by L. A. Casey
"Will you stop running from me?" Dominic said into my hair.
I didn't know whether he meant every time I saw him or just now.
"No!" I snapped, not liking him telling me what to do.
I felt the vibrations of his growl against the back of my head as he adjusted his hold on me. I was acutely aware of his arms wrapped around me, oh and his body pressed against mine!
"Put me down!" I snapped again, trying to sound really mad rather than breathless.
"No," he replied, calmly.
I squealed in frustration and slapped at his arms. "What do you mean no? Put me fuckin' down, you big bastard!" I snarled.
I heard a chuckle escape from him, and it made me see red.
"I swear to God, I'm goin' to kick the fuck outta you for doin' this to me!" I promised.
In one swift motion, I was placed on the ground and turned to face him. It made me gasp, because I wasn't expecting him to do that.
"Doing what to you? Defending you?" Dominic asked, his eyes narrowed.
Great, now he was mad at me.
"Eh, yeah!" I shouted. "Ever since I met you - which unbelievably has only been five weeks - you have been nothin' but a pain in me arse. You tease me, make fun of me, and today you made me feel like absolute crap, so excuse the fuck out of me for bein' pissed at your mood swings. You go from bullyin' me to defendin' me all in the space of a few hours. Who the fuck does that?"
Dominic looked at my eyes before zoning his gaze on my right cheek.
"Did he fucking hit you in the face?" he asked, his voice venomous.
I snorted and rolled my eyes at the subject change.
"No, you did that!"
Dominic looked like I slapped him across the face.
"Me? I didn't-"
"Yeah, you did. When I tried to stop you from goin' for Jason the second time, your elbow hit me in the face."
His face visibly paled.
"Bronagh, I'm… I'm so sorry. I would never hit a girl; I swear I didn't mean it," he insisted as he lifted his hands and ran his fingertips over my cheekbone, making me wince because it was really tender.
He looked distraught by this and pulled me towards him. "Come with me, please?" he asked.
I pulled out of his hold.
"No, I have to go home and get ice-"
"I'll ice it for you. Please, pretty girl, it would make me feel better if you let me take care of you."
I stared at him; I still couldn't believe he gave me that nickname.
I continued to stare at him and wondered what the hell was happening. I was so confused that it actually made my head hurt.
"Are you Damien?" I asked curiously, my left eyebrow raised.
Dominic just looked at me for a long moment before he shook his head.
"Are you serious? Can you not tell the differences between us?"
"Sure I can; your hair colour is different, you have dimples when you smile, and he doesn't; he is right-handed, and you are left. He is nice, and you aren't. That's why I'm askin' if you're him because you've been awfully nice to me these last twenty minutes, got your face smashed in and all."
Dominic sort of smiled for a moment before he glared at me. "I handed that prick's ass to him, not the other way around, babe."
"Babe?" I spluttered. "You're sayin' I'm yours and callin' me babe now? I think Jason hit you too hard on the head there, buddy."
Dominic rolled his eyes and muttered, "Shut up."
I sighed, closed my eyes, and rubbed my temples.
Dominic stepped towards me again; I could feel how close he was to me.
"Come back to my house with me so I can help you, Damien will be there incase you're afraid."
I opened my eyes and studied his face; his eyebrow was cut, and some blood surrounded it, his jaw was swollen, and his chin looked like it was bruising also.
"I think you need the help more than I do. Your face is pretty messed up," I commented.
Dominic laughed.
I sighed then, shocked that I was actually agreeing to this.
"Okay, lead the way."
Dominic smiled and gestured for me to walk back the way I just ran. I did so, and he fell in step with me. We didn't speak, but it wasn't awkward or anything. We walked until we headed past our school, and I whistled when we entered Upton.
"You live in Upton? You must have a shitload of money," I muttered.
"And why is that?" Dominic's voice asked, amused.
I shrugged as we walked through the very clean housing estate. "Because it's not a council estate, you own the houses, and nobody rents them out because they are too nice not to live in."
