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“I’m happy you found the ice cream already.”
“I’m sorry,” I offer, biting my lip and turning to put the container back into the freezer.
“Don’t you fucking dare. Grab two spoons and get over here.”
His tone sends a shiver down my spine that has nothing to do with the frozen treat I’m gripping tightly in my hand. I turn, opening a couple of drawers before finding the one containing utensils. Dom doesn’t offer any assistance, and I know he’s enjoying watching me struggle to find my place in his kitchen.
“I thought you were asleep,” I say, walking gingerly to the island and placing a spoon in front of him. I open the carton, and my mouth waters instantly. Normally, I would dig right in, grab a heaping spoonful and stuff my face, but I’m too shy to be the first to dig in.
“I was craving something sweet,” he says with a playful grin, his unwavering gaze fixed on me as he grabs the spoon.
Lifting the spoon filled with delicious ice cream, he takes his time licking it, his tongue swerving around the metal. Half his features are hidden by the dark while his eyes remain locked on mine, as if he’s making love to the cream. I have this sudden need to cross my legs.
My heart flutters in my chest, pounding so quickly, I fear he can hear it across the island.
Something about this entire thing feels wrong. Dominik is eating ice cream, and all I can think about is how his tongue would feel all over my body.
My number-one priority right now is getting some ice cream in my belly and going to bed.
That’s it. Nothing more, nothing less.
“Didn’t know you were such a huge ice cream fan. You bought the entire store.”
Scooping the spoon into the pint, I pick up a small dollop and raise it to my lips. Rich, chocolaty flavors burst in my mouth, with hints of hazelnut, walnut, caramel, fudge…and can’t forget the signature marshmallow chunks.
“God, that’s good,” I groan, going in for a bigger spoonful immediately.
Dom shifts in his chair. “I’m not big into sugary treats.”
I stare up at him in confusion. “What are you talking about? You have an entire storefront in your freezer.”
Dominik shrugs, reaching in for more ice cream, his eyes cast down. “Thought you might need some comfort tonight, and I know how much you like late-night frozen treats.”
My cheeks could light up an entire fireplace with how red they are.
“You got all this for me?”
He shrugs. “I didn’t know which flavor you liked, so I got them all.”
I…I don’t know what to do with that.
“Don’t do that. Don’t say things like that, then turn around and do the opposite, because then I’m not sure which version of you to believe.”
“Which version of me do you need, Zoe?” Dominik leans in and steals all the oxygen from the room.
Shaking my head, I place the spoon down on the counter.
“I don’t need anything from you, Dominik.”
I watch for the flinch, the anger, the pain…for something, but it doesn’t come. He’s in control of his emotions and everything around him. He even controls the fucking room we’re standing in.
“You don’t mean that. I know you don’t. You’re only saying that because you’re in my kitchen right now, while the rest of your family is upstairs…together, pretending like you don’t exist.”
His words feel like a raw display of my innermost thoughts, like he’s uncovered and laid bare everything I detest about myself. Is he intentionally trying to hurt me? Frankly, I’m at the point where I’d welcome the pain, embrace it with open arms. Sometimes, drowning in the dark feels better than not feeling at all.
“You’re right. I’m worthless. Unlovable. Discarded trash. Is that what you want to hear? You want me to be weak so you can tear me down too? Guess what, Dom? You can’t break something that’s already broken.”
He swings forward, his hand snatching out before I can take in a breath as his fingers grip the back of my neck. Dominik brings me close, pressing our foreheads together, and everything stills.
