Submitting to my Ex Uncle-Chapter 197

Music Recommendation: Iris by The Goo Goo Dolls.

......

The penthouse was quiet when they walked in. It carried the hum of the city through the glass walls, and the dim glow of skyscrapers blinking in the distance.

Celeste moved first, slipping off her shoes at the door. Her body still carried the weight of what she’d seen, though her steps were steady, her knees trembled.

Dominic let her go ahead. His presence behind her was steady, and not pressing, but she could feel him there.

The dining room lights glowed warmly when she reached it. The table was already set, and their dinner was waiting as though nothing dark had happened hours ago.

Silver cutlery glinted faintly, and steam curled from the bowls on the table. It felt strange, sitting down to food after screams had filled her ears.

Celeste sat with her hands resting lightly on her lap. Dominic took the seat across from her. He leaned back first, his eyes sweeping over her.

She didn’t pick up her fork right away. She could feel his gaze.

Dominic’s attention never strayed from the woman seated across from him. He leaned back in his chair, with his long fingers curled loosely around the stem of his glass, though he hadn’t touched the wine.

Celeste finally picked up her fork, and began to eat.

She was eating slowly. Too slowly, and he couldn’t look away. She always did this when bothered, cutting food into careful pieces, and pausing between bites as though she was thinking more than tasting. And if he didn’t intervene, she would end up pushing the plate away half-full.

Not tonight.

Dominic reached forward. His hand closed over hers, stilling the fork midair. She blinked, caught in surprise, as his fingers brushed hers, warm and deliberate.

He didn’t pull away. Instead, he eased the fork from her grip and in that low, steady tone that made everything sound final, he said to her. "I’ll feed you."

Her brows drew together. A little spark shone again in her eyes. "Dominic... I can feed myself."

"I know." He smirked faintly, as though amused by the protest. "But I’d rather do it."

The words weren’t up for debate. They were soft but unyielding. He guided the fork into her hand again. Not to give it back, but to hold it properly.

Celeste’s lips parted, a protest hovering, but she caught the small tug at his mouth. She saw the faint curve of a smile that he didn’t give freely to anyone but her. That was what disarmed her. That little smile disarms her more than his insistence.

"You’re not being fair to me most times." she whispered, half-exasperated, and half-breathless.

"You’re the love of my life." His reply was immediate. "If you think I am not being fair to you, that’s because you’re stubborn."

The corner of her mouth twitched despite herself. He lifted the fork, bringing it toward her. For a second she hesitated, then leaned forward and took the bite. She chewed slowly. Her lashes lowered, though she could feel his eyes on her the entire time.

"You stare too much," she murmured.

"I don’t stare enough."

Her laugh broke, soft and sudden, filling the warm quiet of the penthouse. It rippled through her, loosening something tight in her chest. She shook her head, looking at him with mock disbelief. "You actually said that out loud?"

Dominic didn’t flinch. He leaned back, fed her another bite, and allowed the smallest smirk to cross his lips. "I did."

"You’ve got sauce on your lip." He added, his brows furrowing like it was a big deal.

Her hand moved quickly to wipe it, but he shook his head. "Not there."

Her brows furrowed. "Then where?"

Dominic leaned forward, brushing his thumb slowly over the corner of her mouth. Then he leaned further, and kissed her softly right after.

"Here," he murmured against her lips.

The laugh escaped her again when he leaned away, fuller this time, and bubbling up until it spilled freely. Her shoulders shook with it.

Dominic laughed too.

It came from his chest, rolling low, and tugging at the corners of his mouth until even his eyes betrayed him. They crinkled softly at the edges. It was a rare sight. The kind only Celeste had ever pulled from him.

She stopped mid-laugh, her breath catching as she watched him. There he was. The Dominic Cross she knew. His eyes were lit and sparkling, with his mouth curved in a laugh that was so utterly human.

Celeste shook her head again, smiling, her voice breathless. "You know, if anyone else saw you like this, they wouldn’t believe it." She said, remembering the warehouse.

"Good." He fed her another bite, his eyes gleaming. "Let’s keep it that way."

The smirk faded as he watched her chew. He fed her another bite, with his thumb brushing the back of her hand where it rested on the table. "Eat," he said softly.

She obeyed, but the question had already risen in her chest, and it pressed harder with each bite he fed her. Finally she set the fork down.

"Dominic?"

He hummed in response. His eyes were softly on her.

"Do you... like your world?" she asked quietly. "The blood, the power, and the way people look at you like you’re not human? Don’t you ever get tired of it? Of the discomfort you cause people?"

The question lingered between them, heavier than the silence.

Dominic leaned back slowly. He didn’t look away from her. His thumb rubbed over her knuckles once, twice. "Do I make you uncomfortable?"

Her lips parted, but she shook her head almost immediately. "No."

"Then it doesn’t matter," he said. His voice was steady, but not cold. More like stating a truth he had already made peace with.

Celeste frowned, searching his face. "It should matter," she whispered.

He tilted his head, watching her, then finally, he spoke again, his tone low and even. "If I ever get tired of the blood, Celeste... that will be the day I’m ready to sell my soul, and everyone else’s with it."

Her breath caught. She stared at him across the table. His words were heavy, but his gaze remained steady.

Dominic’s eyes softened just a fraction as he leaned forward again, bringing the fork back to her lips. "But until that day," he murmured, "I won’t apologize for what keeps us safe."

Celeste swallowed, not just the food, but the weight of his confession.

He held her gaze as she chewed. "I won’t ask you to understand it," he added, quieter now. "I just want you to know that with you, I’m not that man. With you, I’m just Dominic."

The ache in her chest loosened. She reached out across the table, curling her fingers over his. "I know."