by Lee Piper
“We’ll make it work,” he assured me. “We’ll talk, text, FaceTime. We’ll be in contact so much you won’t even realize I’m gone.” His smile was almost convincing.
Almost.
I nodded as a nasal voice crackled over the loudspeaker, announcing his flight and I instinctively clutched his t-shirt tighter. “Will.”
“Babe, I’m telling you, we’re gonna be okay.”
In an attempt to maintain some semblance of rationality, I let go and took a step back. Granted, it was a small one—heck, an ant would have made more progress—but it was a step, nonetheless. Will gave me one last smile, a quick peck on the cheek, and then rushed toward his gate.
A minute later, he was gone.
Twelve months later he was still gone.
He never came back.
When I eventually pulled myself out of that unhelpful reverie and stumbled, zombie-like back to the bar, I noticed the swarm of thirsty rockers demanding refreshments had multiplied considerably. Brea looked swamped.
She saw me loitering by the trays of dirty glasses on the right hand side of the bar and moved over. “Girl, I’m so sorry. Corey’s gone home sick so I need to pull a double shift to cover for him.”
I gave a weak smile. “It’s fine, really. We’ll catch up another time.” I shrugged. “To be honest, it’s probably best I go home anyway.”
Brea eyed me closely and nodded. “Yeah. Take a taxi, okay? I don’t think you should drive.”
“I’m fine, you just focus on that.” I indicated with my head to the crowd that had started to grow restless in her absence. Anyone would have thought they needed a twelve-step program with the way they eyeballed the glinting bottles behind her.
We said our goodbyes and I pushed my way through the sweaty bodies standing between me and the front entrance. The room had grown hot and stuffy with so many people pressed up against each other and my fuzzy brain craved fresh air.
As soon as I stepped out into the crisp evening, I shut my eyes and threw back my head, breathing deeply. The muffled sounds of thumping drums and heavy guitar riffs emanated from inside The Hole but for once, I was glad to be leaving.
What a clusterfuck of a night.
I exhaled. How had it gone from a few innocent beers with Brea to dry humping a commitment-phobe? Opening my eyes again, I shook my head, resolute. That man wielded way too much power over me, it was like he flicked the switch to my crazy button. I had to keep my distance, my sanity depended on it.
Scanning both my left and right, I swore under my breath. Great, just great. No taxis. I thought for a moment and then moved unsteadily toward my car.
Don’t do it, Riley.
I knew it wasn’t a good idea and up until that point, I had never even considered driving drunk before in my life. But I wanted to go home. More than anything in the world, I wanted to crawl into bed and never leave it again. At least, not until the memory of Dominic’s skillful lips faded into oblivion, which to be fair, would probably take an eternity anyway. So, standing in front of my car, I pulled the keys out of my jacket pocket and stared down at them.
“Don’t even think about it.”
I jumped with a start, spinning around so quickly, the keys flew out of my hand. They were plucked out of the air by none other than the last person I ever wanted to see again. Dominic must have been watching from the shadows the entire time I had been standing there contemplating my decision. To be honest, I wasn’t sure whether to feel secretly pleased or disturbed.
He stepped out of the darkness, the light from a nearby streetlamp illuminating his hard features as they materialized, piece by mouth-watering piece. I shivered.
He’s a dick, Riley. Don’t forget that.
After somewhat recovering from my fright, I narrowed my eyes at him. “Give me back my keys.”
“No.”
I took a step forward, grounding out, “Give them back, Dominic.”
Dominic moved closer, so close in fact I could feel his warm breath brush my cheeks. Ignoring the way my heart traitorously responded to these unintentional air caresses, I glared up into his annoyingly handsome face. He looked as angry as I felt.
“I said, no,” he repeated.
Throwing up my arms in exasperation, I cried, “Why are you even here? Have you been put on this earth to punish me for shit I did in a past life? Because I sure as hell haven’t done anything cruel enough to deserve you in this one.”