Dominic played with his hands like he was nervous which caught my attention, but I didn't say anything about it.
"Where do you live?" he asked me after a moment.
"About a ten minute walk from here, down on Old Isle Green. It's practically a dump compared to this estate."
"Does that matter to you?"
I shook my head, kind of shocked that I was having a legit conversation with him. While that was mildly shocking, the extreme shock factor was that I was actually enjoying it. "No, I like where I live. I like me house and me road. I'm sort of intimidated by bein' here for some reason, and I don't know why. Wait, I do, it's probably because it's perfect and me bein' here messes that up," I laughed.
I stopped my laughter when Dominic was suddenly in front of me; his head lowered to mine.
"Don't do that!"
I swallowed as I looked up at him and asked, "Do what?"
"Put yourself down the way you just did."
I furrowed my eyebrows. "So I can't put meself down but you can? You said the same thing today to me. You said that I didn't fit in with the girls in our school when it came to looks. You said I was in a different league than them all!"
Dominic sighed. "I didn't mean it like that."
I shook my head. "Don't lie, it may hurt my feelin's like it did today when you said it, but don't lie just to make me feel better. If you think I'm ugly then that's fine-"
Dominic moved his head closer and pressed his forehead against mine, and it made me hold my breath which cut me off.
"I didn't mean it like that, I don't think you're ugly, you're far fucking from it. When I said you were in a different league than any girl here, I meant you're more beautiful than them. You're the best looking girl I've ever seen, period. I call you pretty girl for a reason other than to piss you off, Bronagh."
I felt my legs shake, and my breath released from me in a big puff making Dominic grin because he felt it on his face. I felt like I was going to do something seriously stupid like kiss him so I stepped back a little and looked down. My insides were swimming because while I still strongly didn't like him, I felt a little flushed now just looking at him.
"Are we near your house yet?" I asked.
"Yeah, it's just up here," he replied in a tone that made me think he was smiling.
I didn't look up at him though; I just gestured for him to walk, which he did, so I followed him. When he entered the garden of a big four story house, I stood at the gate and openly gaped at it.
"Fuck me sideways." I whistled.
"Is that an invitation?" I heard Dominic ask.
I snapped my head to him. "What?" I shouted.
He pointed to my foot; I looked down and saw a flyer under my foot. I picked it up and read it; it was an invite to a four-year-old's birthday party this weekend.
"Ugh, yeah, it is," I muttered and let the wind take the piece of paper away.
My face was burning bright red as Dominic looked at me, grinning.
"What did you think I meant?" he asked.
I didn't dare look at him.
"Nothin'," I replied and followed him into his garden.
We paused outside the door while Dominic fished out his keys from his pocket. When he got them out and opened the door he shouted, "I'm home."
I heard a chorus of rude greetings, and it made me freeze.
/> "That's not just Damien," I muttered.
Dominic looked at me. "Correct, our three older brothers are in there too."
My jaw dropped.
"I'm goin' home," I stated and turned.
I barely made it halfway out of the garden before I was lifted up from behind again.
"Oh, my God," I screamed. "What the hell is your deal with pickin' me up? Put me down or I'll kick the shite outta you!"
I heard some snorts that weren't from Dominic, and it made me freeze.
"I hate you," I whispered to Dominic.
He snorted. "I know," he replied as he put me down on the ground but didn't let me go.
He turned me to face him. "I have to ice that pretty face of yours, remember?"
I hated that I turned red again, and I hated Dominic even more for smiling at me because of it. When he turned us both to face his house, I stared wide-eyed. The two men that stood leaning against the door frames, they were seriously sexy.
"Wow," I whispered.
Dominic snapped his head to me and glared.
"Who's the little beauty, bro?" the lad on the left asked.
Little beauty?
Me?
Oh.
My.
God.
