Submitting to my Ex Uncle Chapter 41

"Let’s go inside," Celeste said with a soft laugh, rembering they still stood outside. "Forgive my manners."

Dominic chuckled and slipped his arm gently around her waist. The cold of the night didn’t even dare to touch her now. With his warmth beside her, the tension that had wrapped around her all week started to unravel.

They walked into the small but cozy apartnt she called ho, and Dominic looked around briefly. His eyes lingered on the soft lights and the blanket tossed over the armrest.

It slled like her—warm vanilla and maybe a trace of rose. It grounded him in a way he hadn’t realized he needed.

"I want to take you sowhere," he said, turning to face her.

Celeste tilted her head, curiosity piqued. "Where?"

He gave a faint smile, the kind that made her chest feel funny. "Just trust . Bring your coat."

She hesitated for a second. But it was Dominic, and sothing about his voice nudged her into nodding. She grabbed her coat and followed him out.

They walked down to where his car waited. He opened the door for her like it was second nature. The ride was mostly quiet, but not heavy.

Celeste kept sneaking glances at him while the city lights danced over his profile. There was sothing unreadable in his face. He always said nothing, but so much.

After nearly forty minutes, they turned off the main road. Celeste’s breath caught when she saw the wide pier ahead—and the massive yacht, lit from within like a dream.

"You have a yacht?" she blinked.

Dominic looked over at her, amused. "Would it sound better if I said it belonged to the company?"

"No," she laughed. "It would sound like you’re trying to sound less rich, and failing."

He helped her out of the car and took her hand as they boarded. The wood of the deck was smooth beneath her boots, the sea stretching beyond them like liquid night. The wind teased strands of her hair across her face.

"I figured we could use so distance from the world," he said softly.

Celeste followed him inside, where a warm golden glow lit up the lounge. Plush seats, a bar, and soft jazz playing in the background. It was so unreal.

"I don’t even know how to react right now," she murmured.

"Just be here with ," he said.

"This is insane," Celeste breathed, holding the railing. "It’s beautiful."

Dominic stood beside her. "You’re beautiful."

She turned to him, heart skipping. "Don’t start." She smiled.

He said nothing, just grinned, the kind that lit up the side of his face she rarely got to see. Mischievous. Boyish.

Dominic tucked her hand beneath his arm and led her forward. The dock lights shimred like fairy dust across the water’s surface. Everything slled of sea and luxury.

Celeste smiled again. "You’re unbelievable."

"I’ll take that."

"Don’t close your eyes," he murmured. He stared ahead, expectations all over his expression.

This was Celeste’s first ti to see him expecting sothing. He looked so damn serious.

"Why would I?"

He pointed. "Look."

She imdiately turned, following his hand.

The sky stretched endlessly. The stars turned into freckles on a black velvet canvas, glittering like quiet secrets. Just at the far end of the sky, over the water, a soft green shimr hung in the distance.

It wasn’t the northern lights. But it looked close enough. This was different. It was ethereal. Pale. And looked like it was the edge of another world.

"What is that?"

"It happens once in a while. The reflection of plankton or sothing weird in the clouds." He breathed. "It was my dad’s favorite night. I never miss it,"

"It’s stunning," she breathed.

He looked at her instead.

"So are you."

She turned, her eyes catching his. He didn’t smile this ti. He looked so sincere after saying what he said.

They stood there in silence. The hum of the sea rocking the boat was the only thing that made a sound.

He stepped closer.

"I was going to ask you what your favorite flower is," Dominic said suddenly. "But I think you’d say sothing too poetic. Like daffodils?"

"Wrong," she said, a quiet grin slipping in. "Tulips. White." She felt like she just achieved sothing to outsmart Dominic.

Dominic nodded.

"And what would you say your favorite flower is?" She threw the sudden question back at him.

He raised a brow at her. "I’m not allowed to like flowers."

Celeste smiled. The wind ssed with her hair. "You absolutely are."

He raised a brow again, as if not believing her. "Then sunflowers. They look like they stare back."

She laughed. "Of course. The most dramatic reply." She turned back to the sea.

"So you admit I have taste."

She shook her head. Her hair blew with the breeze again, brushing his cheek. Dominic leaned closer, and lowered his voice like it was a secret.

"If you were a dessert, what would you be?"

"Why are you like this?" she said through her laugh, wondering how she never imagined him having this side of him.

"Answer."

She wrinkled her nose, thinking. "Strawberry shortcake. Sothing soft."

"I was going to say tiramisu. Complex yet sweet," he answered before she’d throw the question back at him.

She turned to him, her voice dropping playfully. "You think too hard."

"I don’t even notice it," Dominic chuckled.

He watched her. Celeste raised her both hands, and cupped his face. Her thumb brushed against his lips, but she didn’t kiss him. Not yet.

The wind tangled in her hair, and the stars caught in her eyes. He studied every inch of her like it was sacred.

"I want to know all the little things about you," he said.

"Like what?" Celeste murmured, staring into his eyes.

"Like... the kind of silence you like. Do you prefer morning silence, when the world hasn’t woken up yet, or night silence, when everything has gone to sleep?"

Her lips parted in surprise. She didn’t expect questions like these. She tilted her head. "Morning. There’s hope in the quiet."

He smiled. "Sounds like you." He stepped forward, and wrapped his arm around her waist. She still had her soft hands cupping his face.

"And you?"

"Night."

"Of course."

"Not for the reason you think," he added quickly. "Night is honest. People hide less in the dark."

She didn’t reply. But the way she looked at him—

That was enough.

He let his other arm find her waist. Gently. She didn’t flinch. She leaned closer to him instead.

"If you had to run away," he asked quietly, "anywhere in the world, where would you go?"

She turned slightly.m, stared at the sea and back at him. "Run away from what?"

"Anything. Everything."

She thought. "Greece. Sowhere with white rooftops and blue water. I’d wear linen dresses and talk to strangers with stories."

"You painted that too easily."

"I’ve thought about it."

He lowered his voice. "If I asked you to run away with , would you?"

Celeste smiled, but her eyes held sothing deeper. "Ask better questions, Dominic."

He breathed a laugh. "Fine. Would you rather eat nothing but pasta for the rest of your life, or never taste chocolate again?"

"Easy. Pasta."

"You monster."

"You asked." She laughed freely.

She looked up at him, face glowing with wind and starlight. "Your turn."

"Ask away."

"What scares you?"

He hesitated. The playfulness lted off his face imdiately.

"So many things," he murmured. "But most importantly, losing sothing before I get to understand it."

Her brows lifted.

"Like you," he added, gently.

She swallowed.

He cupped her cheek then, thumb grazing the curve of her jaw. "Celeste. I know I co with a lot. I know I’m not the easiest person. But this—"

He pulled her just a little closer.

"This is the softest I’ve ever been. You did that."

She leaned into his palm. Her breath shook. She took her hands off his face, and searched his eyes.

He kissed her forehead. The kiss was slow and gentle, but sure.

"It’s you and I against the world, baby."

She looked up at him, her voice catching. "And if we lose?"

"Then we lose together."