AllFreeNovel
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It would be nice to eventually spend some time with my brother, but I’m sure the money accumulating in his bank account is keeping his thoughts warm at night.
That was mean.
I just wish he were here so I wouldn’t have to be alone with his friend, or alone in general.
No big deal. You’ve been alone with plenty of men before.
Then why am I so nervous about being alone with this one?
Taking a bite out of the lemon chicken, I groan as the rich flavors burst on my tongue.
“Fuck, that’s good.”
Dom coughs, choking on a piece of chicken. Maybe he should slow down; his plate is already half empty, and I just took my first bite.
“You okay?” I give him a sideways glance.
He nods, keeping his head lowered. I twist the cap off the bottle of water and pass it to him. He accepts it promptly, tilting his head backward as he swiftly gulps down half of it.
“Thanks. How was your day?” he asks quickly, as if the words feel heavy in his mouth. He chews for a few seconds, but I don’t answer. It’s then I notice the small bruise under his right eye.
“What happened to your eye?”
He shakes his head. “Nothing. Just a small injury at practice today.”
“Did you get it looked at?”
He nods, looking away.
“Shouldn’t you be resting?”
He cracks a smile. “I was resting. All day. That’s why I was late. Are we going to talk about my unimportant, small injury, or the plan for the next few months? Maybe you’ll change your mind after you see my schedule.”
“Nope. Unless you’ve changed your mind.”
He shakes his head.
“How did you get this?” I reach out without thinking and move a thick curl away from his eye. The last time I was this close to him was the first night I got here when he was black-out drunk. Too drunk to remember our conversation and what he said to me.
Dominik freezes. He stops chewing, and his body goes completely stiff next to mine. As if my touch and being this close to me is physically hurting him.
“Sorry,” I murmur.
A long moment stretches between us before he speaks.
“I suppose I should get used to it if we’re really going to do this.”
“We don’t have to. You shouldn’t have to do something like this with someone you hate so much.”
The words feel like shards of glass as they leave my mouth. And I know it’s not going to hurt any less when he confirms every word I just said.
Hearing the distinct clink of a fork, I notice his body shifting in my peripheral vision. He grabs my thighs and quickly maneuvers me to face him, trapping my legs between his own.
I can’t focus on anything but Dom’s large palms burning a hole through my pants.
“You think I don’t want to do this because I hate you?”
His eyes are intense, as if he’s trying to understand exactly how I’m feeling by sifting through my thoughts.
