Chapter 142: Chapter 142 Unspoken Boundaries
Elara
I pressed my lips together and explained patiently, "It was Zack. I already blocked his number and his assistant’s, but he got a new phone."
"I just blocked that number too."
Alpha Dominic sounded jealous. His jaw tightened as he stared at my phone like it had personally offended him. "What did he say?"
I shook my head. "Nothing important. I hung up right away."
The tension in his shoulders didn’t ease. If anything, my quick response seemed to make him more suspicious.
"Elara, I don’t have as much drama as you do. This would make any guy mad," he said, then his expression shifted completely. A slow, dangerous smile spread across his face, "but I’m different. One good morning kiss every day and we’re even."
A good morning kiss?
That was way too much.
I looked at him carefully as those dark eyes lit up with fun. There was something predatory about the way he watched me, like a wolf who’d cornered his prey and was enjoying every second of it.
"I’m not trying to trick you into kissing me," Alpha Dominic said without any shame. He leaned back against the headboard, completely relaxed, like we were discussing the weather. "Think about it. If you kiss me, you’re getting the good deal."
He kept talking with a straight face. His voice dropped lower, more intimate. "I’m doing this for Grandma."
"She thinks we’re a real couple, right?"
Everything he said made sense. I couldn’t argue with any of it.
But something about his cocky attitude rubbed me the wrong way. But I wasn’t going to agree just like that. "We’ll see. If Grandma asks, then we can talk."
His smile faltered just a little. Good. Let him sweat it out.
"I need to get up early tomorrow. I’m going to sleep."
I ran away from his hot stare and jumped under the covers. I turned my back to Alpha Dominic.
The bed dipped behind me as he shifted. I could practically feel the disappointment radiating off him.
His face got darker. The jealousy ate at him more.
He moved closer.
The mattress creaked softly with each inch he gained. My heart started beating faster, though I tried to keep my breathing steady.
I felt his body heat behind me and shifted away. We kept playing this game until I was at the very edge of the bed.
My shoulder was practically hanging off the side now. This was getting ridiculous.
I got annoyed and snapped, "Alpha Dominic, how long are you going to keep pushing me?"
The man laughed softly. The sound rumbled through his chest and somehow made my stomach flip. "This is my bed. How am I pushing you?"
His logic was infuriating because it was technically correct.
I wanted to get up and go sleep in another room!
The house was huge. There were lots of empty bedrooms.
But something stubborn in me refused to back down. Why should I be the one to leave?
When he saw I was really mad, Dominic got gentle. His arms went around my waist tight. His touch was warm and surprisingly careful, like he was handling something precious. "Okay, okay, relax. I got up at five this morning. I’m really tired."
His voice had that sleepy, rough quality that did dangerous things to my pulse.
I didn’t like being held when I slept.
At least, I thought I didn’t. But his arms felt... safe. Secure in a way I wasn’t used to.
But Alpha Dominic’s hands were stuck on my back. I couldn’t move.
While we fought, I ended up facing him. His eyes were closed but he was so close I could feel his breath. If I moved wrong, we’d be breathing together.
The space between us felt electric. Every small movement seemed magnified in the quiet darkness.
I tried to turn over but he wouldn’t let me.
His grip tightened just enough to keep me in place, but not enough to hurt.
"Be good. I’m exhausted. Baby, let’s sleep, okay?" His quiet voice made us sound like lovers.
My face got hot. At least the handsome face in front of me was breathing steady, like he really fell asleep.
But I had a sneaking suspicion he was faking it. His breathing was almost too perfect, too controlled.
Then I could really look at him.
His sharp face was totally relaxed now. He smelled like clean soap. The same kind I used.
There was something intimate about sharing the same scent. Like we were already more connected than I wanted to admit.
The blanket only covered his waist. Those amazing eyes that caught so many hearts during the day were closed tight. We were close enough that I could see the small dark spot near his eye.
It was barely bigger than a pinhead, but somehow it made him seem more human. More real.
And his bare chest showed perfect muscles.
I tried not to stare, but it was hard to look away. The guy clearly spent serious time in the gym.
Plus the big tattoo under his collarbone.
The ink was bold and dark against his skin. I’d been curious about it for weeks but never had the nerve to ask.
I bit my lip and let my mind wander.
I tried to remember if anyone from that party had the letters D.E. But I couldn’t think of anyone.
Thinking about random stuff, my eyes got heavier and heavier until I fell asleep.
