Dressed in a pair of baggy black sweats and a matching tank, Dominic leaned against the wide, arching frame with a relaxed posture. His hair hung loosely around his face—strands damp from a recent shower—and the subtle scent of soap floated from him, carried on the warm air that blew from the vents.
“How long have you been standing there?”
“A while.” Pushing off the doorframe with a grin, Dominic crossed the room to join him on the sofa. “What are you doing in here?”
“Watching a movie.” His face flushed with heat, and he lifted his thumb to his mouth to gnaw at the nail.
While technically true, he knew that hadn’t been what the wolf was asking.
Long fingers encircled his wrist, and gentle pressure guided his hand away from his mouth. “Is something wrong?”
Unable to look his mate in the eye, he stared blankly at the television and shook his head.
Still cradling his wrist, Dominic reached out with his other hand and placed the tip of his index finger between Sammy’s eyebrows. “What’s on your mind?”
When he didn’t receive an answer, he drew his finger down the ridge of his nose and tapped the end. “Talk to me.”
Sighing, he shifted around on the cushions and forced himself to meet Dominic’s gaze. He’d never been very good at hiding his thoughts or emotions. Of course the wolf could see the stress written in the lines of his face. He could probably smell it on him too.
“Are there no updates on my mom?”
The corners of Dominic’s eyes tightened, a nearly imperceptible change that belied his calm exterior. “Not yet.”
“Could she still be in Chicago?” he asked, more out of desperation than any real hope.
“I have people searching the city, but it’s unlikely that she’s still there.” He gathered both of Sammy’s hands in his own and stroked his thumbs across the knuckles. “We have time. We’ll find her.”
“Are you sure about that?” He didn’t doubt the pack’s abilities, but he was quite literally running out of time. “She wrote the contract. Can’t she change it now? What if she decides—”
“Whoa,” Dominic interrupted, his voice ringing throughout the room. “Easy. That’s not going to happen.”
“But—”
Dominic cupped his cheek and slanted their mouths together.
It was surprisingly effective.
The thoughts roaring inside his head quieted to a gentle whisper. His muscles unknotted, and tension drained from his shoulders. Even breathing felt a little easier, and he exhaled on a breathy sigh as he leaned into the kiss.
Dominic kept the contact chaste and brief, but when he broke away, he didn’t go far. With his hand pressed to Sammy’s face, he leaned back enough to look into his eyes.
“That’s not going to happen,” he repeated. “Valerie can’t alter a binding magical contract. Not without agreement from the other person.”
Who happened to be dead. No chance of him being bribed or manipulated into changing his mind.
“You’re right.” Sammy relaxed back into the couch cushions with another sigh. “I’m sorry. I’m just…”
He trailed off, not sure how to finish that statement.
“Scared,” Dominic supplied. “You’re right to be, but you’re not alone this time.” Linking their fingers, he brought Sammy’s hand to his lips. “I won’t let her win,colibrí.”
Hummingbird?
It wasn’t a traditional endearment, or even a common one. He liked that. Not only was it special, but coming from Dominic, it made him feel all warm and floaty inside.
“I know.” He went readily when Dominic urged him closer, nestling against his side. “I just feel like I should be doing more.” Reaching out, he brushed his fingertips over his mate’s forearm, tracing the lines of the tattoos there. “I want to help, but I don’t know how.”
“If you have something that belonged to your mom,” Dominic suggested. “That would help me track her.”