Storm Prep
Talon
Shit!Whatthefuckwas Dominic doing here?I had caught glimpses of him earlier in town, but dismissed it as paranoia. Seeing him now, though, was a clusterfuck waiting to happen. I didn’t know how Lucas would react to meeting him, and I didn’t know how he’d react to knowing that Dominic was pursuing me. Fuck, what would Dominic do to Lucas?
I stiffened at the thought of anything happening to Lucas and dreaded the thought of possibly fighting Dominic.
Dominic’s graceful exit from his vehicle contrasted with the tension I felt mounting. I moved closer to Lucas, whose eyes were locked on Dominic, tracking his every move.
“You know, you two are very hard to track down,” Dominic called out with a casual arrogance that belied the situation’s gravity. “Almost lost you in traffic, fuzzy bunny.”
“You followed me?” Lucas blurted his tone, a mix of surprise and annoyance.
“Yes, and I’m kind of annoyed to find you here… with the sneaky kitty,” Dominic added, shooting a conspiratorial wink in my direction.
Lucas turned to me, confusion and betrayal written all over his face. “Do you two know each other?”
I hesitated, my throat tightening. The truth could complicate things further. Before I could form a response, Dominic chimed in.
“Yes, it’s been quite the cat and mouse game. Though our dear cat here seems to prefer playing the mouse,” he quipped, his tone light but loaded.
Lucas retorted, his voice tinged with forced lightness, “So, he’s been ducking you as well?”
“Indeed, he has,” Dominic confirmed, his gaze flitting between Lucas and me.
I wanted to clarify, to smooth over the rising tension, to explain why. I opened my mouth to respond to their back-and-forth. Wait, did they know each other? The question hit me like a brick wall. Dominic said he was following Lucas and called him a fuzzy bunny.
“Wait, do you two know each other?” I asked, voicing my question.
A distant rumble of thunder cut through our conversation, drawing Lucas’s attention upward. He glanced at the sky, then back at us with a hardened expression.
“This isn’t the time,” he said firmly. “I have work to do. If you’re both sticking around, then help. Otherwise, you can leave.”
Lucas moved toward the fallen plywood and bent to pick them up.
“Oh, I’m not going anywhere. I’ll gladly help, fuzzy bunny,” Dominic said, hurrying to Lucas’s side.
“Me either,” I added, determination settling in. “I’ll get the tools. We’ll get this done.”
Lucas shot a quick glance at me, a flicker of surprise in his eyes before he returned to his task. Perhaps he thought I’d leave, but who could blame him? All I had done lately was run. I’d hurt him and Dominic. I needed to make amends—to explain. My lion roared within me. He was practically buzzing with the presence of the two he desired most. I made a silent promise to him. I’d make this right. We’d work out our differences.
Dominic’s voice broke through my introspection. “So, fuzzy bunny, are you going to make me guess your name?” He teased with a playful tone. “I can always continue to call you that, you know.”
Lucas chuckled, a sound that seemed to lighten the air around us for a moment. “I’d prefer you didn’t. It’s Lucas, Lucas Bondar.”
“What a fabulous name!” Dominic exclaimed, his voice rich with warmth. He stepped closer, encroaching on Lucas’s personal space with a boldness that was all too Dominic. He reached out, brushing Lucas’s cheek with the back of his fingers. “A very nice name, indeed. I’m Dominic Billings, and it’s a pleasure to meet you properly.”
“It-It’s nice to meet you too,” Lucas replied softly before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. After a moment, he opened his eyes and smiled. “We really need to get this done. I heard on the radio that the storm had picked up speed.”
“Okay, then. You’re the boss. Let’s get these boards up,” Dominic said, stepping back to give Lucas space and rolling up his sleeves in preparation.
Lucas nodded, lifting a heavy plywood sheet toward the window. Dominic quickly came to his side, helping him position it against the pane. I grabbed the drill and moved to join them. “I’ll handle the drilling while you hold it steady,” I offered.
“Oh, I’d love to see you drill,” Dominic quipped, his tone playful yet suggestive.
My face flushed, and a laugh escaped my lips. Lucas, on the other hand, was all business, giving a slight nod. His focus remained fixed on the task at hand, but I thought I saw a glimmer of a smile. Setting to work, I drove the large screws into the wall.
“This is nice, isn’t it? The three of us working together. A perfect time to get to know each other under a bit of pressure, right?” Dominic said with a light chuckle, attempting to ease the tension.
