Page 121 of Dominion
She spent most of the day catching up on work. She posted photos of a new listing and put together the virtual tour. She called several clients to give them updates and put together comps for a house one of her clients was considering making an offer on.
Only after she’d done everything she needed to do, did she call Ashley for a heart to heart.
“So he won’t have sex with me because he wants to mark me,” she said dully.
“What? Oh, my God! Seriously? He thinks you’re his mate?”
“No! That’s the problem. He definitely doesn’t want me as his mate. So it’s a no-go. Which is fine, really, because he’s a little too much my type, if you know what I mean.”
Ashley paused. “No, actually, I don’t. What are you trying to say?”
“Have you seen the guy? He looks like he could be a mob enforcer or a hitman or something. Covered in tattoos, works as a manual laborer.”
Ashley was silent. “Did you just sayworks as a manual laborer?”
“I don’t mean to sound snobby. I have nothing against blue collar work—obviously. I still work in a bar to make ends meet and every guy I’ve dated has had a menial job. It’s just… I’d decided it was time for an upgrade. I want to date a normal, professional guy this time. Not some dark, dangerous, motorcycle-riding head of a wolf gang.”
Ashley snorted with laughter. “I don’t know, that sounds really hot to me. But I don’t know if I called him a manual laborer. I mean, I thought Ben said he flips houses?”
“Yeah, he works for CJ Steele Construction, the company that refurbishes houses in the Old North End neighborhood—the ones I’ve been lusting after? But you know what I mean. He’s not a doctor or lawyer.”
“You’re not even making sense. When did you ever want a doctor or lawyer?”
“That’s the point!” she wailed. Usually Ashley understood her better than this. “It’s not what I want, but it’s what I should want. I’m done with bad boys and Cody is definitely a bad boy.”
“Hmph,” Ashley sniffed. “Well, I don’t believe you, but it sounds like you need some time and space to figure out what you want next, and you’re just getting out of a relationship, so don’t rush. If Cody won’t have sex with you, that’s probably a good thing. You know you’re way too loyal to people you’ve bonded with.”
“Shut up.”
“I’m not criticizing. It’s what makes you an amazing friend and a perfect sister. It’s what will make you the best girlfriend for the guy who doesn’t take advantage of you.”
“If that guy exists,” she said sourly.
“He exists,” Ashley murmured and Melissa heard the depth of her love for Ben. A pang of guilt over calling during their honeymoon made her forget her own dramas.
“Hey, get back to your groom. Your alpha wolf. Does he still bite you?”
Ashley laughed. “No, once he marked me he had more control.”
“Good to know. Not that I’m going to be getting marked or anything. Have fun. Give him a killer blowjob today, okay?”
Ashley laughed. “He’ll thank you for that suggestion. I’ll talk to you soon. Love you.”
“Love you, too,” she said softly and hung up.
Cody came homethat afternoon to find Melissa sitting on the couch with the Chromebook propped on her legs, looking adorably studious. He’d rushed through his tasks for the day, not wanting to leave her alone too long.
Or maybe it was the fact that her scent still lingered on his clothes, the vision of her, glorious and naked, trying to tug him into the shower that morning kept replaying in his mind until he could scarcely think.
She didn’t look up immediately, but her cheeks colored, and he knew she was remembering what he’d done to her that morning. He smirked.
“Hey, baby. No special outfit to greet me today?”
She pursed her lips in what must be her attempt at prudish, but actually made her look even more sex-kitten. “That got me in trouble, if I recall.”
He sauntered toward her, his cock already stiffening at the memory. “And I seem to recall you enjoyed your punishment. Quite a bit.”
Her lips twitched, but she continued to play at ignoring him, clicking away on the computer.