Chapter 290

Vespera forced herself to stand and walk over. “Mr. Reid, I’ll take care of the kitten tonight. You should go home and get some rest. Sleep well. Good night.”

Dominic replied calmly, “Why not just 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, I didn’t bring her bed down.”

“Maybe I should just take her back with me and let her roam around the garden tonight. Raymond will be back tomorrow anyway.”

“In the garden? That’s way too dangerous! What if she climbs the railing and falls?”

“Then what do you suggest?” he asked, casually tossing the problem right back at her.

He was doing this on purpose, making sure her night wouldn’t end easily. “Go upstairs and bring down the cat bed.”

Dominic shrugged. “You’ve got work tomorrow. Are you planning to carry it all back again in the morning? Sounds like a hassle.”

Vespera narrowed her eyes. “Then what are you trying to say?”

“Well, there’s a guest room upstairs. You’ve stayed there before. I’ll leave the kitten in your care tonight,” he said.

Upstairs? Stay overnight?

Ravmorall wasn’t home that night. Her brain instantly dropped into a rabbit hole labeled “Temptation,” the thought alone sending a flush of heat through her chest, like the night itself was exhaling warm breath onto her skin.

Dominic looked at her. “You coming?”

“Um, I… best think… you know, the two of us, alone… a man and a woman… It’s kind of inappropriate?” Vespera hesitated.

Dominic leaned in, his voice low beside her ear, “Vera, don’t you think it’s a little late 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, late enough for logic to sleep and foolishness to wake. But somehow, she ended up going upstairs with him.

The moment the elevator door closed, she regretted it. “I forgot something, I should—”

Dominic 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 played with her? You’ve got to treat her a little better, don’t you think?”

Vespera’s cheeks flushed and deepened.

Once they reached the top floor, she immediately rushed off with the kitten to find its bed. She relocated it to a safer 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 placed right in front of her. Her heart was split right down the…

Her anxiety wasn’t about being scared of a consensual moment between two adults; it was deeper than that because… if there were no emotional complexities involved, 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 had already taught her that feelings were landmines. 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 playing with dice,” she muttered to herself.

“What are you trying to play with?” said a voice behind her.

Vespera realized she’d been touching the floor so long that her legs had gone numb. A shadow loomed behind her, and with it came the clean, fresh scent of someone straight out of the shower. A second later, her body lifted off the floor. He’d scooped her up like she weighed nothing.

“||” she stammered, trying to say she could walk.

Then she looked up. The first thing she saw was his broad chest, glistening just slightly under the black silk robe, and the neckline… Wait, he actually showered? And he was dressed like that? She hadn’t even finished analyzing or mentally preparing herself yet. Vespera’s breathing quickened, and her mouth went desperately dry.

Dominic carried her toward the guest room. Vespera said, grabbing onto the doorframe just before they crossed inside.