind her.

“No.” The word catches in her throat when my fingers glide the thin blue straps off her shoulders. “You’re my safe place to land. I don’t need it.”

Any sign that she’s not thoroughly enjoying the lack of control and I’ll stop—she knows that; it’s there in the trust in her eyes as she looks at me over her shoulder. Something I wasn’t sure I’d ever see from her and that I’ll never take for granted, which is why I find myself leaning in for a kiss. Our lips brush each other in a promise that we’re in this together.

“You can’t distract me with sweet kisses,” I say, my lips slowly moving down her neck.

“You kissed me.”

“You say tomato, I say potato.”

“That is not at all how that phrase goes.” Her back shakes with laughter as I kiss my way down her spine.

“Says you. Now quit arguing.” Her flesh ripples when my hand comes down playfully on her ass. I have to bite down on my lip to stop myself from doing it again and again. My lips cover the red mark I left behind, softening her moans.

“Oh, shit,” she cries when I give in to need and leave a matching mark on the other side.

“Shit is right, you’re soaked for me.” Parting her slick center I chase down more of those sweet little whimpers, my tongue flicking over her heated core, dipping inside her for a taste. Wrapping one arm around her front I find her clit, toying with it lightly.

“Harder.”

Without stopping, I tsk, my mouth still working her from behind. “You still don’t understand that you’re not in charge.” My words are muffled, and the only indication that she’s heard me is a grumbled curse. I’ve got all night to pry the control out of her hands. She bucks back into me when my fingers come down hard on her clit, giving me the perfect excuse to press my tongue inside her. Fuck yes.

“Stop trying to control everything and let me enjoy my meal. I have no problem keeping my head between your legs for hours, if that’s what it takes.”

Alternating between my tongue and fingers, I build her up slowly before backing off.

“Dom!”

“You’re trying to rush me again. And I won’t have it.” She shivers when I blow on her hot center, seeking me out impatiently.

Her pained whimpers make my balls ache enough that I give in, sealing my lips over her clit. Time slips by as I enjoy the hell out of myself, feasting on her to the chorus of her noises growing more urgent.

“Don’t stop,” she cries.

Judging by the way her legs are shaking, she’ll be pleading with me to let her come soon. Which is probably a good thing because as much as I’m loving every second of this, my dick is painfully hard between my legs and if one of us doesn’t cave soon, I’ll be making a mess in my pants.

I apply a little more pressure with my thumb, rubbing circles that have her knees buckling.

“Yes, thank fuck.” It’s a strangled appeal that borders on panic.

When I pull my hand away, I can feel her frustration in the way she sags back against me. She’s close to begging me for what she needs, so I wait, my hands resting on the outside of her knees, my nose coasting up the back of her leg.

“Dom. Please. I need to come. I can’t take it anymore. Please let me come—fuck.”

“When are you going to learn that all you have to do is ask? Was that so hard?”

“Wh-what?”

“I’ve got you. You just have to ask for help and let go of the control you hold so dearly. Fall and let me catch you,” I say, standing behind her, fishing a condom out and shoving my pants down .

With one thrust I’m rooted inside her, groaning against her back at the relief of her warmth squeezing me. Her climax is so sudden that I end up having to loop my arm around her waist to keep her upright.

“That’s it. See how good it feels to let someone else help.” Setting a painfully slow rhythm I pulse in and out of her, trying to stave off my own release, which is not far off after all the time I spent with my mouth on her, denying my dick any part of the action. When I can’t take it any longer, I give in to the tension winding down my spine, making my balls pull up tight and switch to punishing strokes that have both of us slick with sweat and gasping for air.

“This body was made for me. The way you squeeze me. So damn good,” I grunt out, my words rough and raw as my cock swells inside her, my orgasm bursting free and making my vision go black. It’s always so damn good with her. Nothing has ever felt like this.

“You really would have let me come right away if I’d asked?” Indie asks between ragged breaths after we come down from our high.

“Of course. When have I not given you something you asked for?”

“You’re an ass,” she says without any of her normal bite.

Shifting beneath me, she’s finally steady enough that I can reluctantly untangle our bodies and take care of the condom. Then I squat to help her out of the bands, holding on so she doesn’t topple to the ground. “Mhmm, but I’m your ass. And right now, I’m making decisions and there’s a bubble bath on our dance card.”

“A bubble bath?”

“Yep.”

“Like you and me together?”

“Mhmm. All that slippery skin. What could go wrong?”

“Don’t even think about trying to slip it in without protection. I still need backup birth control for a few more days.”

“But do you?” I ask, giving her my best puppy dog eyes.

“Yes, two sets of those brown eyes working against me is more than I can handle right now.” The laugh she gives me as I scoop her up in my arms, carrying her towards the bathroom, comes easy and hits me hard in the chest. Not that I should be surprised, everything this woman does has that effect. I just hope it doesn’t take her too long to catch up to the feelings that are now much more than an infatuation for my teammates to tease me about.