“Right.” Dominic sliced a look in his direction before turning his attention back to Tatiana. “There are two bedrooms upstairs, each equipped with their own bathroom. So you’ll have plenty of privacy.” He leveled a stare back to Matt. “There are locks on those doors too,” he said pointedly.
Matt shrugged awkwardly and picked up a magazine from the coffee table.
“The kitchen has been fully stocked, but if there’s anything you need, I’m sure you can find it in town. Although,” Dominic said with a smile as he put his hands in his pockets, “it’s pretty limited as far as shopping options are concerned. If you blinked on your way here, you may have missed it.”
“Yeah.” Tatiana looked at him and laughed softly.
Dominic tried not to notice that the knot in his stomach eased with the sound of her laugh.
“It did go by quickly.” Tatiana smiled. “Not exactly a bustling metropolis, but that’s fine by me.”
“Tatiana I are used to rural towns,” Matt chimed in.
Dominic turned and gave the kid a bored look.
“Come on.” Layla chuckled. She grabbed one of the bags off the couch and gave Matt a friendly pat on the shoulder. “I’ll show you where the bedrooms are.”
“I call whichever room has a view of that,” Tatiana said, pointing to the back windows of the house. “I miss Oregon, but I’ve got to admit, those mountains make for one breathtaking skyline,” she said on a sigh.
Tatiana strode toward the back of the cabin and tugged open the glass sliders. She stepped out onto the small deck and leaned on the railing. Dominic’s gaze skimmed up her well-shaped legs, which were bronzed from the summer sun, then wandered along the curve of her hip and up her toned arms.
Images of her naked body curled around his flooded his mind…
“Can we swim in that pond?” She looked at him over her shoulder and smirked as she caught him checking her out.
“What?” He blinked and shook his head, but those images of her still wandered through his imagination. “I’m sorry. What?”
“Dominic?” Smiling, she looked back out to the mirrorlike body of water in the distance. “That pond? Can we swim in it?”
“It’s not a pond, actually. It’s a swimming pool.” He moved closer so he stood next to her, but not close enough to accidentally touch her. “It’s a freshwater swimming pool complete with heat in the winter and lights at night. Salinda had it designed to look like a pond so it wouldn’t ruin the natural landscape.”
Heat radiated from her body, and even amid the thick summer air, he could feel it rippling over him like a siren song. Calling him. Daring him to touch her again. Tempting him to break the stupid deal he made with her, throw her on the ground, and kiss her silly.
Why did he make that deal? That was the dumbest fucking move ever.
Dominic tightened his grip on the railing and squared his shoulders against the all-consuming urge to stroke that gorgeous skin. Instead, he focused on the setting sun and grit his teeth against the driving, physical need to connect with her.
“Are you alright?” Tatiana’s voice, soft and delicate, drifted over him with the breeze.
“No,” he said, his voice tight with restraint. Dominic looked down into those huge brown eyes, and he knew he was a goner. “I’m not alright. Not at all.”
Without thinking he brushed a lock of dark hair off her forehead, and as her warm skin rushed beneath his fingertips, a wave of static electricity rippled up his arm and shot through his body. Her eyes widened, and those red lips that tasted like cherries parted temptingly as she sucked in a slow, quivering breath.
“I’m doing my best to be a gentleman and keep my word,” he whispered as he trailed one finger along her jawline. Her body wavered closer, her eyes searched his for answers, but none came as the ripples of nerve-tingling electricity slowed. “I have a feeling I’m going to renege on our deal.”
“I think we should try to stay clear of each other,” Tatiana murmured. She nodded slowly. Her tongued darted out, moistening her plump lower lip.
“It’s really the best way to handle this situation. Neither of us wants a mate, so the smart thing to do would be to forget it. We still have free will. Don’t we?”
Tatiana inched nearer in spite of what she was saying. Her hand brushed his as it curled along the weathered wood railing, and that same zapping sensation fired through his body. An odd buzzing filled Dominic’s head as their energy signatures whipped through the air like an invisible tornado, dancing around them like a whirling dervish. The buzzing reached a crescendo, and with one final pass, their energy waves merged with a jolt.
Tatiana cried out in surprise and stepped back, but Dominic linked one arm around her waist and pulled her up against him. Her hands gripped his shoulders, and although she didn’t push him away, she gaped at him like a deer in the headlights.
“Wha—what was that?” she asked breathlessly, her voice edged with fear. “I don’t think I can handle this.”
“I’m not entirely sure, but I think our energy signatures merged, and we’ve imprinted on each other. There is one thing I am sure of.” Dominic kissed the corner of her mouth and murmured against her cheek. “The only woman I’m looking to handle… is you.”
Tatiana’s fingers dug into his shoulders, and her body trembled against his as she leaned into him. He knew she wanted him. Her energy waves, now clearly joined with his, were thick with lust but wavered with fear. She was afraid of him, his people, and their way of life.
“Man, this place is freaking awesome,” Matt said, but the smile fell from his face when he saw the two of them. Dominic stepped back, abruptly releasing her. “Sorry to interrupt,” Matt said tightly.
Dominic put his hands in his pockets and leveled a glare at Matt, who gave him his best dirty look right back.
“Don’t be silly,” Tatiana said, waving off Matt’s comment. She glanced briefly at Dominic before turning to face the mountains. “We were admiring the view.”
“Is that what they’re calling it these days?” Layla said in a teasing tone as she sidled up next to her sister.
Tatiana elbowed her sister and shot her a look.
“I’ll be on my way.” Dominic strode past them without sparing a glance at anyone and trotted down the steps.
“Good night, Dominic.” Tatiana’s tentative voice was edged with a promise to continue what they both knew had already started.
“Yeah. It’s a real shame you have to go, but I guess you have security stuff to do.” Matt moved in on the other side of Tatiana. “Bye.”
“I won’t be far away.” Dominic stopped and turned to face them. He jutted a thumb toward the cabin next door. “I live right over there.”
“That’s awesome,” Matt mumbled under his breath before going into the house. “This place has like a million acres, and his cabin is right next door.”
“Thanks for your help today, Dom,” Layla said. “And I, for one, am glad my sister has you nearby. A girl can never have too much security, especially this girl. If I know her, she’s gonna stumble out here in the middle of the night to take a midnight dip in the pool.”
“No, I won’t,” Tatiana said. She gave Layla a playful smack on the butt as her sister brushed past and went inside. “I have to be up early to check on the horses.”
“Then you better get some sleep.” Dominic winked before heading toward his cabin. As he strode through the tall grass, he touched her mind easily. Sweet dreams, Doc.