I wrinkled my nose. “No, thanks. I’m good.”
He rolled his eyes. “Quit being a baby and just do it.”
The flames of my temper licked at my skin again. “You do it.”
“I’m not the one who needs it.”
Confusion rose to join the fury. To be fair, it was usually present when Dominic was. “What do you mean?”
Dominic shoved the gloves into my hands before moving behind me. “I mean Max was right in his own way. Something’s got your goat.”
“Max doesn’t know shit.” The words lacked the heat I’d intended because I was having a hard time concentrating. Itwasn’t my fault. It was Dominic’s. The instant he’d put his hands on my shoulders to steer me towards a large dusty bag, my ability to think about anything else had vanished.
“He might be wrong about the reason, but he’s right about the rest.” Was he…rubbing my shoulders? Did he even realise he was doing it? “Rather than punch him in the face, I thought you could do this instead.”
His touch dropped away and the anger returned. “Think I’d rather smack him, to be honest.”
Dominic just chuckled. “Fair, but at least the bag won’t hit back.”
“Wouldn’t have you joining in either, I guess.” I sighed dejectedly, shoving my hands into the gloves. “This is probably safer.”
“Hang on.” Dominic rounded on me, his gaze intense. “If you and Max got into it, I wouldn’t intervene.”
I snorted. “Yeah, right. Because you always stand back when Max gets into a fight.”
“Not with you.” The deep lines on his forehead had my fingers itching for a pencil. “I might step in, but only to stop you both. Why would I want you getting hurt?”
My throat was oddly thick as I swallowed. “You mean you wouldn’t wantMaxgetting hurt.”
“No.” He took a step closer, his voice dropping to a low husk. His mouth was so close to mine. So fucking close. “I wouldn’t wanteitherof you getting hurt.”
“Oh.” The tension between us was building. It was too much. I could barely draw a breath. I fidgeted with the gloves, checking the fit as an excuse not to look at him.
Dominic exhaled slowly, and then there was several feet of space between us. I lifted my head to see a muscle jumping in his jaw. He gestured at the bag. “Want me to hold it?”
I nodded mutely. I’d never punched something before. I doubted very much that I’d have enough strength to hit it hard, but knowing my luck it’d come back and thump me in the face anyway.
My eyes catalogued the way Dominic’s fingers spanned the leather, memorising the image for later. For when I was back in my room with my sketchpad in front of me.
Then for even later, when I was in the shower. With him in my bed, it was the only privacy I got these days. I’d given up the pretence of trying to think about anything other than him when I got myself off now.
Yeah. This situation was beyond fucked up.
Dominic raised his chin, giving me a small smile. “Maybe having my face here will help too.”
“What do you mean?”
He shrugged. “Just seems like you might have some tension you want to release where I’m concerned.”
I grunted, not denying it. “Seems I don’t like the idea of you getting hurt either.”
His gaze met mine and suddenly that sensation was back—the one in my throat that made it near impossible to breathe. The smile he gave me had the feeling spreading to my chest. I’d never seen him smile like that at anyone before. Not at any of the girls he touted around. Not even at Max.
It was new. Fragile.
Beautiful.
Clearing my throat, I raised my hands. I hadn’t ever thrown a punch, but I knew how to. God knew I’d been on the receiving end often enough. “Okay, let’s do this.”
