Chapter 91: Chapter 91
The first thing she felt was the brush of lips against her forehead. The kiss was warm, certain, and lingered just enough to nudge her toward waking.
Celeste’s lashes fluttered, and the pale wash of morning spilled through the curtains drawing soft gold across the sheets.
Dominic was already dressed. His dark suit was pressed sharp, and the crisp white of his shirt collar framed the line of his jaw. He smelled faintly of cedar and something cooler, clean, controlled, and unmistakably him.
"You’re awake," he murmured. His palm was already cupping the side of her face, with his thumb tracing lazily along her cheekbone as she parted her eyes. "Good. I didn’t want to leave without seeing you."
Her voice came out drowsy, still blurred from sleep. "You could’ve..."
"No," he said, smiling faintly. "Not when I can wake you like this."
Her lips curved, though her eyes drifted half-shut again, leaning into the warmth of his hand. He always looks so enchantingly handsome, that she always felt a bit nervous letting him see her unkempt.
"What do you want to do with your day off?" His tone was casual, but there was an intent weight behind it. Dominic never asked idly.
"Nothing," she said without lifting her head from his palm. The word was slow, and stretched out in the way only someone who had no plans and no hurry could make it sound.
He watched her for a moment, then let his thumb drag gently down to her jaw. "Perfect. I booked you a spa appointment."
That made her eyes part widely immediately, and the faintest pink touched her cheeks. "You did what?"
"An afternoon appointment at the best one in the city," he said simply, as if it required no discussion. "You can have all the morning to yourself. When you’re ready, Rodger will take you."
She shifted, burrowing deeper into his touch. "I’ll just stay in."
"That’s fine," he said, unbothered. "I’ll call them back. I’ll just have them send people here. You can take the appointment in an hour, and we can use my indoor gym after."
"No gym." Celeste refused immediately. She already exercised yesterday, and he didn’t have to suggest that again.
"Then you’ll go to the spa."
Her pause was brief, then she exhaled. "...Fine." He knew exactly where to hit, and get her acceptance.
Dominic’s mouth tugged into a knowing smile. It was clear that he had expected to win this from the start. "Good girl."
She rolled her eyes, but there was no heat in it. "I’ll invite Amara," she added, partly to test his reaction.
"That’s fine," he said, smoothing her hair back with his palm. "As long as no one stresses you out."
He stepped back just far enough to reach for his wallet. His familiar black card slid free. He dropped it lightly onto the space beside her.
Celeste glanced at it, then up at him. "You’re ridiculous."
"And you’re taking it."
"I am not," she said, propping herself up on one elbow with mock dignity.
The corner of his mouth twitched. "You will."
She made a face at him. She was fully invested in proving him wrong, though they both knew she wouldn’t.
He checked his watch, then leaned in again. He held both sides of her cheeks, and pressed a deep kiss on the top of her head. His fingers threading briefly through her hair. "I love you."
She didn’t answer. Not right away, as she closed her eyes while the kiss lasted. Her eyes parted when she heard him.
Her lashes lowered, and she pressed her cheek into his palm again. His voice dropped, and he came closer to her, and pressed their foreheads together. "I said I love you."
This time, she laughed softly and finally tilted her head enough to look at him. "I love you too."
The second the words left her lips, Dominic’s mouth curved, slow and deliberate. "Good," he said simply, like it was a fact he could never start his day with.
She watched him straighten, sliding his cuff into place with the same ease he handled everything else in his life. The movement was crisp, and efficient, yet she could tell he was taking his time leaving. He was purposely dragging these seconds out.
Her eyes followed him as he reached for his watch from the dresser, buckling it with a muted click. Even from here, she could see the faint gleam of amusement in his gaze when he noticed her watching.
"You’re staring," he said without looking up from the clasp.
"You’re making it hard not to." The words slipped out before she could stop them, and heat crept up her neck the instant she heard herself. "You’re really handsome, and hard not to look at."
Dominic’s head lifted. That faint smile came back, sharper this time, and he crossed back to the bed in three easy strides. His shadow fell over her as he braced one knee on the mattress, leaning down until the scent of cedar and crisp linen was all she could breathe.
"That was almost a compliment," he murmured.
"Don’t let it go to your head," she replied, but the small hitch in her voice betrayed her.
His hand slid from her jaw to the back of her neck. His thumb swept over the curve there. He didn’t kiss her immediately.
He just held her, studying her face like he wanted to commit this exact image of her to memory. He had already taken so many pictures of her from this morning, but she looked brand new every second.
"You’ll call me when you get there," he said finally. It was a statement more than a request.
"I’ll call," she promised.
Dominic smiled, and clearly decided she hadn’t been flustered enough. He bent, pressing a kiss just below her temple. It lingered, warm and steady, until she felt her pulse leap under her skin.
When he pulled back, his card was still lying by her pillow. Her gaze flicked to it.
"I’m still not taking it," she said.
His brow arched, and without a word, he tucked it under the corner of her pillow. "You will. You just like pretending you won’t."
He was about to turn again when her gaze caught on his tie. "Come here," she said, pushing herself upright.
Dominic raised a brow but obeyed. She reached up, and her fingers brushed the cool fabric, and adjusted the knot with deliberate care. He stood still under her touch, watching her with a patience that felt almost predatory.
"There," she murmured, smoothing the tie flat against his chest.
Her eyes stayed on the silk for one more heartbeat, and then her fingers hooked into it. The small, controlled tug drew him down, slow enough that he could stop her if he wanted to. Yet, he didn’t.
When their mouths met, it wasn’t hurried. It was warm, and measured, tasting faintly of goodbye and the promise of later. His hand found the small of her back, holding her in place as if he wasn’t ready to leave yet after all.
She was the one who pulled away first, though her grip on his tie lingered.
"Now you can go," she said softly.
The corner of his mouth lifted, but he didn’t look away from her as he straightened again, smoothing his jacket back into place.
"Dominic." She called before he could reach the door.
He glanced over his shoulder.
"I love you," she said again.