Chapter Ten

Alice is long gone before I realize I didn’t even get the project papers from her. Now I’m standing in front of Dominic’s door, chewing my lip and wondering just how furious he’ll be if I accidentally go through his stuff.

Sighing, and with nowhere to reach him—or Alice, who would only take up my time—I step into his room again.

A cold wave of his scent hits me, sharp and clean, and a shiver snakes down my spine. I move toward his reading table and spot a few files clipped together. Relief floods me. I grab them, exhale, and turn to leave—

—but one cabinet door hangs open, a corner of a magazine sticking out like it’s daring me to look.

I should leave.

I don’t.

I tug it free. My breath catches as my eyes lock on the cover.

Erotic stories.

My pulse trips. “Damn, Dominic,” I whisper.

I flip to the first page before I can stop myself. The Obedient Boy and the Hot Cheerleader.

Curiosity burns through my better judgment as I read the first lines: He does everything she says, dying in wait for a reward... her short, nasty cheerleading skirt...

Heat rushes up my neck. I fling the magazine back into the cabinet and rub my sweaty palms on my skirt before bolting out of the room. Something claws its way into my chest, burning hot, and all I can see is Dominic’s face—his calm eyes, his quiet manner—being that obedient boy. Loyal. Faithful. To Charlotte. Of course. The ex who never even let him touch her.

No wonder he was so wrecked.

He had it bad for her, didn’t he? So bad he bought a magazine like that. They probably never even kiss.

I stop the thought before it spiral, my stomach twisting.

I flag down a cab, slump inside, and only when the driver moves do I realize my fist is crumpling his files.

“Shit.”

I smooth the pages, my hands shaking.

Quiet, innocent Dominic—having that kind of magazine? It’s unbelievable. He’d probably knock himself into a wall if he knew I’d seen it.

I shut my eyes, taking a deep breath, but the heat crawling up my arms and neck won’t go away. It’s sinful to even think about it. Sinful to imagine him like that. Maybe it’s the magazine. Maybe it’s the image of him being that obedient boy.

I shut my eyes, breathing deep. Wild—my life has been wild since Asher—sex-crazed, messy, thrilling. He wasn’t exactly smart, but when it came to things like that, he never got bored. And it’s been days since that happened—with Dominic. The memory barely exists, but the thought alone makes my body burn.

The school gate looms up ahead. I drag in a breath and let it go, praying the flush on my skin disappears before anyone sees me.

I pay the cab and head straight for class. Still in a sour mood. Still thinking of that damn magazine.

And because fate clearly hates me, I have to pass Dominic’s class.

Ignoring the dramatic whispers and gossip, I keep my eyes ahead. No need getting horny over my best friend’s little brother. I’m better than that.

I reach his class and glance around, but Dominic’s not there, ignoring the whispers that ripple across the room. “Where’s Dominic Marion?”

A few coughs. A few glances. Still no answer. My patience snaps. “Where is he?”

AA girl with twin braids and braces stands awkwardly. “He’s with Sasha. They had a big fight this morning.”

Sasha. Of course. The red-haired demon who can’t take a hint.

“Over what?”

The girl hesitates. I wave it off. “Never mind. Where?”

“The science meeting room.”

I don’t even thank her. I’m already storming off. The science meeting room. Alone. First period. Perfect.

Dragging a girl to the science room at first period—what the hell is wrong with him?

I push open the door—and freeze.

Sasha’s arms are looped around Dominic’s neck, her head resting on his chest.

“Dominic, what the hell is going on?”

They break apart, but she keeps her hands wrapped around his wrist. Dominic doesn’t even tell her to move.

“Get your hands off my boyfriend.” The words rip out of me before I can think. I march over and grab his arm. “Now.”

“Catherine—”

“I’m pissed, Dominic. Choose your next words carefully, because they’ll either calm me down or make me burn this whole place down.”

He tugs his hand free. “Let go of me, Sasha.”

She whimpers, voice trembling. “You’re choosing her? She doesn’t deserve someone like you!”

Oh, here we go again. “And what’s wrong with someone like me?” I snap.

“Everything! Because of you, As—”

“Shut up, please,” Dominic cuts her off, voice tight.

My pulse spikes. As… what was she about to say?

