Masquerade by Dahlia Rose Page A

outdoor deck and fireplace-slash-grill thingy was your idea,” Tempest reminded him. But she felt herself melting in that dark, sexy green gaze of his. Dominic had the perfect bad boy look down to his scruffy five o’clock shadow and tousled, windswept hair. His wolf was more ominous, but no less beautiful with a pure black coat. She gave in with a sigh when he began to nuzzle her neck. “Fine, you can have some, which means I will need to leave a stack for Alex too.”
    “Thanks, sweetness,” Dominic said. “Did Alex say when he would be coming back?”
    “He said he would be in by tonight.” Tempest went around the kitchen table back to her cookie dough. “I put a roast in the oven for dinner. It’s his favorite meal.”
    Alex had been in Acadia for the past three days training the clan to fight. He called every night to tell her how much he missed her and to whisper a few dirty things in her ear. The bed felt empty without him. She had become accustomed to sleeping between two very sexy men.
    “Will I get my favorite meal when it’s my turn to sleep away from home?” Dominic drawled before biting into one of the finished cookies.
    “Dominic Cross, I have never seen a meal you did not call your favorite,” she said sternly.
    “That’s because your cooking is awesome.” He grinned. “You know what his coming home tonight means. We get to have our favorite dessert.” He smiled at her and winked.
    She felt heat pool between her legs at the thought. The three of them together were combustible. She couldn’t even explain the way they made her feel. They made love to her body with such passion and intensity that she was always left satisfied. She and Dominic had abstained from sex for the three days Alex was away as an experiment. She wanted to see if she desired one more than the other. It turned out she wanted and loved them both equally. Before, it had scared her to no end that she might cause a rift between them; they were closer than brothers. Thank God her other lover was coming home tonight. She missed the attention only the two of them could give her.
    “I’m going upstairs to shower. Wanna wash my back?” he teased.
    “Maybe after I get the rest of these cookies in the oven I’ll come wash off with you,” Tempest replied. “Oh, by the way, guess who called and asked if they were invited to the party.”
    “I don’t know. Who?” Dominic stopped at the kitchen door.
    “Lorna-Sue. She is trying to get an invite to the party because, you know, it wouldn’t be a party without her.” Tempest rolled her eyes and felt old irritation rise.
    Even though things were better in town, Lorna and Bubba were still a thorn in her side. Having the woman call for an invite was basically her conceding that she was nosy and wanted to see how they lived. Tempest had no doubt that if Lorna and Bubba entered their home, before the end of the night, rumors of whips and shackles and a den of iniquity would blanket the town of Cormina.
    Dominic watched her for a moment. He could always read her and knew that the past still affected her, especially after almost being raped at the hands of Bubba. He asked quietly, “What did you say?”
    “I said no, of course, but you know they are not above trying to crash it in costume,” she answered.
    “Honey, I can smell them a mile away—cheap perfume and beer.” Dominic smiled. “Don’t let it bother you. You told them no, and if they show up, I’ll eat them.”
    Tempest laughed. “Would you do that, really?”
    “For you, sweetheart, I would do anything,” he said in a serious tone. “You know I love you, right?”
    Dominic wasn’t one who let his emotions out very often. But with her, he had no problem letting her know how much he cared. Her rough, devilishly dark and handsome wolf had a soft spot just for her.
    She walked over to kiss him. “I know you do, and I love you too. Now go shower.”
    “Come with me,” he murmured. “Let’s get wet