Chapter 10 - The Master of the House
That evening, a grand fire crackled merrily in the hearth of the primary library, sending warm orange light dancing across the dark walnut walls and the polished leather furniture.
Outside, the snow continued to fall softly against the tall leaded windows, insulating the estate from the cold, noisy world beyond its gates.
I sat on the large velvet sofa, my bare feet tucked beneath me, wearing one of Dominic's soft cotton shirts over my leggings, holding a glass of aged red wine.
Dominic sat beside me, his long arm wrapped securely around my shoulders, his fingers lightly stroking my arm as we looked through a newly bound catalog of the estate's historical collection.
Marco walked into the library carrying a leather briefing document, stopping three steps from the sofa. He looked at Dominic, then looked at me, offering a respectful bow of his head.
"The perimeter sweeps are complete for the night, boss," Marco reported. "The security grid is operating at one hundred percent. And the legal transfers for the New York shipping terminals were finalized twenty minutes ago."
"Excellent work, Marco," Dominic said smoothly. "Has my cousin Julian settled into his new corporate exile in London?"
"He's complaining about the weather," Marco smirked faintly. "And Aunt Rosa has retired permanently to her villa in Tuscany."
"Let her stay there," Dominic said flatly. "She is no longer permitted on any Caruso property in North America."
"Understood, sir," Marco nodded. He glanced over at the fireplace hearth, where the heavy iron fireplace poker sat neatly inside its brass stand.
A small, amused smirk touched the security chief's face. "Will you be needing anything else tonight, Miss Bennett?"
I offered Marco a warm, bright smile. "No, thank you, Marco. The balance in the house is perfect tonight."
Marco chuckled under his breath, offered a short salute, and turned to exit the library, closing the heavy oak double doors softly behind him.
The room returned to its deep, luxurious quiet.
Dominic turned his head, looking down at me with a soft, beautiful smile that lit up his dark eyes. He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to my temple, his hand resting over mine where Elena's sapphire ring gleamed in the firelight.
"You know, Maya," Dominic whispered, his baritone voice thick with affection and warmth. "When I stepped through that side door two weeks ago in the rain, I thought I was coming home to an empty house filled with ghosts."
I turned my head, looking directly into his dark eyes, resting my hand against his cheek.
"And what did you find instead, Mr. Caruso?" I murmured softly.
May you like
Dominic leaned down, pressing his lips to mine in a long, breathtaking kiss that sealed our souls together for a lifetime.
"I found the master of my house," Dominic whispered against my lips as the snow fell softly outside, wrapping our world in golden, everlasting warmth.
