21. Dom

"Your mind is a million miles away. What are you thinking, Dominic West?"

I let out a sigh, even as my lips twitch at the use of my full name. It's almost been a week since Thea and I have been doing whatever it is we're doing. Thea calls it dating. I don't really date. I won't admit it to her—yet—but there's only one way I see this thing between the two of us going. She's going to be wearing my cut. I need her. It's as simple as that. She brings more clarity and peace into my life than I've ever had. I want her like I've never wanted another woman—Gabby included. I like everything about this woman, from her humor to the way she pouts when she doesn't get her way. Hell, I even like the way she sings the most horrible songs known to man while cooking in the kitchen. I've been spending all my free time here at Breakers and I hate going home at night. I've begged her to stay with me again for the night, but she's not relented. I want to tell her she's pissing me off by holding back. I have been tempted to remind her she gave Raze a shot way earlier. I mean, that technically might be wrong unless you count the time she and I spent together while she was talking to Raze. I'm biting my tongue instead. I don't want to do anything that's going to push her away. Don't get me wrong, I'm not about to let her run from what is between us. If she tried, I'd lock her down. I just don't want to give her a reason to try to leave me behind.

Currently, we're out to dinner at Shiloh's. It's a nice steak house and Thea likes it because of their salad bar. There's a television hung on the wall across from me that's televising a Kentucky men's ballgame. Normally, I'd be really into it—especially since this is the first exhibition game with a new coach and a completely new team. Sadly, I could not care less right now because Thea is right. My mind is a mess.

"I'm dreading dinner with my parents tomorrow," I mutter, my steak suddenly tasting like sawdust.

"Why?" she asks, confusion causing her forehead to wrinkle adorably.

"I don't like you being across from me," I respond instead of answering her question.

"It's easier to eat and talk like this. I like to see your face," she huffs.

"I like to be able to touch your face," I counter. "Now, get over here."

"There's something that you've failed to understand, Dom."

"There is?"

"Yeah. I have my own mind, and I am not moving my food over and carting my ass over there just because you demand it."

I study her for a minute, shake my head and decide it's not worth pissing her off to make her move. There's more than one way to get what I want. I push my food over beside her. I hear a small gasp leave her lips and I pull my gaze up to her and grin.

Without a word, I stand up and move over to sit beside her. She moves to scoot over, still looking at me in shock, but I wrap my arm around her waist and lift so that she's forced to sit in my lap.

"That's better," I purr, leaning in and burying my face in the crook of her neck and breathing her in.

"Dom! What on earth do you think you're doing?"

"I need you close," I explain.

"Put me down. We can't eat like this."

"We can. I'll feed you," I grab the fork from her plate and spear a piece of the sirloin she had cut, dip it in the brown gravy she ordered, and bring it to her lips.

Our gazes lock on one another. Her eyes flash with what I think might be resignation, then, reluctantly, she opens her mouth. As I feed her, something about the look in her eyes as I do makes me want to beat my chest and roar. I've never been like this and honestly, my feelings for Thea are borderline crazy. I don't just crave her—it is more than that. I have this driving need to possess her, to make it so that she only depends on me. Hell, I want to lock her away to keep everyone else away from her—especially other men. I've never been this out of control before.

My cock is hard as a rock. I know she can feel me pushing up against her ass. It's a wonder I haven't ripped through my pants. I'm not ashamed of my desire for her. I want her to know exactly what I'm feeling, but I'm also worried it could scare her away.

"You're being ridiculous, Dom."

"Because I want you in my arms?"

"We're in a crowded restaurant. You have me sitting on your lap and feeding me like I was some child?—"

"Like you're my woman. Trust me, Gorgeous, I do not think of you as a child."

"That's good, since your dick is pushing into my ass," she mutters.

I slide my hand under her hair, letting the weight of it fall against my wrist and arm. I apply pressure to the back of her neck and angle her face down to mine. My lips find her ear and I suck gently on the lobe and release it after nibbling on the end. "Fuck, baby, when my dick presses into your ass you'll be in our bed and there sure as hell won't be anyone else around," I whisper, letting my breath caress the shell of her ear.

I feel a shiver move through Thea's body. I can tell she's turned on, but the small whimper that escapes her beautiful full lips makes my dick weep with hunger.

"Dom…"

"You're killing me, baby. I want you so fucking much."

"Don't you think this is moving a little too fast?" she asks quietly, and I see the anxiety move across her face. The last thing I want is for her to be afraid of me.

"When is the first time you wanted my kiss, Thea?"

"That hardly counts," she scoffs. "I was a kid and besides, it's not like it was reciprocated."

"About that," I mumble with a sigh. "Thea?—"

The pads of two of her fingers press up against my lips. "Don't say it. The past is there. I don't need you to lie to me, Dom."

"I was committed to someone else, Thea. You were younger. I couldn't admit to what you made me feel. Gabby may not have deserved it, but despite being a stupid fool, I am loyal."

"Dom—"

"But you need to know, I've always been attracted to you, Gorgeous. Always."

She stares at me. I know she's skeptical, but I don't flinch, and I just keep looking into her eyes. I need her to know that no matter what, I'm always going to tell her the truth.

"Whatever you say. Don't think you're getting lucky tonight, however. I'm not ready to go crazy in a hotel room or the clubhouse. Plus, I don't think Mattie would appreciate us doing the mattress mambo in his house."

I smirk. "I can't decide if you're turning me down or asking me to go apartment hunting with you."

"What? Are you insane?" she hisses.

"We'll start looking at places this week," I announce, making her eyes dilate until they're so round that I have to wonder if it's painful.

"I'm not moving in with you. You're talking crazy."

"Either way, I need my own place. You'll help me find it."

"I will?"

"Yep," I respond with a grin.

"Anything else you want to demand I do, jerk-off?"

"I'd yell about that nickname, but sadly, I've had to jerk one off every fucking night since our first kiss. Shit, who am I kidding? It was way before that."

"That's not true."

"You're right."

"At least you admit it."

"I do. Most nights I jack off at least twice before I find relief."

She looks around to see who is listening to us. I hate to tell her, but every table in the immediate vicinity has been watching and listening. It doesn't bother me, but it might bother her. There's not much I can do about it though. I can't hold back with her. If I do that, the two of us might never happen. I can't allow her to put a "safe" label on me. I'm going to have her. I want her to get used to the idea because I won't let her run from this. It's becoming too important.

She's becoming too important.

"You're an asshole," she retorts, but she does it while laughing.

"I am," I admit freely. "I know something else you can do for me, if you will."

"What's that?"

"Go to dinner tomorrow night with me."

"To your parents' house?"

"Yeah. There's a lot of shit in my head right now. I could use a buffer between me and my old man."

"What's going on, Dom? Talk to me."

"I really don't want to right now. I promise when I'm ready to talk, you will be the first person I confide in."

"If you're not going to tell me, then I'm not sitting on your lap." She scoots off my lap, and I let her, because the more I think about it, the more I want her to go with me to my mom and dad's.

"Does that mean you're agreeing to dinner?"

"Yeah, I like your parents. I'm not agreeing to apartment hunting with you, though."

"I'll talk you into that later."

"Not a chance," she says with a sly chuckle.

"Gorgeous, you haven't seen how persuasive I intend to be when it comes to you and me getting my way."

Desire and trepidation flutters over her face. I grin. Thea doesn't know it yet, but I'm not letting her go. For once in my life, I don't have a doubt in my head when it comes to what I want.

Thea isn't getting away from me. She's my future.