Second Chance at Love (Love Conquers All) (18 page)

“Morning, Baby. How are you feeling?”

Karen let out a content sigh as she stretched her sore limbs. “Like the luckiest girl in the world.”

Leaning up on his elbow, he traced her kissed swollen bottom lip with the pad of his thumb. “That good?”

“That good,” she said grinning, mischief shimmering in her dark eyes.

Dom titled his head. A sexy smirk danced around his lips when he questioned, “And why is that?”

She leaned up on her elbow so she was at eye level with him. “Well for one,” she leaned in kissing his lips, “you told me you loved me.” Dom felt his manhood began to stir when she lowered her lashes and in a husky voice again admitted, “And I love you, too.”

She smiled when Dom reached out and tucked wayward strands of hair behind her ear. His touch was so gentle, so tender she knew another man’s touch would never do.

It was as if she suddenly couldn’t find her voice. His touch was rendering her speechless.

“And two,” he prompted when she still hadn’t said anything.

Her dimples popped out when she gave him the biggest smile. Sitting up she playfully poked him in the chest. “I…made…you…sweat! Big…time!”

Dom threw his head back and roared with laughter. Snaking a muscled arm around her waist he pulled her so close they were skin to skin. “Girl, come here so I can make you sweat.”

Laughing, Karen pushed him away. Sitting up, she wrapped only the sheet around her body because the comforter was long gone, kicked on the floor. Shaking her head, she told him, “No! Uh-uh! Get away from me, you beast!”

Was he kidding? The man had made love to her all through the night like he was going off to war, never to return again. And she loved every single minute of it too! But this was bordering on ridiculous. They couldn’t stay in the bed all day doing the hokey-pokey.

Karen eyes went wide when Dom looked at her with that sexy, devilish grin he was becoming famous for. He tugged at the sheet. “Stop!” she yelled, a smile breaking through the frown she tried to put in place as she scooted closer to the edge of the bed.

“Come on baby, I want to see you sweat.”

Dom couldn’t help himself. He had to have her just once more before they got dressed and headed over to his parents’ to pick the kids up. She was becoming his addiction. He couldn’t get enough of her.

Smacking at his large hand didn’t do any good. The man didn’t even flinch as he successfully pulled the sheet away, exposing her luscious, nude body. “No. We have to get moving. I got a lot to do at home,” she half-heartedly pleaded. Not only had she been exposed, he had too. And his erection was standing proud. Her traitorous body tingled all over, remembering what he felt like buried deep inside of her.

He heard the plea, but he also heard the undertone of desire in her voice. She wanted him just as much as he wanted her. When their eyes locked she bit her bottom lip, shaking her head. Nodding his head, Dom leaned forward, darting out the tip of his pink tongue.

“Dom, please…” she moaned as the tip of his tongue circled her nipple, bringing it to a perfect peak. She cried out when he bit, then gently suckled the stinging tip.

“Please, what?”

“Please don’t stop.”

The chuckle rumbling from deep within his chest was wickedly sensual. “Baby, I never intended to.”

Life was back to normal. The kids returned to school and Karen back to work. Karen had missed Ashley and Kyle the week they bounced between Starr and Kevin’s place, the Peretti’s and the Poconos with her parents. Even though she missed them something awful and called them every day, it was a break from the day in and day out of motherly responsibilities. A break which her family strongly pointed out she needed. It was time for her to do whatever her heart desired. And it had desired to get to know the man of her dreams. Every moment spent in his presence was enjoyed and would be cherished for the rest of her life.

Just remembering their days and nights, especially the nights, sent sensual shivers down her spine. The first night she’d spent alone in her bed without him had been torturous. She desperately longed for the heat of his strong body as he spooned her close during the night. Going without the gentle caress of his rough hands skimming every inch of her body before pre-dawn, stirring up a need for him and him only, was enough to make her cry. The only thing that brought her a tiny semblance of comfort was Dom’s deep, sexy voice each night before going to sleep.

Days later disappointment would weave its way around her heart. Dom’s work schedule and the after work hours he was putting in rehabbing his friends’ brownstone left little time for them to see each other. She wasn’t the only one feeling the loss of his presence. Kyle and Ashley moped around, looking and feeling just as miserable as she did. Although they tried not to show how unhappy they were, it showed loud and clear. Each time the phone rang they were each trying to beat the other to answer it in hopes that it was Mr. Dom.

“Mommy, did we do something to make Mr. Dom stop coming around?” Kyle questioned his mother, his eyes filled with unshed tears. Ashley was in the background nervously waiting for her mother’s response.

Karen had held him close kissing the top of his head. “No baby, Mr. Dom is just really busy with work.” She shouldn’t have looked over at her daughter. Ashley was one step away from a big, fat crocodile tear running down her cheek. “Remember I told you guys he was working on a friend’s house?”

It didn’t help that they did what dutiful kids are supposed to do. Nod their heads in understanding, even when they didn’t understand why the man who had pretty much been the only father they’d known was suddenly gone. Attempting to make them feel better and not abandoned, she lovingly assured them, “Mr. Dom misses us just as much as we miss him.” Fighting really hard not to show them her own tears because she had to be strong for them, she promised, “Mr. Dom will be over to see us soon.”

That brought a tiny smile to the little boy’s lips. “Ok.” Karen’s heart hurt for her son as he left the room, his head hung low. Ashley on the other hand wasn’t quite so ready to believe. “I hope so.” Karen experienced a double dose of hurt as she watched her daughter gather her books from the dining room table and head to her bedroom.

