Tall, Dark, And Broody

MILES

Something was wrong with me. It was as if my body buzzed with an uncontrollable desire to be near him, while every fiber of my being screamed, “Don’t do it!”

I clenched my hand reflexively, then pulled it back as if it burned. Kenzie tugged on my arm, her voice soft but laced with worry.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

I met her eyes, trying to steady the racing beat of my heart. I nodded and gently patted her hand. "Absolutely."

She stepped back, giving me room. Then, as if on cue, Dominic—his golden eyes smoldering in the low light—stepped forward. The moment he leaned toward me, my breath hitched; his scent, a heady mix of sandalwood and bourbon, enveloped me. I even heard the crinkle of paper and saw him pocket my forty dollars, as if sealing our dangerous pact with a silent, mischievous gesture.

At the pool table, the guy named Marcus—always ready with a challenge—called out,

"Shall we flip a coin?"

I raised a hand. "No, he can go first."

The room erupted in whistles and cheers. Dominic raised an amused brow while I bowed with a half-smile, swinging my arm wide to signal him to begin.

For a moment, regret nagged at me. After breaking the balls, he made three shots in a row; his fourth went in, but the fifth he missed. The crowd roared their approval, and I nodded, admiring the precision with which I assessed the remaining balls on the table.

I felt my heart pound as I realized I was being watched—every move, every calculated shot, tracked by his burning gaze. The heat of his eyes made me both nervous and exhilarated. I leaned in for my first shot, connecting with the balls. Two of them sank into pockets exactly as I had predicted. I circled the table again and took another shot—another ball dropped neatly into its cup.

Kenzie’s shout of, "Woo! Miles!" sent a thrill through me.

I grinned, knowing Dominic wouldn’t get another turn. It was my little secret that I was a fucking beast at pool—a skill honed by old man Tony from the market. Though I wasn’t unbeatable, I had come damn close to him once.

Strutting around the table, I flashed a smug smile in Dominic’s direction. I bent over once more, lining up my next shot with careful precision. Three more balls found their pockets. I could almost feel his eyes raking over me, and I secretly relished it. I wanted him to keep watching—keep wanting.

But why did I want him to keep looking at me? I had never craved that before. I wasn’t sure whether to lean in and indulge or run away screaming. The alcohol blurred the lines, leaving me with nothing but an overwhelming, dangerous need.

I had only two balls left, and I knew exactly how to sink them. I bent over again, nearly laying on the table, and took my final shot. The white ball ricocheted off one of his, smacking perfectly into the remaining two, splitting them into pockets with a satisfying clack.

The crowd exploded into cheers. Kenzie hopped up and down, her red hair bouncing as she squealed in delight. I brought my pool stick to my lips and blew a celebratory puff of air, basking in the moment.

"Damn girl! You know how to play some pool!" Marcus rounded the table, clapping me on the back. Meanwhile, Dominic’s nostrils flared as he glowered at me. I marched over and extended my hand.

"I'll be needing my forty dollars back."

And maybe, just maybe, a steamy make-out session if he was up to it.

Something in my twisted gut loved the way his golden eyes glared, the way his full lips twisted into a scowl. I almost let myself imagine making him feel something—if he’d let me.

I banished the thought as quickly as it came. It had to be the alcohol.

He reached into his pocket, pulling out my money, but hesitated. His eyes met mine with a hard, challenging look before he said in that deep, velvety tone,

"Double or nothing."

I gave him a devilish smile. "You're on."

We started the game anew—this time, I went first. And I demolished him. Not only did I win, but I did so emphatically. Dominic stood with his arms crossed, watching me with a glare that made my stomach churn in a mix of excitement and dread.

After I finished, I smiled sweetly, extending my hand again. Kenzie nodded at Marcus as he collected two hundred dollars along with my forty. I was giddy—over my easy win, over the extra cash that boosted my meager savings. I hadn’t noticed the atmosphere shift until it was too late.

My smile vanished as Dominic hurled the money in my face. I closed my eyes in bitter disappointment, my brows furrowing as I chastised myself for caring—if only for a moment—that he was an asshole.

"Take that chump change. You look like you need it more than I do. Do you like crashing parties and swindling people in their own houses?" he sneered.

I bent down to pick up the scattered money, nearly stumbling in my drunken haze, and cursed under my breath. I must have wounded his pride.

"Wait, what the fuck?" Kenzie’s voice cut through as she came up behind me. I turned slightly to shake my head at her, knowing she was always ready to rescue me from my own insanity. Perhaps it was my upbringing—my mother's cruelty—that made me immune to rudeness. But tonight, fueled by liquid courage, I was pissed at being attracted to such a dick.

I huffed a laugh. "I didn't think you'd be such a sore loser. Still spending too much time on mommy's tits?"

A gasp, then several, echoed. Kenzie clutched my arm. I tried to free myself, but she held tight.

Dominic’s glare deepened, and if I wasn’t so wasted, I’d have known better than to provoke him. Instead, I foolishly raised a brow in challenge.

The next moment, he was pouring his drink over my head. The sharp scent of beer filled my nostrils as laughter erupted around us.

What shocked me even more was that I wasn’t mad. I was used to this treatment—abuse had become a familiar companion, a twisted comfort. And I laughed so hard tears streamed down my face as my stomach burned. It was absurd that someone in this mansion, who clearly thought highly of himself, believed he could hurt my feelings. He didn’t know who raised me—who made me numb to the pain.

Not even tall, dark, and broody.

I stood there, laughing hysterically in the suddenly silent game room, probably looking like a madwoman. I laughed at the confused expression on Dominic’s face, while Marcus seemed to savor the show and Kenzie looked genuinely concerned. For a moment, I feared I’d never stop laughing—but finally, I caught my breath.

"Ah shit," I panted, wiping tears from my eyes. "Thanks for that. I haven't had a good laugh in years."

I took off my flannel, drying my face with what wasn’t wet, when I heard gasps and whispers. I scanned the room. What now?

"Miles..." Kenzie called, grabbing my shoulders and spinning me around. "That fucking monster."

Shit.

I closed my eyes, gathering my scattered thoughts. Tears threatened to break through again, but I swallowed them hard. Maybe it was my mom finding out about my job, or maybe it was just that I no longer felt anything.

Taking my forty dollars, I stuffed the bills into my pocket, and with a final act of defiance, I shoved the two hundred-dollar bills into Dominic’s hard chest. His eyes narrowed in wariness as if he wasn’t sure what to do with my money.

Don't regret it now, asshole, I thought.

He didn’t move to grab the cash, so I let it fall, then turned and stormed out with Kenzie hot on my heels.

"Miles!" Kenzie called after me, but I was already speeding through the crowd.

I hadn’t had time to check my back. I wondered if it looked as bad as it felt. I pushed through the congestion, desperate to find a bathroom. My mind buzzed and my legs weakened as if I might pass out at any moment.

Kenzie’s faint voice urged me to wait—but I ignored it. I needed a moment alone.