Dominic stared at me and the intensity in his gaze caused me to take a step back. A range of emotions flickered across his face—irritation, resentment, lust, need, bewilderment, fear—it was like watching a slot machine which could explode at any moment. Finally, he settled on resignation. “I deserved that.”
I ducked my head, the fight draining away from me as quickly as it came—it was too exhausting. With eyes downcast, I mumbled, “No, you didn’t.” Taking a deep breath, I gazed at him again. “I’m sorry for what I said. I didn’t mean it, truly.”
Dominic groaned and scrubbed one hand down the side of his face. “Fucking hell, Riley.”
“What?”
But instead of annoyed, his eyes were gentle. “Angel, you’re gonna get eaten alive out there.”
“Out where?”
He gestured vaguely to the car park and road beyond, but I knew what he meant.
So, glancing away, I crossed my arms and muttered, “I can take care of myself.”
Dominic snorted, before indicating to his car parked nearby, I hadn’t even noticed it was there. “C’mon.” He strode toward it.
My feet didn’t move.
Dominic must have sensed my refusal because he stopped and turned around. “Come on, Riley.”
“No.”
His eyes narrowed. “Get in the car.”
I shook my head.
He strode panther-like toward me, his eyes dark. I swallowed but remained still. After all, I needed to put some distance between the two of us, so there was no way in hell I was getting in a car with the man.
When he towered over me, I refused to tremble. I also refused to acknowledge the heat that somehow pooled in the base of my stomach.
“We can do this the easy way or the hard way. What’s it gonna be?”
I glared up at him, defiant to the last.
“All right then.” He gave a wicked grin before picking me up and throwing me over his shoulder like I weighed no more than his electric guitar.
“Put me down,” I squealed, kicking my legs against his torso and pummeling my fists into his ass. Laughing, he gripped me tighter, restraining my lower body before slapping me soundly on the backside with an open palm.
I froze.
“You did not just do that.”
His answering snicker refuted me. However, before I could retaliate, a car door opened and I was unceremoniously dumped in the passenger seat. Dominic moved to the drivers’ side of his Thunderbird and climbed in beside me. I cursed myself for letting him cop an eyeful of my exposed upper thigh, so hastily pulled the hem of my dress back down.
“It’s a bit late for modesty, angel.” He smirked.
As he started the vehicle and sped off down the street, I thought up thirteen creative ways of wiping that stupid grin off his gorgeous face. And it wasn’t until I’d hierarchized them all—tying him up and forcing him to watch me set his guitar alight was my number one pick—that I realized where we were. Confused, I looked around, we were almost at my apartment.
Strange, I didn’t give him directions.
“How do you know where I live?”
He looked across at me. “I drove Gracie and Levi to the airport this morning.”
I raised my eyebrows at the nickname he had given Grace, she would have hated it. “Seems like everyone knows my address these days,” I muttered.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, first Robin and now—” I stopped, my gaze flying to his before shifting away again.
Shit, I said too much.
“
Who the fuck’s Robin?”
I stared out the window, refusing to meet his eyes.
Dominic swerved to the curb and killed the engine. He then turned to face me, his broad shoulders taking up so much space they somehow made the cabin feel small, insanely small, intimate even. Well, maybe if it weren’t for the testosterone streaming out his ears like storm water down a drainpipe.
“Is that the name of the pretty boy you were mouth-fucking last night?”
I glared at him, ignoring the fact that his fists were clenched so tightly the whites of his knuckles showed. “Don’t you dare.” His eyes flashed fire. “After the way you treated me tonight, you’re lucky you’re not castrated.”
He scowled.
I scowled.
He leaned forward, growling.
I leaned forward, glaring.
After an epic stare off, which I totally won because he blinked, I spat out, “By the way, where’s your date?” The last word tasted like bitter coffee and I had a sudden craving for peppermint tea.
“Not here.”