The man had dark hair like Dominic but it was long, it almost reached his shoulders. He had the same dimples when he grinned, his arms were huge with muscle, and he had multiple tattoos. I could see this because he was shirtless. The other lad was bare-chested as well, he had some tattoos and was muscular also. His hair was a jet black though, and he had some scars on his torso and face that I could see from a good distance away, but he was still strikingly hot. I found it very hard not to look at the V lines they were both supporting, but I managed it, and I think I deserved a medal for it.
"Don't even think about it Alec, she's mine," Dominic snarled making both the men grin.
Again with that? Seriously?
"Ahh, you must be Bronagh then?" Alec grinned.
"How do you know me name?" I asked, confused.
Both the men laughed when Dominic snarled at them.
"Don't mind them, the asshole talking to you is Alec, the prick on the right is Kane, and my other brother Ryder is in the house with Damien."
Dominic, Damien, Alec, Kane and Ryder.
Oh, my God, their names were just as sexy as they were.
"It's a pleasure." Kane smiled to me after a moment.
I melted; he had such a happy, pretty smile which caused me to smile back at him. I didn't even pay attention to the scar curved around his mouth because his smile was just breathtaking.
"The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Slater."
Dominic's hand suddenly grabbed hold of mine. "All right, that's enough of that," he said tugging me into him.
I flushed and tried to push away from him. "What the hell, Dominic? The past five weeks you annoy me from a distance but within the last half hour you won't stop touchin' me. What the fuck, man?"
"Man," Alec and Kane mimicked my accent in unison making each other chuckle.
I flicked my eyes towards them; I had them narrowed but when Kane switched his smile on, I couldn't keep it up for long.
"How old are you both?" I asked, smiling.
"Twenty-five," Alec replied.
Kane grinned. "I'm twenty-three, how old are you?"
"I'm eighteen today."
"Happy birthday," Alec and Kane said in unison making me smile at them.
"What? Today is your birthday?" Dominic asked.
I looked at him and nodded.
Dominic frowned. "Now I feel even worse for hitting you."
"What?" Alec and Kane roared.
I jumped while Dominic flung his hands up in front of him in an 'I surrender' motion.
"It was an accident. Some prick hit her in school, so I kicked his ass, but when she tried to pull me back, my elbow hit her face. I brought her here to ice it."
Alec waved us forward. "Yeah, Dame told us about the fight but left her out of it."
I was obviously her.
Dominic tugged me forward then, so I followed him back up the steps to his house.
I had to turn so I could get by Alec's shirtless, muscular body.
"I like your tattoos." And your mouthwatering face and body.
"Bronagh! Stop it," Dominic scowled at me when we got inside the beautiful house.
I pulled my hand from his. "What? I just said I liked his tattoos." I frowned then pointed my finger dangerously at him. "I don't know where you're gettin' off thinkin' you can tell me what to do because you can't, so stop it before I break a bone!"
Dominic smirked at me. "You want to get physical with me?"
What?
"Wh-What?" I stuttered before licking my suddenly dry lips. "I think we need to go to the hospital with you, you're sayin' weird things and just actin' out of character since that fight. I really think Jason hit you too hard on they moved around us. I watched as they went into what I would have guessed to be a sitting room but turned out to be a home gym. That explained why they were shirtless and so buff; they were working out and clearly did it often.
"Are you going to stare at my brothers all day or are you going to come with me?" Dominic asked in an impatient tone.
"If that is a legit question, I vote to stay here and stare at your brothers all day."
Dominic grabbed my hand and pulled me down the hall and away from the view of Alec and Kane.
"It was really nice to meet you both," I shouted to them.
"You too," they both shouted back in unison.
I grunted when Dominic and I entered what was obviously the kitchen. He was tugging me along behind him so when he stopped, I collided with his back. I didn't even try to pull my hand from his, because he had a good grip on me.
"'Bout time you showed up. Why are you getting into fights at school Dominic? We don't need attention drawn to us, you fucking know this!" a deep voice bellowed.
