Chapter 6 - A Lesson in Confidence
That night, snow began to fall over the estate, blanketing the pine trees and stone pathways in soft, silent white.
Skyler sat in the grand library on the second floor, wrapped in a fleece throw blanket, staring into the roaring stone fireplace. The events of the afternoon had left her mind spinning in confusion.
Why was Dominic doing this? Why was a man who commanded fear across the entire eastern seaboard protecting a woman like her so fiercely?
The library door clicked open, and Dominic stepped inside. He had removed his jacket and holster, wearing only a dark silk shirt with the top buttons undone. He held two crystal snifters of amber bourbon.
He walked over and handed one to her.
"I don't usually drink bourbon," Skyler said softly, taking the heavy glass.
"It keeps the cold away," Dominic replied, sitting on the leather sofa beside her—close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from his broad shoulders.
They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, watching the fire crackle and pop.
"You surprised them today," Dominic murmured, breaking the silence.
"They hate me, Dominic," Skyler whispered, using his first name for the first time. "They think I'm taking up space where a powerful mob heiress should be sitting."
"Do you care what they think?"
Skyler looked down at the amber liquid in her glass. "My whole life, people have looked at me like I was an inconvenience. My family... when I was growing up, my father used to tell me that if I didn't lose weight, no man would ever want me, that I would spend my life serving other people just to earn my keep. When I got the job here as a maid, I thought... at least if I stay invisible, nobody will hurt me."
Dominic turned his head, his dark eyes searching her face with an intensity that made her breath hitch in her throat.
"Your father was a fool," Dominic said, his tone low and sharp with disgust. "And those men in the dining hall are blind."
"Dominic..."
"Look at me, Skyler," he commanded gently.
She turned her head to look at him.
Dominic reached out, his long fingers carefully tracing the curve of her jaw, stopping just beneath the pink scar on her cheek. His touch was incredibly soft, almost reverent, contrasting sharply with the terrifying reputation he carried.
"You think you take up too much space," Dominic whispered, leaning closer until his face was inches from hers. "The truth is, Skyler... this house was empty until you stepped into it. My mother was fading, my life was cold, and I was surrounded by snakes like Bianca who pretended to care while planning my destruction."
Skyler’s heart slammed against her ribs like a trapped bird.
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"You aren't invisible to me, Skyler," Dominic said, his thumb running over her bottom lip. "You are the only real thing in this entire place."
Before she could process his words, Dominic leaned in and pressed his lips against hers—a slow, deep, possessive kiss that filled her with a warmth stronger than any bourbon.