“Let’s go, Catherine.”

Dominic laces his fingers through mine and pulls me out with him.

For a moment, all I feel is the solid weight of his hand—warm, sure—and a smug smile creeps across my face. He chose me. In front of Sasha.

A wave of triumphant satisfaction rushes through me as he drags me past the science room and down the staircase. Students stop, stare, whisper—but I don’t let go. Not until he takes a sharp turn toward the bleachers and finally stops.

Only then do I pull free, the heat of embarrassment catching up with me. My chest tightens. What the hell was that? I just made a scene. Over him.

“Catherine—”

“I’m sorry,” I blurt, staring at the ground.

He shakes his head. “People are going to talk, and—”

“I said I’m sorry.

He exhales, voice calm but cutting. “This isn’t about me. You know what they’re saying—that you’re using me to make Asher jealous. That you’re pretending to date someone so… different from him. So insanely different. And what you just did, it’ll only make them think you’ve actually fallen for a nerd.”

The way he says it—“nerd”—like it’s something rotten, twists in my stomach.

I roll my eyes, slam his project papers into his chest. “Stop acting like you’re some holy freak, Dominic. Like you’re better than everyone else.” The words come out sharper than I mean, but I can’t stop now. “I saw your magazines.”

He freezes.

“Yeah. Erotic magazines.” My voice shakes with anger. “So don’t you dare act righteous with me. When Charlotte refused to sleep with you, who went and bought magazines to—what? Fantasize about her?”

My breath comes uneven. I press my palms over my face, trying to calm the storm rising inside me. God, why did I say that?

I lower my hands—and nearly stumble back. Dominic is standing right in front of me, closer than he’s ever been.

“What are you doing?” I whisper.

He takes another step, and suddenly his hands are on my shoulders, firm and steady. I can feel the warmth seeping through the thin fabric of my top, feel the shift in his breathing, the faint scent of something—raspberry and soap—curling between us.

And for the first time, I really see him.

He’s so much taller up close, his body hidden beneath those awful layers of clothes that suddenly don’t seem so awful anymore.. His messy hair hides his eyes, but not the tension in his jaw.

“What makes you think,” he says quietly, “that I was fantasizing about Charlotte?”

My throat goes dry.

He leans in just enough that I feel the whisper of his breath against my ear. “From what I remember, I bought that magazine long before I ever dated her.”

Then he turns and walks away—leaving my pulse crashing in my ears and my thoughts a tangled mess of guilt, confusion.

I fan my face, muttering under my breath, “This kid is scary.”

A slow clap echoes behind me. My spine stiffens. When I turn, Asher and Jennifer are standing there like a nightmare I didn’t ask for.

“Unbelievable,” Jennifer sneers, looping her arm through Asher’s. “You really like this boy. You’re something else. Did you even love Asher?”

Heat floods my cheeks—God, I can feel it. It’s not even from embarrassment, it’s from Dominic, from that stupid almost-moment that’s still buzzing under my skin. I’m not in the mood for their games, so I do the only mature thing I can think of. I turn away and start walking.

“Did Dominic show you the bruises?”

My steps falter. I stop cold.

“What bruises?” I ask slowly, turning back to glare at her.

Jennifer’s smirk falters for a split second. She glances at Asher. “He was defending your honor against the football team,” she says with a laugh that doesn’t reach her eyes. “It got… messy.”

My heart slams hard against my ribs. “Dominic…” I whisper, already turning to leave.

“Catherine.”

Asher’s voice freezes me mid-step. I’ve avoided looking at him, because I still remember—every kiss, every breath, every lie. But now he’s standing there, eyes searching my face.

“What’s going on between you and Dominic?” he asks quietly. “Is it true you slept with him? I don’t believe that.”

I meet his gaze, tired and angry all at once. “I don’t care what you believe, Asher. We’re not together anymore.”

He studies me with that old, maddening certainty. “You still love me, Catherine.”

I shrug, letting out a shaky breath. “I really hope you didn’t lay a hand on Dominic,” I say quietly. “Because if you did, I’ll forget we ever dated—and I’ll deal with you myself.”

Then I turn and walk away, my throat tightening. It’s only when I reach the end of the hallway that the tears slip down my cheeks.