Time...

Chapter 5

           

Dominic had missed Raven more than he could have ever thought possible.  There was so much he wanted to tell her, so much he felt that he needed to say.  But he had never been good with words.  Dom pulled away from Raven, capturing her face in his hands and just looked at her.
Raven smiled at Dominic.  She knew he wanted to say something to her, she could feel it in him. 
She was now sitting, straddling Dom's lap.  As Dom sat there, so many questions racing through his mind looking at her, but he was sure of a few things. 

The first came out of his mouth without hesitation, "I missed you Raven." 
"I know Dom.  I missed you too."
Raven knew how hard it was sometimes for Dom to put his feelings into words.  She had learned a long time ago if you gave him enough time, sooner or later he would find the right words. Raven also knew that those four words spoken to her looking into her eyes went deep. 
"I'm sorry.  I'll never leave you again Dominic."  Raven closed her eyes and a tear slipped past her defenses and Dominic brushed it away with his thumb.  She leaned into Dom, resting her head against his neck taking a deep breath of his masculine scent.

Dom's hands slid down Raven's back to the top of her jeans, he needed more contact. More proof that this wasn't a dream.  He found the hem of her shirt and slipped his hands underneath the thin material making contact with her skin. He moved his hands upward along her spine and felt the raised, smooth skin there.  Dom felt Raven stiffen as he touched the scar and followed it up stopping in between her shoulder blades. 
"Raven?"  Dom questioned. 
"When I was attacked the last time...  He cut me; I guess that he hoped it would make me a sitting duck."
Dominic felt her shiver a little as she told him about her newest scar.  He realized how close he had come to really losing her.  There was no way he was ever going to let her go again.  So many emotions ran through him.  He didn't know how he had even let her go the first time.  Dom scanned the house quickly from his position on the couch looking for anything that looked like it might be her bedroom or lead him there.  His eyes locked on the doorway to the right. 

Dominic stood, holding Raven to him.  He carried her toward that doorway.  Raven crossed her ankles behind Dom's back and put her arms around his neck. She loved how small she felt when Dom carried her. 
"Dom?"  She smiled at him with her question, lifting her head to look at his face.
"Well, you know that I've never been good with words.  So, I'm going to just show you."  Dom gave Raven a playful smile as he set her in the middle of her bed making her bounce a little.

Dominic crawled playfully toward Raven and they were both startled when his phone rang.  Raven couldn't help but laugh as Dominic mumbled something about putting the phone on vibrate and she was also sure that he was cursing.
"Yes Mia.  Yes, I'm here with her now.  No Mia, I won't be home tonight.  You should know that I also don't plan on being around tomorrow.  Ok, tomorrow night then; I'll drag her kicking and screaming."  Dom smiled and winked at Raven. 
"Mia, don't get too carried away with all of this.  Ok, whatever."  Dom shut up again as Mia started rambling about plans she was obviously making for tomorrow night.  Raven decided that it was a good time to help him end the conversation. She had waited too long to have him alone like this again.

She crawled forward and softly kissed the corner of his mouth making sure she had his full attention.   As soon as she was sure his eyes were fixed on her, she lifted her shirt up and over her head.  Once it was off she threw it into the laundry basket in the corner of the room.  Raven stood and pulled Dominic to his feet as well.  As soon as her hands reached for his belt Dom decided he didn't care about what Mia was planning. 
"Look Mia, I have to go, see you tomorrow night."  And he abruptly hung up the phone without even saying goodbye.  This time he turned the phone  ringer off and threw it into a corner close to the door.  His shirt followed closely behind.