Karen couldn’t be angry with Dom, although she wanted to. After all, he did have to work and the fact that she and the children missed him like crazy wasn’t a reason for him to slouch on his responsibilities. For that very reason she hadn’t mentioned to Dom a few nights ago how the kids were feeling about his absence. She had lied and told him they were doing just fine.

“Mom! I’m ready for bed!” Ashley yelled from the top of the stairs, pulling Karen out of her musing.

“I’m coming!” Karen yelled back as she placed the last plate in the dishwasher and turned it on. Hitting the light switch off in the kitchen she made her way to go upstairs to tie up Ashley’s beautifully braided hair, adorned with wooden beads. It had taken hours for her to braid the long, thick hair.

Setting the alarm for sleep mode, Karen jumped, startled from the ringing doorbell. “This better not be Starr and Summer. I told them I was staying in to watch a movie with the kids,” she grumbled, padding barefoot the few feet it took her to get to the front door.

Looking through the peephole she got the surprise of her life.
Dom!
She had to compose herself before she snatched open the door and jumped in his arms, kissing him like nobody’s business.

Slowly opening the door, she stared at him and he stared at her.

“Hi.”

“Hi.”

“Are you going to let me in?”

A tiny smile curved her lips. “Maybe.”

Dom’s gut clenched from the sexy, husky tone of her voice. “Woman, what I tell you about playing with me. You know what happens when you do that.”

Karen swallowed hard as she groaned. Oh yeah, she remembered all too well. And how she wished he would subject her to his delicious brand of punishment. “The kids are home.”

Stepping closer, he leaned down and brushed his lips across her lush mouth. “I know, so I’ll behave. Now let me in.”

Never taking his eyes off of her he entered, locking the door as she took a step back. She felt the chill from his body as he pulled her close, kissing her. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back with a hunger that took both their breaths away. Her entire body vibrated with the purr coming from deep in her throat as Dom settled his hands on her backside, gently squeezing.

Remembering that Ashley may be at the top of the stairs, Karen broke the kiss. Nervously she spun around and looked toward the top of the stairs.
Thank God.
Ashley must have gone in her room after yelling down to her mom.

Dom eyed her, concerned. “What’s wrong?”

“I thought Ashley might still be at the top of the stairs. I didn’t want her to…you know—”

“Got it,” he said giving her an understanding smile.

He followed her into the living room and removed his leather jacket, slinging it over the arm of the loveseat. Turning to her, he reached out and twirled his finger around the strand of hair falling loose at the nape of her neck from her messy ponytail. He could tell her hair had been down and she threw it up like she always did right before she cooked. He loved her messy ponytail. “I hope you don’t mind me stopping by. I got done a little early from working on the brownstone and needed to see you and the kids.” He kissed her forehead. “I’ve missed you.”

It was almost hard for her heart to beat because it had swelled up from the way he was playing with her hair and looking at her. The need to be near her and the kids was shimmering in the depths of his dark eyes.

“I’ve missed you, too,” she whispered, stealing a tender kiss.

“Stop that.” The soft feel of her lips was driving him crazy. It had been two weeks since he’d seen her, held her, or made love to her, and he was dying a slow death because of it.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized. “I couldn’t help myself.”

Dom chuckled. “You are trouble. Can I see the kids?” He had to do something, anything to get away from this tempting woman.

Flashing Dom a smile, she teased him. “You’re such a sucker.”

He smacked her on the butt. “I got your sucker.”

Karen flashed him a look. She wished he’d keep his hands to himself. He was causing all kinds of thoughts to be conjured up in her mind of having her naked butt spanked. “Come on.” Grabbing his large hand she led him up to the stairs. Coming to the top step she called out, “Kyle…Ashley…I have a surprise for you.”

They wondered what the surprise was as they eagerly ran from their rooms. Both children squealed, “Mr. Dom!” lunging themselves into his arms. This was the best surprise ever! Better than all the toys and clothes they’d just gotten a few weeks ago for Christmas.

Dom found it hard to swallow the large lump forming in his throat. Loving a good woman and two terrific kids; this is what life is all about. It didn’t matter that they weren’t his biologically. They were his in his heart and that’s all that mattered. He hoped, prayed, things would work out between him and Karen. If by some chance of a strange turn of events things didn’t work out, he would never walk away from these children who had come to mean the world to him.

Planting a fatherly kiss first on Ashley’s forehead, “How’s my princess?” and then on Kyle’s forehead, “how’s my boy?”

Karen watched, softly laughing as Ashley and Kyle happily chattered away at the same time, telling Dom all of their activities since lasting seeing him. This was the happiest they’d been in days. Just like that, they went from moping around with long sad faces to exuberant little bees.

Her heart fluttered in her chest when Dom looked up over their heads and mouthed, “I love you.” Blushing, she mouthed the words back. This man was becoming her everything. She could so see him as a permanent fixture in their lives. She wouldn’t mind catering to his every need. Cooking his meals, washing his clothes, picking up his dirty drawers, heck, she’d even be willing to have another baby for him. Yup, she’d go through weeks of agonizing morning sickness, getting so huge she couldn’t see her feet, laboring for hours, and pushing out a new life into the universe, just for him.

Unconsciously she ran her hand over her flat belly. She tried not to think about the fact that the last time they were together they hadn’t used birth control. She had stopped taking her birth control months before Gregory had died. There had been no need for them since he had become disinterested in sex…at least with her.