Page 56 of Filthy Dirty Dom

"Hey, it's okay. I'm here," Alex murmured, his voice a low, comforting rumble in the silent room. He kept repeating those words like a mantra, his warm breath brushing against her hair. His presence was a rock amidst the churning sea of her terror, his strength something she could lean on, something she desperately needed.

Slowly, Leslie's sobs began to subside, her breath gradually evening out. She sagged against him, exhaustion creeping in.

"I've got you," he whispered, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "I promise, I'll protect you."

His words echoed in the dimly lit room, resonating with a sincerity that tugged at her heart. He continued to hold her and she wanted to stay awake forever, but soon fatigue tugged at her once more. Lulled by his steady heartbeat and warmed by his body heat, Leslie fell back asleep, safe and secure in his arms.

24

A subtle shift in the atmosphere jerked Alex out of his slumber. His instincts honed from years in dangerous situations, he was instantly awake. The room was dim, the only illumination coming from the slivers of moonlight piercing through the gaps in the curtains. In the silence, he heard the soft, measured breathing of Leslie beside him. Her breathing was different from sleep, shallow and irregular, and he knew she was awake too.

He lay still, waiting, his body taut. He felt a light touch, her fingers tracing the tattoos on his back. Her touch sent a jolt of electricity coursing through him, each point of contact sparking a flame that only seemed to grow.

Gradually, he turned to face her. Their eyes locked in the shadowy half-light and he saw the desire in her eyes, but it was overshadowed by uncertainty and fear.

Had she had another nightmare?

Unable to stop himself, he leaned in, his lips barely brushing hers in a whisper-soft kiss.

When she moaned and opened her mouth, he deepened the kiss, the taste of her lips an intoxicating elixir that both soothed his own turmoil and amplified it, a heady mix of guilt and longing.

Alex liked the trust in Leslie's sleepy gaze when he pulled away from their kiss. He wanted to be the safe place she could always fall. The strong arms that she could always run to.

Alex reached out and cupped Leslie's cheek. She leaned into his touch, and he wanted more of that.

Him touching. Her accepting.

Her yearning.

He ran his hand down her slender arm and she caught her breath. His caress continued, moving to the gentle curve of Leslie's hip, then her upper thigh, warm from the hours beneath the sheets. Her nightdress had ridden up and when he slipped his hand around her, it was to feel her bare ass. Alex bit back a groan at the image of fucking her from behind, her ass slapping back against his groin.

Leslie was so still as he briefly closed his eyes. It was obvious to him that she would give him whatever he wanted. That was what the trust in her gaze told him. And he wanted it. All of it. Everything she wanted and more. To play rough with her. To introduce her to everything she'd mentioned interest in at the sex club. To push her in a way he was coming to see more and more that she had the strength to be pushed. He might frighten her, but instinctively he knew that she wanted to face that fear and overcome it. A part of her soul sought out that darkness, that cliff's edge because of the very fact that she wanted to leap into it.

She just needed the lifeline that his arms would represent.

"Your breathing sounds funny," Leslie whispered.

"Does it?" he asked.

“Yes.”

“Your breathing sounds funny, too,” he said.

She smiled. “Of course it does. I want you, Alex. I want you so much.”

“Leslie—”

“When you texted me that you were coming to my house, you’d made up your mind about my offer, hadn’t you?”

He should back off. Lift his hands from her. Instead, his caresses grew firmer.

“Yes,” he said.

She nodded. “What was your decision.”

“Honestly? It was no.”

Disappointment filled her expression but not surprise. “I figured.” When she tried to pull away, Alex tightened his grip on her.