Chapter 37

Elena's POV

He didn't answer me with words. Instead, his mouth found mine, his kiss surprisingly gentle given the fury I'd witnessed earlier. His hands traveled over my body, as if trying to erase the violation with his own caress. His body pressed against mine, his arousal evident through the thin fabric separating us.

For a moment, I found myself responding, my body reacting on instinct to his familiar touch. But then memories of Elder Ambrose's cold hands flashed through my mind. I jerked away sharply, pushing against Dominic's chest.

"I can't," I whispered, wrapping his jacket tighter around my trembling body. "Not... not now. Not after what just happened."

Dominic froze, then slowly pulled back. "Of course," he said after a moment, his voice carefully controlled. "I shouldn't have... that was inappropriate."

The fact that he backed off immediately, without argument or pressure, touched something deep inside me. The Dominic I'd first met—cold, demanding, treating me like property—would never have shown such restraint.

He shifted back to the driver's seat and restarted the car. "I'm taking you to my penthouse. You need to rest."

I didn't argue. The thought of returning to my stepmother's house was unbearable, and I was too exhausted to come up with alternatives.

When we arrived at his building, he gesturing toward a hallway, "The bathroom is through there. You'll find everything you need. Call if you need anything."

The slight quirk of his eyebrow made it clear he remembered what had happened the last time I'd used his shower. Heat flooded my cheeks as images from that night flashed through my mind

"I'll be fine," I said quickly, retreating toward the bathroom.

As I sank into the hot water, the events of the night finally caught up with me. My body ached from struggling against Elder Ambrose, and faint bruises were already forming where he'd gripped my wrists. I scrubbed myself almost raw, desperate to remove any lingering trace of his touch from my skin.

When I finished showering and returned to the top floor apartment, the smell of food hit me.

Dominic stood at the stove, stirring something in a pot.

"You cook?" I couldn't hide my surprise.

He glanced over his shoulder. "When necessary. Sit. You need to eat."

As I settled at the kitchen island, I noticed he was on the phone, his voice low and controlled.

"I want him gone, Felix. Completely. And I want it done tonight." A pause. "I don't care about the diplomatic complications. He touched what's mine." Another pause. "Then call my grandfather. He knows how to handle the Blood Court."

*Blood Court?* The term sent a chill down my spine. Elder Ambrose had reacted with terror when he realized Dominic wasn't human. What kind of creature could frighten a vampire?

"What are you?" The question slipped out before I could stop it.

Dominic stilled, then turned with a carefully neutral expression. "You should try this. It's an old family recipe—good for restoring strength after... difficult experiences."

The flavor was rich and comforting, warming me from the inside out. By the time I finished, I felt more grounded.

"I should go back," I said, setting down my spoon. "My father needs me."

"Your father is safe for tonight. I've made arrangements," he replied.

"That's not your decision to make," I protested.

"And how well have you been able to keep that promise?" Dominic challenged. "You're exhausted, Elena. You're trying to be a full-time caregiver while attending classes and working multiple jobs. It's not sustainable."

His assessment was painfully accurate. Despite my best efforts, I was failing on all fronts.

"What's your solution, then?"

"Move in with me," he said simply. "Your father can have the best private nurses, the best medical care. You can focus on your studies without worrying about his safety."

"In exchange for what?"

"You know what I want, Elena."

"Sex," I said flatly. "You want me back in your bed."

"I want you back, period," he corrected. "But yes, I want that too."

Part of me longed to say yes immediately. The prospect of proper care for my father was almost too tempting to resist. But I couldn't sacrifice my self-respect.

"A new arrangement," I suggested. "My father gets the care he needs. I share your bed. But on my terms, not as your pet or your property. As an equal."

He studied me for a long moment, then nodded. "Agreed."

Two weeks later, we'd settled into a routine. My father occupied a suite in Dominic's penthouse, attended by skilled nurses. I continued my classes, no longer exhausted from juggling caregiving and studying.

True to our agreement, Dominic and I shared increasingly intense physical encounters. But I made a point of returning to the guest room afterward, maintaining that separation, reminding both of us that this was still fundamentally a transaction, not a romance.

A month later, Dominic informed me we needed to attend his grandfather's birthday celebration. Magnus Lucchesi was surprisingly warm and charismatic, treating me with grandfatherly affection I'd never experienced.

After dinner, Magnus invited me for a walk through the gardens. The night air was cool and fragrant with blooming flowers as we strolled along the illuminated paths.

"My dear," Magnus said warmly, patting my hand where it rested on his arm, "I've been watching you all evening. You have a kind heart. I can see why my grandson is so taken with you."

I felt a blush creep up my cheeks. "That's very kind of you to say, sir."

"Magnus, please," he corrected gently. "No need for formalities in this family."

Something in the way he said "family" made my heart catch.

"You've been good for Dominic," he continued, guiding me toward a stone bench beside a small fountain. "He smiles more now. Did you know that?"

"I hadn't noticed," I admitted.

Magnus chuckled. "Of course not. He probably keeps that stern face around you. Stubborn, just like his father was." His expression softened. "You're only the second young woman Dominic has ever brought home to meet me. That means something significant, whether he admits it or not."

"It does?" I asked, surprised by this revelation.

"My grandson guards his heart carefully," Magnus explained. "Has been ever since he was betrayed."

"You mean by Lyra," I said, the name slipping out before I could stop it.

Magnus looked surprised. "He told you about her?"

"Not exactly," I admitted. "I overheard things."

"Lyra Moonstone nearly destroyed him," Magnus sighed. "She was his first love. Then she left him for a rival's son, claiming she'd only been with him for the prestige and wealth." He studied my face carefully. "Now she's marrying Daniel Blackclaw next month."

Despite my carefully cultivated indifference, I felt a sharp sting of jealousy. The woman who had held Dominic's heart. The woman whose betrayal had turned him into the cold, controlling man I'd first met.

The woman who wasn't me.