I froze and decided to stay behind Dominic. That was obviously his eldest brother, Ryder, shouting and I didn't want to be a target of his anger so I stayed put. Also, I wanted to see if he would elaborate on what he just said. I mean, why didn't they need attention drawn to them?
"I'm aware of that, and I'm sure Dame already told you why I got into a fight," Dominic replied calmly, getting my attention.
"He did, I just want to hear it from you," the deep voice said.
"He put his hands on her, even if he didn't hurt her I still would have beaten the shit out of him for the names he called her," Dominic said casually.
My stomach was flip-flopping left, right and centre.
What the hell was going on?
"Bronagh?" deep voice inquired.
I stepped out from behind Dominic and waved a little. "Heya."
"I'm Ryder, Dominic and Damien's oldest brother."
Holy shite.
He looked like Matt Bomber, only hotter, because he was covered in tattoos!
"Nice to meet you," I murmured and just flat-out stared at him.
Dominic shook his head at my reaction to his brother, but I didn't care. This family had beautiful genes, like I wasn't going to ogle them.
"How is your face?" Ryder asked me.
I thought about what he asked then touched my face and hissed. "It's sore."
Dominic moved across the room, opened what looked like a freezer and pulled out an ice pack, then grabbed a small hand towel on his way back over to me.
I frowned at him. "You are the one with the cut eyebrow and busted up face, you need the ice more than I do, princess."
Dominic's brothers snorted.
"I like her," Ryder said.
"I like her more and more each time she insults him," Damien chuckled.
"Fuck you both," Dominic grinned as he continued to move towards me.
He turned me around and applied pressure to my back, making me walk forward.
"This is startin' to piss me off, Dominic. Stop pushin' me around.
Stop touchin' me altogether!" I snapped.
"That's the appeal then? He wants what he can't have," Ryder said lowly then snorted.
"That, her accent, and I'm sure the fact that she's smoking hot has something to do with it as well," Damien's voice chimed in.
Dominic grunted, and he directed me upstairs. We walked all the way to the fourth floor which I wasn't happy about.
"Why are we comin' up here?" I asked, huffing and puffing.
Dominic laughed from behind me. "Do you do any cardio? You sound like you're going to collapse."
I snarled as I entered the room he directed me to. "No, I don't do cardio; there is a reason I look the way I do, and it's not because I enjoy doin' cardio in me spare time."
"I wasn't saying you need cardio, you look damn fine from where I'm standing-"
"Oh, my God. Stop. Just stop!" I suddenly shouted.
Dominic closed the door behind us and just stared at me for a moment.
"Stop what?"
I gaped at him. "Are you serious? Stop being overly nice to me, stop commentin' on me looks and body, and for the love of God stop pushin' me around!"
Dominic rolled his eyes and pointed behind me. "Okay, I will do all that if you sit on my bed so I can ice your face."
I widened my eyes and looked behind me to the kingsize bed; it was bloody huge.
Was he trying to get me into bed?
"Uh…"
I heard Dominic chuckle. "I'm not just trying to get you into my bed; not for the reasons you're probably thinking anyway."
I flushed.
"I wasn't thinkin' anythin'," I lied.
"Go sit down then," he challenged.
I did, and I was stiff as a board while I did it.
"Okay, I'm sat on your bed. Can I have the ice pack now?"
Dominic nodded, wrapped the towel around the ice pack, and carefully placed it on my cheekbone.
I instantly sighed. "That feels good."
"I'm glad," Dominic said as he sat next to me.
I looked at him and frowned. "Do you have a first aid kit?" I asked.
He raised his uncut eyebrow and nodded before he got up and went to his bathroom.
He had one connected to his room!
He came back out with a small first aid kit, sat back beside me, and handed me the kit. I put my ice pack down and stood up; I opened the kit, took out a cleaning gauze and a small bottle of purified water. I soaked the gauze then leaned towards Dominic.
