“How did you find me?” I asked.
He opened his arms. “Ah, your charming sister enlightened me. We’re becoming such good friends.”
I tilted my head, searching him for a lie. Cat hadn’t mentioned him at all, though I hadn’t seen her for a week, and she wasn’t exactly forthcoming about her life. All I knew was that she studied Law, so there was a chance they were in the same classes. My older sister hated people in general, but I wasn’t surprised he wheedled his way into her friend group.
Dom ran a hand through his blond hair as if he felt awkward. A sharp image of myself burying my hands into the soft strands hit me, along with the faint trace of a moan in my ears. I sucked in a breath at the heat firing in my body. I needed to bring myself under control, or I'd end up blushing again.
It had been happening ever since I woke up in Dom's room. Before then, I used to imagine what it was like to fuck him, but after that morning he'd basically told me I'd never have a chance, my imagination had been growing even worse. They were too vivid to be daydreams, and I hoped it would stop soon.
“Is it because of me?” I asked without thinking. The blush I was failing to stifle lit my cheeks as I realised what that must sound like. His gaze skipped over my face, and I didn’t miss how it sank to my lips. I had to tell myself it was just how he was. He’d been doing it as long as I’d known him. It wasn’t anything new, and I wasn't special.
“This might come as a shock to you, handsome, but I do actually have friends.” Dom shrugged as if he didn’t have a care in the world, even though I knew why he'd sought me out.
It was too dangerous to be around him, especially when I was so tired.
“I have to go to class,” I said, glancing at the building over his shoulder. I was determined not to copy him by looking at his lips and giving in to feelings which weren’t worth having.
I scowled as I walked past him, knowing he would follow. Because it was what he’d done every day since I ran from his room. And he'd start exactly the same conversation as well.
“Come on, let me apologise,” he said, easily catching up with me.
I kept my head down; the pain biting into me like it did every time he brought it up. I couldn’t explain to him how much it hurt that he'd been so blatant about my unattractiveness. I was confused over how strongly it weighed on me, like a wound I was still recovering from. It shouldn’t have meant anything; it was just an insult. But the sting followed me around like he did, and I couldn't escape either of them.
Sighing deeply, I refused to look at him as I strode on. If I saw his guilt, I'd weaken.
“You’ve already said sorry, and I’ve already said it’s okay,” I replied. “You don’t have to keep doing this.” I'd talked to him about the void in my memory, and I believed what he said about finding me in the club. What confused me more was, two days afterwards, the classmates who’d invited me out mysteriously quit and left the city before I could ask them what happened.
If I’d told my family about it, I was sure Mum and Dad would rain hell down on whoever was responsible, but no one else knew about that night except Dom.
I asked Dom if he had anything to do with it, but he simply brushed it off in that way of his. The story was that they’d transferred, though three people vanishing at the same time didn't feel right.
“Well, maybe I want to keep doing this,” Dom said with a soft lilt which curled along my spine and sent tingles fluttering through me. I really hated how much of an effect he had on me.
Every day it was harder to deal with him. It was the same feeling I had when he was fucking in his room. Only this time, he was fucking with me. And I was losing my patience.
I stopped, spinning around to glare at him. “Why? Why can’t you just leave me alone?” I cut through his easy tone.
I was here again, exactly like the first time I spoke to him, angry and turned on and willing to jump at him, or on him. Either way, I had to find a way to stop him looking at me like he wanted me.
Another slick smile and heat in his eyes. “You don’t need to know the ‘why’s’ yet, handsome,” he replied, his voice low enough to tempt me.
I kept having to remind myself to ask Dom to stop calling me that, because I liked it far too much. I had grown comfortable with it so fast. But the nickname was mine, and I didn't want to give it up too easily. I said to myself I’d leave it for now because it was a nickname between friends. Even though we weren’t friends—I had no idea what we were.
He was just anannoyance.
Dom shoved his hands into his jeans pocket. “Come on, at least let me take you out for a coffee or something. I know we haven’t gotten off to the best start, and I just want to make it up to you.” If he had said it with a straight face, I might have believed him. But I didn’t trust him when he grinned at me like he was going to eat me.
It was another thing he’d insisted on since he began following me around. Going out to a cafe or a restaurant or somewhere where we could ‘get to know each other properly’. And after a month of being chased around, I was beginning to think it would be easier to give in.
“If I go, will you leave me alone?” I asked.
“Hmm, maybe?” he singsonged, his gaze jumping over me again.
Dom had stopped fucking people since I ran from his room, which was a vast improvement. I hoped it was because he understood what an arse he had been. If we did become friends, maybe he would continue to keep the noise down.
I blew out a heavy sigh from the side of my mouth. “Fine.” I rolled my eyes. “My classes finish at four. Do you want to meet me here after that?”
He looked taken aback, but caught himself quickly. “Wow, I didn’t expect it to be that soon. You're so eager for me, aren't you?” He chuckled to himself, and I hoped my blush wasn’t growing deeper. “But, yeah, thanks for the invite. Four is great.”