Eventually, Max huffed. “Whatever. Ryan, this is everyone. Everyone, Ryan.”
Several people greeted me. I fought the urge to duck my head, repeating what Dominic had told me.Fake it until you make it.
Instead, I upnodded them casually, as though hanging out with this crowd was no biggie. Just something I did every day.
“Come sit here, Shadow.” Dominic patted the railing beside him. “Get yourself comfy.”
With everyone watching me curiously, including Max, I had no choice but to haul myself up beside him. It took me two attempts, and even when I was in place, my balance was off. Dominic had to grab my shoulder and shove me up before I finally settled.
To my surprise, no one said a word. They didn’t tease or mock me. They didn’t even let their eyes linger too long.
It had to be the Dominic effect, I thought bitterly. Something Max had benefitted from for years, simply by being himself.
Me though? I’d had to get on my knees.
Conversation broke out around us, Max pointedly turning his back to speak to someone on his other side. I didn’t doubt that he’d bring this little incident up the instant we got home.
“Sit still,” Dominic hissed, grabbing my thigh as I once again lost my balance and slipped backwards. “How can your balance be this bad?”
“Because I don’t usually sit on a three-inch-wide fucking rail,” I hissed back. “And stop fucking touching me.”
His tongue flicked out over his lower lip and I could see everything he wanted to say.‘That’s not what you said the other night.’Or maybe,‘I’ll touch you whenever I like if you want my protection to continue.’
Maybe I was imagining it. Or maybe Dominic, like me, was aware of our audience. “Stop wriggling and I won’t need to.”
A new voice entered the conversation. “Want one?”
I looked up to see a pretty girl holding out a packet of cigarettes. Maya, I thought that was her name. With the pink streaks in her hair and two piercings in her nose, she was effortlessly cooler than I could ever be.
I flushed at the shy smile she was giving me. I didn’t think she’d ever looked in my direction before, let alone spoken to me. “Umm?—”
“He doesn’t smoke,” Dominic said curtly. “You’re a good boy, isn’t that right, Shadow?”
I knew he was being sardonic, but his words had me flashing back to the other night. To how he’d praised me while I choked on his cock. I leaned forwards with a cough, letting my T-shirt pool on my lap.Please don’t let anyone see that I’m hard.“I don’t know about good.”
Max snorted, obviously tuning back into the conversation. “Please. Ryan’s a goody-two-shoes to his core. I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes back home to tell Mummy he saw me smoking today.”
An uncomfortable titter broke out as I felt the back of my neck get hot. It was odd that no one was joining in with the jibes. It hadn’t stopped them in the past when Max had got on one. “I didn’t plan on saying anything, actually.”
He rolled his eyes like he didn’t believe me, but I was telling the truth. If Max wanted to pump his lungs full of a cancerous pollutant then that was on him. I had no interest in dobbing him in. It would only lead to more arguments and tension.
Two things I’d happily live without.
“Shadow. That’s a fun nickname,” Maya said, clearly trying to change the subject. “Where does that come from?”
My neck flushed hot again. Fuck. I didn’t want to hear Dominic explain. That’d lead to more laughter. More stares. I already felt like I was coming out of my skin, and this would only make it worse. Could I just leave? Or would Dominic drag me back?
Before I could decide, Dominic spoke. “It’s my nickname for him. No one else can call him that.”
I jerked beside him. What the fuck? So it was okay for Dominic to take the piss, but not for anyone else?
Actually, yeah. That tracked. He’d said he’d protect me from others. He hadn’t said anything about himself.
Dominic said it with such a tone of finality that no one questioned it. Maya’s mouth popped open in surprise, and she quickly turned to chat to someone else.
Gradually, conversation started around us again. Everyone was talking, exchanging stories and inside jokes. Making plans for later.
Everyone except me, Dominic, and Max. The three of us sat in silence. I could feel Max’s eyes burning a hole in my temple. I knew he was trying to figure out why I was there and why Dominic was acting so…weird.