“Well, in that case,” my voice dripped with so much sarcasm I was surprised the car floor wasn’t saturated with it, “why don’t you make a move on me again, huh? I mean, it worked out so brilliantly before. Hey, maybe we’ll drive past some other woman you’re hot for and you can leave me on the side of the road this time? You know, mix it up a little?”
“Cut the bullshit, Riley. I didn’t start what happened between us at The Hole and you know it.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Hell no. Are you honestly saying you didn’t shove your tongue down my throat?”
“Are you honestly saying your hands weren’t all over my ass? For Christ’s sake, Dominic, your touch short-circuited my brain, what was I supposed to do?”
“Leave me the fuck alone, that’s what.”
“I was trying to leave you alone, believe me, I was. But you’re everywhere, Dominic.” My arms flailed around me like the shock reflex of a newborn baby. “You’re in my head all the time and just when I think I can deal with the messed-up emotions you create, you show up looking like a goddamn orgasm personified.” I was so worked up I was panting. “Then you have the audacity to kiss me, kiss me, Dominic. And of course, it was the best kiss of my life, wasn’t it? I mean, this wouldn’t be the headfuck to end all headfucks without that bombshell annihilating my sanity completely.”
Dominic turned away, his jaw working. He was silent for a long time.
“Perfect. Just perfect.” I stared at the console, disgusted at how much I divulged and how little he admitted in return.
Guess I was the only one who found the situation exasperating.
He muttered something under his breath.
“What?”
“Forget it.”
“What did you say?”
“I said, forget it.”
I officially lost my shit. Big time.
“What did you say, Dominic?”
Now, I wasn’t normally someone who yelled. Heck, I avoided confrontation like it was herpes, but this man had pushed me over the edge time and time again. I was sick and tired of the free-fall.
Turned out, I wasn’t the only one.
Rounding on me, he roared, “I said it was perfect.” His eyes were anguished like the words were being ripped from his chest. “Your damn lips, your taste, the way your body fit mine like it was fucking made for me. It was all perfect.” He took ragged breaths while I sat there, stunned. Dominic’s voice almost broke as he continued, “You think this is hard on you, Riley? Well, it’s fucking hard on me too. You make me feel things I don’t want to feel, you make me believe things I don’t want to believe, and you make me want what I sure as fuck don’t deserve.” He closed his eyes for a moment before continuing. “I’m not a good man, I’m not, but when I’m with you…” Dominic opened his eyes again and his gaze looked so lost and bewildered I actually forgot to breathe. “I can pretend to be one, even if it’s only for a short while.” He shook his head. “Thank fuck Amelia showed up when she did and reminded me of who I was—who I am.”
“Why?”
But he didn’t answer, so we remained in the darkness for a long time, each of us lost in thought.
I leaned back against the leather seat, God, I felt tired. The alcohol had worn off and I was left with a throbbing head, aching limbs and a heart that was so confused it barely remembered to beat. At last, I rubbed weary eyes, murmuring, “What are we doing, Dominic?”
He turned to me, his gaze despondent. “Nothing. We’re doing nothing. You’re dating a fucktard, I’m baggin’ women, and that’s just the way it is.” With a heavy sigh, he gunned the engine and we drove the rest of the way to my apartment in silence.
I honestly thought that was the last time I would ever see Dominic, but fate, the fickle creature, had other plans.
Chapter Nine
Separate,
Does this feel right?
Stop holding on,
Don’t let go.
—MONDEZ, “Awoken”
“Wow. You weren’t joking when you said he bought the entire florist.” Mae leaned in to smell the blooms.
There was no doubt about it, the bouquet still looked as beautiful as it did when Robin delivered it yesterday. However, when I first awoke that morning I needed to open a window because the smell gave me a headache.
Way to be ungrateful, Riley.
Despite my misgivings, Mae seemed to enjoy their sweet fragrance. “Nice.” She looked back at me. “They must have cost more than my annual salary.”
I grimaced. I’d been trying not to think about how much money Robin spent on me. For some reason, doing so made me feel uncomfortable, guilty even. Never a good sign.
