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“Everything is wrong with me when it comes to you.”
Dom’s stare is fixed on me, digging through the layers inside my soul, as if he’s set on unraveling the hidden parts of me. Those twin whirlpools of blue and gold seem capable of stirring up every emotion, surfacing memories and desires long buried. They threaten to drag me into a chaos of feelings we left unspoken, fears I’ve held on to tightly over time.
“What do you want from me?” I finally whisper.
“I need you to not be such a reckless woman. I want you to take care of yourself and stop chasing death as if you aren’t scared of anything.”
“I’m not scared of anything,” I bite back.
Dominik takes a step toward me, closing the gap between us.
“Stop lying to me, Zo. I know you. I see past all the lies you tell everyone, including yourself. I see past the masks you wear. So cut the crap and be real with me.” His words are laced with frustration and a type of hunger I can’t quite make out.
“Thank you so much for that insightful information, but I can take care of myself. You need to butt out of my business. We’re acquaintances. Not even that. We just put up with one another because we love Aaron, so stop pretending like you give a shit about me all of a sudden. It’s maddening.”
Dom’s jaw tightens, and a sudden surge of electricity fills the air.
“No, what’s maddening is that I have been pretending. Pretending to hate you so I can keep my distance to keep you safe and try to keep my promise to my best friend. What’s maddening is how you’re suffocating me. Everything about you is suffocating, and I can’t fucking breathe. I’m drowning.”
His words are like a dagger plunging into my chest. You’d assume it would hurt less over time, each experience dulling the next, but it never does.
“I’m sorry. I’ll get out of here so you can finally breathe.”
“That’s not what I meant at all. You’re not hearing me.”
Turning to storm out of the apartment, I barely take a step when he grabs my arm again and whips me around.
“Stop walking away from me.”
“Let me go,” I grit out, my face inches away from his as I peer up at him angrily.
“I’m suffocating with need. Tired of wanting you all the time. Tired of the way you have a hold on me. I’m sick of pretending like I haven’t thought about you every single day since I first laid eyes on you. Some days, I wish I had never met you, Zoe. This is absolute torture, wanting you and knowing I can’t have you. I want to punish you for this craving.”
I’m not certain if I heard him correctly. Were those words aimed at me?
“What?” My voice quivers.
“I can’t turn it off, Zo. I’ve tried so hard. I can’t do it anymore.”
Absently, I take a few steps back, but my surroundings are a blur, and I couldn’t care less. I’m attempting to make sense of what he just said, questioning if he was speaking a different language.
That, or I’m having a stroke.
His inked arm reaches out. The warmth of his hand presses into my cheek. Dom’s touch is tender as he grips the back of my neck, pulling me tighter into his body. My hands press against his bare chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart mimicking my own.
“You’re not making sense,” I say.
“I’m done fighting this.”
In an instant, I go from standing to being forcefully pushed back, abruptly landing on his couch. He swiftly descends, positioning himself above me, hovering like a hungry eagle.
“You want someone to take from you? To hunt you down and do as they please? You want to empty your mind? Give up control? Forget your own name? I’ll take everything from you until there is nothing left. Own every inch of your body until every sound coming out of that sweet mouth of yours belongs to me.”
Time stands still, and everything I thought I knew ceases to exist. Dominik closes the small space between us, pressing his lips to mine. The kiss is fiery and intense. I open up to him without thought. Drinking in the feel of his body against mine, the taste of his lips, the way his tongue explores my mouth. It all feels so familiar. My lips mold against his as if they have muscle memory, even though we’ve never kissed like this before. He engulfs me entirely, and I eagerly melt into him.
This feels good. Like everything I’ve been needing for so long.
And suddenly, the realization that this is wrong hits me like a wave, causing me to instinctively pound against his chest. However, my actions only seem to strengthen his grip on me as he wraps his arm around my waist and firmly pins me down with his body.
