Her hand cocked back and I braced myself for the slap I’d likely earned. But before her hand could connect, Dominic’s fingers wrapped around her wrist.
“No.” He glared coldly down at her. “I don’t give a shit if you’re hurting right now. No one touches Ryan like that. Not even you.”
“Whatever.” She sniffed, her eyes bright as she yanked her arm from his grip. “Should’ve known better than to get a crush on such a fucking loser. Virgins are always the worst.”
A groan slipped free from me. Fantastic. Great to know that my shameful little secret was now common knowledge. I didn’tquestion how Maya knew. It had probably been fucking obvious given my ineptitude last night.
I’d never wanted to dissolve into the shadows more.
Dominic stepped close to her, dropping his voice to almost a whisper. “Keep running your mouth, Maya, and I’ll make sure your life’s not worth living.”
Maya took a shaky step back. “Don’t be stupid. You’d never hit a girl.”
His lips twisted cruelly. “That’s right. I wouldnever. Good thing I know how to ruin your life in other ways. Now fuck off, and leave Ryan alone.”
Her hands went to her hips as she squared up to Dominic. My stomach dropped. This was all going south very fast.
Hopping off the rail, I moved between them. With my back to Dominic, I addressed Maya. “Leave it, please. I’m sorry to have hurt you, I am. But really, I never made any promises. We’re better off as friends.”
Her gaze flicked over my shoulder before she spun and stalked away. I didn’t need to look to know Dominic was still glaring at her. I could almost feel the heat of it scorching the back of my neck.
When she was out of sight, I whirled around to face Dominic. The temper that had failed to rise during that little scene had no problem making itself known now. “I don’t need you fighting my battles for me, Dom.”
He caught my chin between his fingers, his smirk dripping with arrogance. “Sure about that, Shadow?”
He was barely touching me, his hold more of a suggestion than a demand, yet I couldn’t pull away. It was like he’d cast some spell on me. A curse, maybe.
Max cleared his throat and we both jumped apart. I rubbed the back of my neck self-consciously as I noted how many sets of eyes were watching us.
My twin wasn’t sitting on the rail now either, arms folded as he glared between us. “Wanna explain what that was all about?”
I met Dominic’s gaze, seeing my own confusion reflected there. Then, I took a page right out of his playbook.
I ran away.
12
Ryan
I was halfway through doing the dishes that wouldn’t fit in the dishwasher when a plate was snatched from my hands.
I jerked in surprise, lifting my head to see Dominic at my side. “What are you doing?”
He cocked a dark eyebrow, his lips twitching. “Well, I was going to dry as you washed, but I can break out a magic trick instead if you like.”
I scowled as I turned back to the water. “Funny.”
“Your mum thinks so.”
My lips twitched at that. Traitors. “You can’t use ‘your mum’ jokes when you actually know our mum.”
“I can. Makes it funnier.”
“She’ll stop feeding you if she hears.”
“Nah, she loves me too much.” That was true. There was no question that she considered Dominic her third child. Did that make what had passed between us weird?
Weirder than the fact that you’re both supposedly straight, you mean?