After taking a final sniff, Mae turned around to face me. Strangely, she then proceeded to look me in the eyes for a good thirty seconds without saying a word, not one. It was seriously unnerving. So much so, I quickly grabbed a dishcloth and started wiping the already pristine cooktop like it had an inch-thick layer of residual grease.
“Okay, out with it.”
“Huh?” My air of nonchalance was somewhat sabotaged by my frenzied strokes.
“Riley, you’ve almost rubbed off the label.”
I swore under my breath when I realized she was right.
“You’ve seen Dominic again, haven’t you?”
My startled eyes flew to her shrewd ones.
“For beguck’s sake, Riley,” she groaned.
“Beguck? Mae, that’s not even a word.”
My friend’s gaze shifted to Annabelle. She was sitting cross-legged on the lounge room floor, having a tea party with her giraffe, the TV remote and a cushion. Mae’s eyes moved back to mine. “Little Miss over there dropped the f-bomb at daycare. Now whenever I go in to pick her up, her primary carer gives me these judgmental looks.” She shrugged one shoulder. “Figured I might as well curb my potty mouth before Annabelle says something worse to her, like how the old witch has a beard.”
I squeezed Mae’s hand comfortingly. “You’re an amazing mum, don’t let anyone make you think otherwise. Besides,” I moved to the cupboard and grabbed some teacups, “isn’t swearing a rite of passage or something? I’m sure every child says something embarrassing growing up. God knows I did, Mum still reminds me of all the shi—” Thankfully, Annabelle hadn’t heard my almost-profanity “—things I said when I was younger.”
“Maybe.” Mae shook her head. “Anyway, back to the original topic. Did you or did you not see Dominic again?”
I sighed. That girl was as single-minded as a customs dog at border security. While turning on the kettle, I nodded. “Yes, but it’s not what you think.”
“Really?” She totally nailed the whole me-and-my-raised-eyebrow-don’t-believe-you glare.
“Yes, really.” I placed a peppermint tea bag and some honey in each cup. “I honestly had no idea he was going to be at The Hole last night.”
“Hang on,” Mae
interrupted. “Isn’t The Hole a dive bar? What the hell were you doing at a place like that?”
“Brea works there and each weekend they play local live music.” I gave a half-smile. “It’s fun.”
Her eyes immediately narrowed. “What type of live music?”
“Seriously, Mae? Does it matter?”
“You know it does.”
I gave an exasperated sigh. “Fine, they play rock music. Heavy, loud, dirty, rock music. Now, do you have any other questions, Mum?”
“Just one … is Dominic in a rock band?”
My mouth opened and closed while I frantically tried to think of a way to divert the conversation but eventually just gave up and accepted the unavoidable. “Yeah.”
“Christ.”
The way she pronounced the blasphemy immediately took me back to when I was a child.
“Ouch.”
Mummy came running over to where I was laying flat on my back in the entrance hall. “Christ, baby girl. Are you okay?” She crouched down next to me and her eyebrows did that crinkly thing again. She must have been scared. The last time she looked like that, I’d bumped my head on the side of the pool and blood ran everywhere.
Slowly, I sat up, rubbing my elbow. “I think I need a Band-Aid.” My eyes were hopeful.
Mummy smiled down at me and my belly went all warm, like melted honey. “I think you’ll be okay, love,” she murmured. “But this on the other hand,” she held up the offending toy car, “isn’t quite so lucky.”
I regarded it carefully. She was right, two of the wheels had fallen off and a window looked cracked. Instinctively, I started nibbling my bottom lip.
“How did it happen?”
Staring down at the white porcelain tiles, I mumbled, “I just wanted to see how fast I could run from the kitchen to the dining room. I didn’t see it, promise.”
When I finally managed to look her in the eyes again, she gave me a soft smile. “He’s going to notice.”
My voice trembled. “Am I in trouble?”
Mummy sighed. “You will be if we don’t check the remainder of your running track. Goodness knows what else has been left lying around this house. Rose should have picked up all of these toys yesterday.”