His eyes darkened. “Those bruises suggest otherwise.”
“I don’t need your protection, Dominic.”
He picked a piece of lint off my shoulder. “But you want it.Everything would be easier if I told everyone to back off. You could actually enjoy college, rather than just counting down the days until you fuck off to uni.”
“How do you know that’s what I’ve been doing?”
His gaze flicked to mine, almost bored. “I told you—I’ve been paying attention.”
I wrestled with myself. He was right. My life would be a fuck-tonne easier if I didn’t have to live my life constantly looking over my shoulder. But that would mean accepting help from Dominic, of all people. That was even before we took into account whatever ridiculous demand he had for ‘payment.’ We both knew I had no money.
No one on our estate did. It was another reason why I was so fucking desperate to leave. There were lots of grandiose ideals spouted about growing up in poverty, but let me tell you now—it fucking sucked. We were better off now than we once had been, thanks to Mum retraining to be a teacher, but that didn’t mean we had a lot of money going spare. My art class was paid for by the early morning paper round I’d had since I was thirteen.
So, no. Whatever Dominic wanted, it wouldn’t be money. I couldn’t think of a single thing he might ask me for that I’d be willing to give. “Why not just do it out of the goodness of your own heart? Or because I’m Max’s twin? Surely that should be enough reason to help me?”
“Trust me, you being Max’s twin is the last thing that makes me want to help you.” His lip curled. “Knowing that is almost enough to make me say ‘fuck it all’ and walk out of here.”
“Then why don’t you?”
There was a pause. “I don’t know.”
“You’re a real dick.”
His expression smoothed out. “I am. Don’t ever forget that, Shadow.”
The fatigue from earlier was back now, making it harder to keep this argument going. That was the only reason I had for what I said next. If I’d been more awake, if I’d been thinking clearly, there was no way I would’ve even deigned to consider Dominic’s ridiculous proposal. “What sort of payment are we talking about?”
Dominic thumbed at my lower lip. I was so startled that I didn’t pull back. “It’s pretty straightforward.I want you to get on your knees, Ry, and suck my cock.”
5
Ryan
I didn’t move for an entire minute. I just stared at him, trying to figure out if he’d actually said that or if I was having a stroke. Did he think I was so desperate for his protection that I’d do anything to get it?
Dominic didn’t say a word. Just smirked at me arrogantly like the meltdown of my brain was somehow amusing to him.
Eventually, I remembered how to speak. “What the fuck?”
“If you want my protection, then get on your knees.”
My rage hit new heights. “You’re fucking with me, right?”
“Nope. That’s my price. You either pay it or you don’t. It’s down to you.”
“I thought you weren’t gay.”
“I’m not.” Dominic raised a brow as his gaze swept over me. “And neither are you, apparently.Yet I bet this ends with you choking on my dick all the same.”
It hit me then. The confusion evaporated leaving the way clear for anger to descend. “Oh my god. This is your way of fucking with me. You don’t think I’ll actually do it. You’re just seeing how far you can push me.”
Dominic chuckled darkly, making the hair on my arms stand on end. “Maybe. Maybe not. Guess you’ll have to go to your knees to find out.”
I fisted my hands. I could punch him instead. I’d likely break something, but it’d be worth it. Anything to wipe that smug, satisfied grin off his face. The fucker thought he had me in a corner. He knew I wasn’t into guys any more than he was.
This was his sick way of messing with me. I had no idea what Dominic had against me, but I wasn’t giving him the satisfaction of winning this little bout. I knew exactly what he expected me to do. The way he thought it was going to go.
Fucker.
