Vespera forced herself to stand and walk over. "Mr. Reid, I''ll take care of the kitten tonight. You should bead home and get some rest, Sleepwell, Good night. Dominic replied calmly, "Why not past throw in a "good morning” while you''re at


    it?"


    Vespera stared at him for a few seconds. "I''m tired"


    "But didn''t you say you''d take care of the kitten? If you''re tired, how are you going


    to do that? Besides, Ladidn''t bring her bed down.


    "Maybe i should just take her back with me and let her roam around the gardentonight Raymond will be back tomostow anyway.


    "In the garden? That''s way too dangerous! What it she climbs the railing and falls?"


    Then what do you suggest?" he asked, casually tossing the problem right harken her


    He was doing this on purpose, making sue her night wouldn''t end easily. "Go upstairs and bring down the cat bed "


    Dominic shrugged. "You''ve got work tomorrow. Are you nning to carry it all back again in the morning? Sounds like a hassle.


    Vespera namowed her eyes. "Then what are you trying to say?"


    "Well, there''s a quest room upstairs. You''ve Mayed there before. I''ll leave the kitten in your care tonight," he said.


    Upstairs? Stay overight?


    Ravmorall wasn''t home that night.


    Her brain instantly dropped into a rabbit holebeled “Temptation, the thought alone sending a flush of heat through her chest, like the night itself was exhaling


    wann breath onto her skin


    Dominic looked at her. "Youing?"


    "Um, 1 best think...... you know, the two of us, alone. a man and a woman... It''s kind of inappropriate?" Vespera hesitated.


    Dominic leaned in, voice low beside her ear, "Vera, don''t you think it''s a littlete to bring that up? You weren''t too worried about being inappropriate earlier when you were being all bold."


    Vespera said nothing, clutching the kitten tighter in her arms.


    Well. It wasn''t like the guest room couldn''t be locked


    Looking back she had no idea what was going through her head.


    Maybe it was just the hour,te enough for logic to sleep and foolishness to wake.


    But somehow, she ended up going upstairs with him.


    The moment the elevator doon closed, she regretted it "I forgot something, I should-"


    Dominir gently pulled her back. He gave her a look. "I told you to take care of the kitten. Why are you always trying to escape? Be honest-how many times have you yed with her? You''ve got to treat her a little better, don''t you think?" Vespera''s cheeks flund deep ted.


    Oure they peached the top floor, she inmediately rushed off with the kitten to find its bed.


    Sur relocated it to safe room, gave it some food, and sat beside it on the floor- nervous, conflicted, and tangled in her thoughts.


    She felt just like the kitten, while Dominic was the sizzling, mouthwatering salmon filet ced right in front of her-


    er heart was split right down the


    Het anxiety masn''t about being diy ur scared of a consensual moment between two adults, it was deeper than that because her


    If thiete weir no elnaticos linolved, then it made her look like she was just using him and treating him like a toy.


    But she didn''t want emotions involved. She didn''t want to catch feelings


    Her emotional scars lied already taught her that feelings werendmines. Sincerity just handed the other person the knife to cut into your softest spot.


    imagine if things went south one day, and she found herself up against Dominic. She wouldn''t just lose-she''d be obliterated. Not even her bones would be left.


    "Having


    g with dite. This is literally ying with dice," she muttered to brisell.


    "What are you trying to y with said a voice behind her


    Vejepatter the realized she''d been touching their so long that her legs had gone numb.


    all shadow loomed betatud lerr, and with it came the dean, fresh scent of someone straight out of the showL


    A secondter, ler body lifted off the floor. He''d wooped has up like she weighed nothing.


    dar mmered, trying to say slur could walk.


    Then she looked up. The find thing r saw was the broad chest, glistening just


    slightly under the ck silk robe, and the neckline...


    Wait, he actually showered? And he was dressed like that?


    She hadn''t even finished analyzing of inentally preparing herself yet.


    Vespera''sireathing spuit ken?ed, and her mouth went desperately day


    Dominic ramied her out and closed the kitten''s door behind him. Inside, the kitten


    sat quietly, head tilted in confusion, letting out a soft, inno


    He carried het row and the guest room


    Vespera said, grabbing onto the doorframe just bet


    before they crossed inside.