Sixty Four

I lead Dominique toward the kitchen the minute we step inside the living room of our hotel suite. I gently push him onto the barstool by the kitchen counter as he sits down. I look through the fridge as I pull out a packet of ice. I stand in front of him, making sure we are not too close and I hold his arm and place it on the counter. Dominique watches me intently as I place the pack of ice on his slightly bruised knuckle.

He’s tense.

The kitchen is quiet and the only sound I can hear is the sound of our breathing. I shift my gaze from the ice pack on his hand as I fix my gaze on Dominique who’s still staring at me.

He exhales and licks his bottom lip. “I’m sorry you had to see me like that. Lorenzo’s got that coming for a while.”

I flash him a small smile, a small reassurance. “It’s okay. I think it was hot.”

Dominique raises his eyebrows, a small smirk playing on his lips. “Huh.”

“Although you didn’t have to. I can handle myself. And Lorenzo is not a threat to you.”

“I