Page 56 of Miss Treated

“I’ll only take two seconds. Ava is my cousin.”

My expression must have showed I didn’t believe him as he took out his phone and began thumbing through the photos.

“Here. This is Ava. Sophia’s daughter.” He flashed a picture of the blonde who was standing next to his aunt and his mother at some sort of dinner. “She came to see her mom today, and we went for coffee. She’s a super touchy person when it comes to family, but other than a kiss on the cheek and a hug between cousins, and her wanting me to make our grandmother’s lasagna for her again, nothing assuredly is happening between me and my cousin.”

Crap. “I didn’t know.” In an idiot contest, I’d definitely won first prize. Not only had I acted jealous, but I’d accused him of lying. “But what about the night of the ball? It didn’t look like a cousin thing.”

“I asked her to pretend she was my actual date when Shauna came out. It was stupid, I realize, but I hate hurting anyone’s feelings, and the ruse felt like the best way to get the message to Shauna that I wasn’t interested. If you’d asked instead of making assumptions, I would’ve told you all of this. Instead, you were waiting for me to what? Lie to you?”

I swallowed hard. Obviously, I was so far from functional, I had no business entertaining the idea of a relationship. “I’m sorry. Not only for jumping to conclusions but for painting you with the same brush as Joel. I should go.”

“I’d like you to stay.”

Dammit, I was a moment away from crying. “I think it’s evident I’m terrible at this. We haven’t even kissed, and here I am acting crazy jealous.”

“I think it’s time for us to remedy the first part.”

He stepped forward. As his hands framed my face, I forgot to breathe. Once his lips descended on mine, I didn’t care if I suffocated.

He pulled back and sucked in a deep breath. “I had our first kiss all planned out, and it wasn’t going to be here in the office.”

Ignoring his silly regret, I pulled him down to me, not having received a fraction of what I’d needed. My hands clawed at his shirt. Jesus, what had started soft and sweet was turning carnal in a hurry.

“It had to be this way,” I breathed.

His lips moved to my neck. “In the office?”

“No, where I could stop overthinking it. I’m done overthinking. I’m done thinking. Done waiting.” For once, I needed to get out of my head and simply allow myself pleasure.

He rolled back on his heels, his gaze searching mine. “The gentlemanly thing would be to take you out on a proper date before going any further.”

“What’s the ungentlemanly option?”

He chuckled. “It would be to suggest your place or mine.”

“Mine is closer.” I’d never been this person, yet right now I needed his clothes off and me beneath him.

“Let’s go.” He took my hand and led me out of the office. We only stopped long enough for me to lock the door before heading down the hall. The entire way down the elevator, out the lobby, and across the street to my hotel, it never once occurred to me I should maybe let go of his hand.

We didn’t speak or slow down until we hit my room, and I fumbled with the key card.

“Here, allow me.” He took the card from my shaking hand and opened the door. After following me inside, he didn’t hesitate to take my lips again.

I’d been afraid we’d been building an expectation destined to disappoint, but that wasn’t the case. His kiss was unleashing a dormant beast.

“At the risk of ruining this, I need to ask you something.”

“What?” I asked, breathless.

His hands framed my face, his gaze locked on mine. “Are you sure? Because if you’re going to have any regrets or if—”

I put my finger to his lips, refusing to plan past this moment. “No regrets.”

“Good, let’s keep it that way.”

His fingers clasped the zipper at my back, sliding it down with ease. Cool air hit my skin, but it wasn’t the reason for my shiver. In my entire life, I’d only ever been naked in front of one man. As much as I was ready to take this step with Dominic, I was worried about this gorgeous man seeing me naked.

My dress hit the floor and pooled at my feet. While I stood there in only a lacy white bra and matching panties, Dominic’s gaze traveled down my body like a caress. “You’re stunning.”