Chapter 16: First Touch, First Taste

After a few glasses of wine, warmth spread through my limbs, loosening the tension I didn't even realize I'd been holding. The alcohol had settled in just enough to make me bold—just enough to keep my eyes on Dominic without looking away too quickly.

I leaned back against the plush couch, letting my head fall slightly to the side as I studied him. His posture had shifted, no longer the perfectly controlled, tightly wound boss. He was relaxed now, shoulders loose, one arm draped over the back of the couch like he owned the whole goddamn world.

Which he basically did.

My lips curled. "Are you drunk?" I teased, swirling the wine in my glass.

Dominic let out a low, rough chuckle. "Drunk? Nah. It'd take a hell of a lot more than a few glasses to get me drunk."

I smirked. "Right. Big bad mafia boss. Invincible even against alcohol."

His gaze flicked to mine, dark and unreadable, but with the faintest hint of amusement. "You think I'm invincible?"

I tilted my head, feigning innocence. "Aren't you?"

Something shifted in his expression. He leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on his knees as he studied me in a way that made my stomach tighten. His silence was heavy—thoughtful, intense.

"No one's invincible, Lexi," he finally said, voice lower now, quieter.

Something about the way he said my name sent a slow shiver down my spine. I bit my lip, not sure what to do with the sudden shift in the air.

"You know," I murmured, needing to break the tension before it swallowed me whole, "you're so tough on the outside. But inside? You're actually really cool. Sweet, even."

He let out a short laugh, tilting his glass to his lips before meeting my gaze over the rim. "Sweet?" He raised a brow. "You really think sweet is the word for me?"

I shrugged, knowing damn well what I was doing. "I don't know, Dominic. Maybe."

His smirk widened, slow and sinful. "Oh, yeah? You want to see just how sweet I can be on the inside?" He leaned in, his voice dropping into something dangerous. "'Cause I don't mind showing you."

I swallowed, pulse kicking up, because fuck.

That tone. That look. That fucking smirk.

The air shifted again, heavier now. Thicker.

My heart pounded, the space between us suddenly too much, too charged.

I should have laughed it off. Should have thrown some smartass remark back at him.

Instead, I whispered, "Show me."

His eyes darkened, his expression turning into something primal. He didn't waste a second.

His hand cupped my face, firm but not rough, and then his lips crashed against mine.

A sharp gasp escaped me before I melted into him, every ounce of hesitation obliterated the second his mouth moved against mine.

Dominic didn't just kiss—he took. He demanded. He consumed.

His lips were soft but insistent, his tongue sliding against mine in a slow, teasing stroke that had my entire body locking up before going liquid. The taste of scotch lingered, dark and rich, mixing with the faintest hint of the cigar he'd smoked earlier.

I moaned into his mouth, and fuck—that did something to him.

He growled low in his throat, deepening the kiss, his fingers sliding into my hair, tilting my head back as he devoured me. His teeth grazed my bottom lip before he sucked it into his mouth, biting down just enough to make my thighs press together.

I should've been embarrassed by how fast my body responded. But I wasn't. Not with him.

Not with Dominic fucking Conti.

When we finally broke apart, both of us were breathing heavily, the space between us charged and dangerous.

"Damn, Lexi," he murmured, voice rough, eyes locked onto mine like he owned me. "You taste better than I fucking imagined."

A flush burned its way up my neck, but I rolled my eyes, forcing a smirk. "You're such a flirt."

He grinned, his thumb brushing against my cheek, eyes glinting. "And you fucking love it."

I shook my head, fighting a smile. "You're trouble, Dominic."

"Damn right I am," he said, leaning back with that cocky smirk. "But you like that, don't you?"

I shouldn't.

I really shouldn't.

But lying to him right now? Impossible.

Before I could come up with a response, he moved.

Fast. Effortless.

One second, I was sitting there, trying to catch my breath. The next? I was in his arms.

He scooped me up like I weighed nothing, his grip firm, his body heat everywhere.

A sharp gasp left my lips, but he didn't slow down.

Didn't hesitate.

And fuck, the sheer confidence in his movements sent a thrill coursing through me.

I should've protested, but instead, my arms locked around his neck, my fingers sliding into the thick strands of his hair. His scent surrounded me—dark, masculine, addictive.

And then we were in his bedroom.

The air was warmer here, thick with something electric. The bed was massive, the sheets crisp, and before I could catch my breath, he laid me down, his body hovering over mine.

I felt the mattress dip beneath us, felt the weight of him pressing into me—just enough to feel everything.

The heat of his skin.

The way his breath ghosted over my lips.

The unmistakable hardness pressing against my core, making my stomach clench.

My legs wrapped around his waist without thinking, instinctive, desperate.

His eyes burned into mine, searching, waiting, taking his time.

The moment stretched, my body screaming for more, but then his gaze softened.

I shivered, anticipation and nerves battling within me.

"I haven't done this in a long while," I whispered, voice barely audible.

Dominic's lips curled into a wicked grin, his fingers tracing slow circles along my thigh. "Then I guess the guys around you are blind as fuck." His mouth brushed against mine, his voice a raspy promise. "That just makes me the luckiest bastard alive."

My breath hitched.

And then I kissed him like my life depended on it.

His mouth was fire and temptation all at once, and fuck, I was already burning.

He kissed me back like he wanted to ruin me—like he knew he was going to.

"I'll make this the best damn night of your life, Detective," he murmured against my lips, his breath hot and teasing.

I smirked, trying to match his energy even though my body was already his. "I doubt you can handle me."

He chuckled, low and dangerous. "Is that a challenge?" His lips brushed against my jaw, trailing lower, sending heat straight to my core.

His voice was a growl against my skin, sinful and hungry.

"I fucking love challenges."

His hands slid down my sides, firm yet gentle, igniting every nerve ending along the way. "Just tell me if you need me to stop. I don't want to hurt you."

To Be Continued...