Chapter 16: Morning After, Tangled Hearts
1282 Words
The golden light of dawn crept through the tall glass windows of Dominic’s penthouse, casting a warm glow over the rumpled sheets and the two entangled bodies lying in bed. Elena stirred first, her lashes fluttering as consciousness slowly pulled her from the sweetest kind of sleep—a sleep wrapped in the arms of the man she had dreamed about, longed for, and now, broken all the rules to be with.
Her head rested against Dominic’s bare chest, the steady thump of his heartbeat lulling her. One of his arms was slung over her waist, holding her close in a way that made her feel safe. Protected. Wanted.
She closed her eyes again, just for a moment, savoring the heat of his skin, the way his scent clung to the sheets. But reality whispered its cruel reminder: she was still hiding the truth. She had slept with her boss—again—and worse, she was still keeping her identity a secret. He didn’t know who she really was. Not the woman from last night… but the girl from his past.
And sooner or later, that truth would come crashing down on them both.
Dominic shifted beneath her, his arm tightening slightly before he murmured in a gravelly, sleep-rough voice, “Morning.”
Elena smiled against his chest. “Morning.”
His fingers moved lazily over her back. “I thought it was a dream.”
She tilted her head up to look at him. His hair was tousled, lips still swollen from their kisses, and those icy blue eyes… so open, so vulnerable in the morning light.
“A good dream?” she teased gently.
“The kind I never want to wake up from.”
She felt her heart twist. How could something so right feel so wrong?
Dominic cupped her cheek, brushing his thumb across her skin. “You’re full of secrets,” he said softly.
She froze. “What do you mean?”
He hesitated. “Last night… there were moments where I swore I’d seen you before. Not just as my assistant. Something deeper. Like I knew you.”
Her lips parted, but she couldn’t speak. Couldn’t lie. Couldn’t tell the truth.
“Déjà vu?” she whispered.
“Maybe,” he said, eyes narrowing slightly as he studied her. “Or maybe it’s something else. Something I can’t explain.”
She forced a small smile, trying to pull herself together. “You’re probably just overthinking.”
Dominic wasn’t convinced. But he didn’t push. Instead, he leaned in and kissed her forehead. “Whatever it is… it doesn’t change how I feel about you right now.”
That only made it worse.
He stood from the bed, stretching, completely unashamed of his nakedness. Elena looked away quickly, heat rising in her cheeks as she reached for the sheet.
Dominic smirked. “You don’t need to be shy now, Elena. After last night…”
“Still,” she mumbled, clutching the fabric to her chest.
He chuckled and walked to the closet, grabbing a pair of joggers. “Hungry?”
“A little,” she admitted, still unsure of where this morning was headed. Were they about to pretend it never happened? Were they something now? Or still nothing?
As he headed to the kitchen, Elena slipped out of bed and gathered her clothes, pulling them on slowly. Her mind raced with questions and regrets. She couldn’t stay here too long—things would only get more complicated.
Dominic was already at the stove, cracking eggs and humming softly to himself. The image of him barefoot, shirtless, and making breakfast was disarming. It was so… normal. So domestic. So dangerous to her heart.
She walked into the kitchen cautiously. “You cook?”
“I try,” he said, flashing her a smile. “It’s my guilty pleasure. That, and red wine.”
“Very refined of you.”
He glanced at her. “You look like you’re trying to run away.”
She blinked. “What?”
“You’ve got that look,” he said, turning back to the pan. “Like you’re already regretting this.”
“I’m not,” she said quickly. Too quickly.
He set the spatula down and turned toward her. “Then what is it? Talk to me.”
She hesitated. “This... us... it's complicated, Dominic. You're my boss. This could get messy.”
He nodded. “It could. But I don't want to pretend last night didn’t happen. And I definitely don’t want this to be a one-time thing.”
Her heart leapt and sank at the same time. “I don’t either,” she admitted. “But I’m scared.”
“Of what?” he asked gently.
“Of getting in too deep. Of what happens when you find out…” She stopped herself.
“When I find out what?”
She shook her head. “Nothing. It’s not important.”
But he didn’t let it go. “Elena. If there’s something I should know…”
She backed away, her hands trembling slightly. “I need to go.”
“Elena—”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, grabbing her purse and heading for the door. “I just… I need some space to think.”
He didn’t stop her. And that hurt more than she expected.
---
The elevator doors closed, and Elena leaned against the wall, her chest rising and falling with shaky breaths. She was spiraling. Last night had been magical, intoxicating, but now she was lost in the aftermath. Every secret she kept felt like a ticking time bomb.
When she stepped out onto the sidewalk, the city air hit her like a slap. She pulled out her phone and called the one person who could help her think straight.
“Maya,” she said when her best friend answered, “I need to talk. Urgently.”
---
Thirty minutes later, she was sitting across from Maya at their favorite café, nursing a large iced coffee and trying not to cry.
“You slept with him again?” Maya hissed, eyes wide.
Elena groaned. “Keep your voice down!”
Maya leaned in. “Girl, you’re driving me crazy. I told you not to fall for him, and now you’re telling me you’re in love?”
“I never said love.”
“Fine. You’re emotionally attached. Same thing.”
Elena buried her face in her hands. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. I just… he makes me feel things. Real things. I’ve never had that before.”
Maya softened. “I know. But babe, this whole ‘I saved him when we were kids and he doesn’t remember you’ secret is going to blow up in your face if you don’t tell him soon.”
“I know,” Elena whispered. “I saw the scar last night. It is him, Maya. I’m sure of it.”
Maya reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “Then tell him.”
“I’m scared.”
“What’s scarier—losing him because you told the truth? Or losing him when he finds out you lied?”
That question haunted her for the rest of the day.
---
Back at work, everything felt off. Dominic wasn’t in the office. She didn’t know whether to be relieved or disappointed. Her phone buzzed, and her heart jumped when she saw his name.
Dominic:
You left in a rush. I hope you're okay. I'm giving you space, but I don't want to lose you. Call me when you're ready to talk.
She stared at the screen, her emotions tangled in knots.
She wasn’t ready.
- Writer
