WICKED ✓

11

Stella

"Just wanted to let you know that I just got out of the shower ;)"

Dominic's text read and I immediately start blushing as I tilt my phone screen down, eventually sliding it into the back pocket of my jeans without responding. I want to have sex with Dominic. He seems to want to have sex with me. I remember not too long ago when I was a patient person.

"What's with the red face?" Sidney asks me from his spot across the counter from where I sit. I'd been so busy sorting through my inappropriate thoughts that I hadn't realized my little brother taking inventory of my expression. I quickly school my face and raise a falsely surprised eyebrow.

"I'm always red, what are you talking about?"

"Not this red." He points at my face and then his eyes dart to something behind my back.

"It's just hot in here Sid. I'm gonna go turn the heat down a bit." I say, pulling my red Christmas sweater away from my neck in an attempt to convince him that I believe the own words coming out of my mouth. I don't. If anything, it's slightly chilly in the house with my lack of socks and the fire in the fireplace dwindling. Adding another log, I freeze when a pair of large hands mold to my hips as I'm bent over, relaxing when Dominic's voice breaks through the commotion of the girls playing together in the other room.

"I lied. I got out of the shower hours ago. They've been taking a little longer than usual so I had to be careful." He growls into my ear, squeezing my hips and brushing the back of my neck with his lips before moving an appropriate distance away from my body while in my family's home.

"You must be Dominic!" My dad exclaims excitedly, dispelling all my thoughts and approaching my boyfriend with an outstretched hand. "I'm Paul. So great to meet you. Stella doesn't usually bring friends around, so we're glad to have you for the holiday." He says, friendly as ever.

"Thank you for having me, sir. You have a lovely home and an even lovelier family from what I've seen in pictures. I just got here, so Stella'll have to help me do the rounds." Dominic says almost sheepishly, raising a hand to brush over his head only to remember that it's covered by a baby blue beanie. I find it almost endearing that he obviously wants to appear less intimidating, so I don't say a word about it.

"I like that color on you." I say as soon as my dad walks away and Dom turns to face me.

"It looks better on you." He says, smiling crookedly and staring into my eyes. My head tilts to the side in confusion and he bites his bottom lip before speaking.

"Your eyes, babygirl." Is all he needs to say for me to realize that he close the color because it reminded him of my eyes. Swoon.

"Well then. Let's introduce you to the munchkins." I lead him into the front room where Sabine's toys are kept and we take in the scene of all three of my siblings, playing kitchen together. "Guys. This is my friend Dominic." I introduce and all of their eyes dart to the hulking figure that is my boyfriend. I can tell that their eyes are lingering on the scar over his eye, but they all smile and stand up. Sabine uses my legs as a shield, hugging me so tightly that I almost fall over, and Sidney holds out a hand to shake, doing a poor job of intimidating the grown man. Soleil smiles shily but introduces herself without making eye contact.

With a single glance to me, Dominic speaks up and wins over the room with six words. "So what is that amazing smell?" 

Dad, Sidney, and I stay back to clean up the kitchen and do the dishes while Dominic, Soleil, and Sabine play in the front room. I can hear girlish giggling and playful shouting, making the smile on my face become permanent.

"He's good with the girls." My dad remarks as I hand him a clean dish to dry. I nod, biting my lips to stop myself from grinning.

"He said he'd teach me self-defense!" Sidney exclaims excitedly, keeping his voice hushed, probably so that Dominic can't hear his eagerness from the other room. I shake my head, unable to stop the smile from taking over my face.

"That's so great Sid. Maybe you two could get together sometime this week? Before school starts back up." I offer and he nods his head with wide blue eyes identical to my own. I notice his head darting in the direction of the laughter and I tell him that he can go, so without even a look back, he thanks me and runs off.

"I take that back. I think he'd be hard-pressed to find a soul who doesn't mesh well with him. There's a reason you didn't bring Payton around sweetheart." My dad says softly and I nod with a small smile, the only sadness I feel about that situation now is that I wasted so much time on him. But the past is the past, and my future is in the other room integrating with my family.

"You go on. I've got the rest." He says and I kiss him on the cheek, thanking him before joining the rest of the most important people in my life.