The Billionaire's Claim: Redemption

“Was due to surprise and the fact that I didn’t have Tolyan with me. He wanted to come, but I vetoed the idea.” I don’t mention Andy’s pointless threat about how his parents couldn’t control him anymore. It’d only upset Dominic more.

Dominic seems to relax, but I can sense it’s mainly for my benefit. He isn’t really buying my explanation.

And I hate Andy more than I’ve ever hated him before for ruining what’s supposed to be a sweet moment between me and Dominic. We both admitted how we felt about each other. We should be toasting and dancing with joy, instead of eating in this tomb-like silence and awkwardness.

After helping Dominic clean up, I go to the studio to stare at the painting. The golden dragon looks a lot like Andy. Well, figures. I modeled the beast after him. My violent side wants to splatter blood all over the dragon, but the bigger, stronger side pulls me back. I pick up my brush and add another detail next to the knight. It used to bother me that there was an empty space next to the warrior, and suddenly I know exactly what needs to go there.

r /> Someone to fight by his side. Someone who can be equal in his courage and share his sense of justice.

My brush moves faster, more colors and shapes taking solid form. And it looks so right, so perfect. I know this is exactly how the painting’s supposed to turn out.

I’m almost done with the addition when I hear knocking. “Yes?” I say, my eyes still on the canvas.

Dominic walks in, then stops next to me. “That’s new.”

Tension radiates from him, lapping at me like waves. My skin prickles, and I consciously have to ease my jaw. I came here specifically to avoid tension.

“Dominic—”

“I drew a bath,” he says. “We should go in before the water gets cold.”

“I don’t need a bath.”

“It’ll help us relax.”

So he senses it too.

“Please?”

He knows I can’t refuse when he uses that dulcet voice to say “please.” I nod and leave the painting. There isn’t much left to go. The canvas is rather small anyway.

We help each other out of our clothes. We don’t speak, but the silence is no longer uncomfortable or awkward. It’s like we’ve simply transitioned to mutual support, in which we assist without judging or blaming ourselves for the past.

When we’re both nude, we sink into the huge tub. The water temperature’s perfect. Dominic pulls me until I’m sitting between his legs, my back pressed against his chest. His hard dick prods me. I trap it between our bodies and inhale the hot steam.

“You put some lavender oil in the water, didn’t you?”

“Uh-huh.” He gestures at the small purple blossoms floating on the warm water. “The actual herbs, too.”

“You’re going to smell like a girl,” I tease, tucking my head right under his chin.

I can feel him smile. “I’m going to smell like you.”

“Me?”

“You smell like vanilla and lavender. I get hard every time I get a whiff of it.”

“Catnip for Dominic.”

“Only if you’re wearing it. There’s something about your body chemistry that makes vanilla and lavender more potent than a bucket of Viagra.”

I laugh.

“It’s true.”

He cups water and pours it over my shoulders, washing me gently. The calluses on his palms feel nice against my skin. Sighing, I relax against him. It’s impossible not to when I’m in a hot bath with the love of my life and he’s running his hands over me, massaging little knots I didn’t know I had in my muscles.

“Are you going to give the new figure wings?” he asks.