I like to think I'm over him by now – he'll always have a place in my thoughts, after all, he was my first. But since then, I've become a different woman, and when I think of him these days, the pangs of pain in my chest are easier to ignore each time.
I exchange some final words with the construction worker, whose team is working on the electronics today. By the evening, he promises the internet and TV should be fully functioning.
Pleased with the conversation, I nod and turn to leave. I end up catching my reflection in the ornate full-length mirror which adorns one wall of the living room. My eyes check to see if the construction worker is gone, then I step in front of the mirror. My gaze scrutinizes the reflection in the silver glass.
I don't see a kid anymore, and truth be told, that girl has been gone for a long time. Now I see a young woman, dressed in a prim-and-proper pencil skirt and blouse with high heels. My red hair is in shiny waves around my face, a nice break from the usual chignon. My freckles are covered by expensive foundation, my suntanned skin gone in favor of natural paleness.
I look like a high-class prostitute, I think guiltily. There's something about the image, something about my face that distorts the look I have going on. It might be the cold expression, or perhaps it's the glint in my eyes which I'm never quite able to hide.
Sighing, I smooth down my skirt and turn to leave the room, when a deep, booming voice interrupts my daydream. I land back in reality with a crash.
"Hello."
I would recognize that voice anywhere. And I fucking hate that.
I make myself stay calm, force my fingers to stop shaking. Slowly, I raise my gaze to the owner of the voice, my eyes scrutinizing his appearance just like they did my own a moment ago.
Dom looks pretty much the same as he did all those years ago. Tall, imposing – even when I'm in my Louboutins. He's wearing the same smirk he always did, and a faded tee and jeans.
The ink that covers every inch of him is peeking out from his sleeves, making my eyes travel over his skin.
And just like that, it's as if no time has passed at all. I look into his eyes, my gaze imploring, trying to see how he will react to my new appearance.
But he's always been hard to read, as opposed to me – I've been an open book for as long as I can remember, and I've come to terms with it.
"Hi," I reply, proud of my own voice for not being shaky and unsure.
His eyes are devouring me, and I know he's stripping me naked in his mind. I don't cross my arms defensively in front of my body, like the teenage me would have done. Instead, I give him a hard look, letting him know I'm well aware of what he's doing.
And he grins at me.
"Good to see you," he says, and his voice, as opposed to mine, is a little unsure, the sentence sounding more like a question.
"Likewise," I reply formally. "Hope you'll find the guest house to your liking."
He steps closer to me all of a sudden, the suitcase he'd been holding in his hand hitting the floor with a heavy thud. His hand touches my arm, but I move away, trying to keep my composure intact.
"Cassidy," he groans, and it's fucking torture to hear my name on those lips I had craved so much. Has it been four years? It feels like just yesterday since I'd last kissed him.
And I still remember how he tastes – from his mouth, to his thick, throbbing cock.
"Come closer," he orders me, and an internal battle takes place in my mind. I realize he will have the same impact on me if I let him.
"No," I protest, and he pulls on my hand roughly, his motion so greedy, like he can't stand another moment of us being apart. "Let go," I warn him.
"No," he growls. "Not this time."
"Dom!" an excited voice interrupts us, and we jump apart like we've been caught doing something bad. I look away, my expression full of guilt.
A tall figure strolls through the room confidently. I'm so scared of looking at Dom, so afraid of his reaction, I'd rather keep my gaze focused on the carpet as my fiancé slaps him on the back.
"So good to see you, man," Adrian laughs, giving him a good-natured poke. "It's been absolute ages – we're so glad you came."
He establishes his dominance, wrapping a protective arm around my shoulders. He gives Dom a friendly yet challenging look. As nice as his greeting was – and I have no doubt he is glad to see Dom – Adrian is making it clear I'm his now.