Dominic

by L. A. Casey

  Dominic snapped his head in my direction, away from her gaze to mine. He slowly stood up, took a step around Destiny and slowly moved towards me with his hands in the air in an I surrender motion. I took a step back and shook my head at him.

  "Don't! Don't even fuckin' bother tryin' to talk your way out of it!" I snarled before I turned and stormed down the hallway towards the entrance of the school.

  "Bronagh! It wasn't what it looked like, I swear it!" he shouted as he ran after me.

  I laughed.

  Yeah, fucking right.

  He was about to kiss her, and we both fucking knew it.

  I was so damn mad, the prick bent over backwards in destroying my life to get me to go out with him, and when I did, he attempted to cheat on me with his ex – or current for all I knew – fuck buddy not ten hours after we got together?

  I stormed through the crowds of students and ignored Dominic's snarl for people to move out of his way. I flat-out ran when I got out of the school, I ran until I was in the middle of a quiet estate, and I was sure that Dominic wasn't following me.

  It was only then that I noticed my hand was throbbing in pain, my chest was hurting me, and tears were streaming down my cheeks.

  I wasn't sure which pain I was crying over though; both were pretty bad.

  Where are you? I got a text from Ryder, Dominic said you ran out of school. Are you okay?

  I sighed as I read my sister's text and hit reply.

  I'm nearly at the house now; I just went on a long walk for most of the day. Talk to you in a few minutes, put the kettle on.

  I pocketed my phone with a grunt, texting with my bad hand was harder than I thought it would be. I tugged my bag high up onto my shoulder and gazed around my road as I made the familiar trip down the path towards the gates of my garden.

  I spotted Ryder's family Jeep in my garden, and I groaned. Great, just what I needed, having the brother of that arsehole in my presence.

  "I'm home," I shouted when I entered my house and closed the door behind me. "I'm goin' to bed though-"

  "Come into the kitchen first, hun," Branna's voice shouted over me.

  I sighed, rubbed the bridge of my nose and walked into the kitchen.

  "I know you want an explanation, but I can't deal with talkin' right now, I just want to-" I stopped talking and pretty much stopped breathing when I looked to the kitchen table and found Dominic sat at it with a cup of tea in his hands.

  Was this son. Of. A. Bitch. Fucking with me?

  I took in a really long, deep inhale before I exhaled and locked eyes with the ultimate prick. "You best be gettin' the fuck out of me house!"

  "Bronagh!" Branna shouted in outrage at the same time Dominic snorted and said, "Or what, pretty girl?"

  No one had time to move because I turned, grabbed a cup that was on the counter, turned back and hurled it full-forced at Dominic. It clocked him right on the head, and he let out a very masculine roar for an eighteen-year-old as he jumped up and grabbed his forehead with his hand. The poor cup was in pieces on the floor, but I didn't care. I totally succeeded at having fabulous aim with my weaker arm.

  I wasn't finished though. I turned, picked up a plate - it had biscuits on it - that was also on the counter and hurled it at him. He, however, used his arm this time to block the blow. It still had to hurt though because the plate smashed into pieces when it made contact.

  "Let me go!"

  It was Branna screaming at Ryder who had his arms clamped around her waist, keeping her from charging at me. That fucking traitor, how dare she try and come at me when she invited the enemy into my inner sanctum after what he did to me!

  I turned to find more dishes to lob at Dominic, but there weren't any left. I was about to move towards the knives when a body smashed into my back and an arm clamped around me, pinning my arms to my sides.

  I knew it was him, I just knew it.

  "Get off me! I'm havin' you arrested for this. I'm sick and fuckin' tired of you touchin' and manhandlin' me, you horrible, stupid-lookin', big bastard!"

  "Bronagh Jane Murphy!" Branna bellowed.

  I let my jaw drop and turned my head to the left.

  She just snapped my full name at me.

  She. Was. Pissed!

  "Your initials are BJ?" Dominic snorted in my ear making me grimace.

  I ignored him and focused on Branna. "I don't even care, Branna. He shouldn't be here, and I'm mad as hell that you've put gettin' a ride off Ryder over me, you dirty slapper!"

  I was sort of grateful when Ryder held tightly onto Branna this time, because when she tried to charge me, her eyes were murderous, and I knew without a doubt that if she got a hold of me, she would kick seven shades of shite out of me.

  "You little bollocks, I'm goin' to deck you when I get me hands on you!"

  I sarcastically snorted and said, "Child abuse."

  Branna let out a roar and clawed at Ryder's hands with her nails that were the most deadly poxy things on this planet. They were like mini fucking razors. Even as big and strong as Ryder was, he snatched his hands away from her when she drew blood.

  I screamed bloody murder, stomped on Dominic's right foot so he would jump back and release me - which he did with another roar - then sprinted like Usain Bolt out of the kitchen and towards the stairs so I could get up to my bedroom and put a big wooden oak door between myself and Branna.

  I had made it about halfway up the stairs when she caught me by the leg and pulled hard causing me to face-plant on the stairs. I screamed as I flipped myself over and instantly put my non-injured hand up to block Branna's impending blows.

  "I'm goin' to kill you!" she shouted into my face.

  I was still screaming but managed to hold her up off me.

  "I'm sorry, you aren't a slapper… well, not a huge one anyway-"

  "Oh, that will make her less angry!"

  "Fuck you, you cheatin' bastard!" I screamed as I turned to look through the banisters.

  Ryder and Dominic where leaned up against the hall wall observing me being viciously attacked by my so-called sibling and didn't do a single thing to stop it. They actually looked fucking amused, the pricks.

  "Stop that, stop being such a little-"

  "Such a little what? Huh? Why are you defendin' Dominic? If you say it's because you are shaggin' his brother, I'm disownin' you and never talkin' to you again!" I snarled.

  Branna stopped her attack on me but didn't move off me.

  "I'm not defendin' him, I still think he is a little cocky shite who needs a good clout now and then, but I do think you should let him explain himself."

  "I think 'like' is putting things a little too strongly now after being attack with dishes-"

  "Shut up, you see red whenever Damien talks about her and her could-be-or-could-not-be-boyfriend Gavin."

  "He is not her boyfriend, how many damn times do I have to keep saying that? I told you what went down last night!" Dominic snapped to his brother.

  I was gaping at him.

  How dare he speak for me.

  Gavin wasn't my boyfriend but still!

  "How do you know he isn't me boyfriend now? I could have went to him today for all you know!" I glared at him.

  He turned his head to me and smirked. "Because I told him today before school that if he touched you, I'd kill him. I might have also mentioned something about you being mine."

  Oh.

  My.

  God.

  "What is wrong with you? I'm not somethin' you own. You can't tell people to not touch me-"

  "I can and I will," he cut me off.

  I looked back at Branna who was grinning.

  "What are you grinnin' about?" I growled.

  She shrugged, still practically on top of me. "He wants you to be together for good. He wants to explain what you saw in school today but is worried you will attack him since you usually do when he makes you mad."

  "I do not!" I bellowed.

  "You do!" Branna smiled.

  "
Like you can talk. He had to get stitches over you last night!"

  Branna shrugged. "You hit him more."

  "I do not!"

  Branna and Ryder laughed. "You do," they said in unison, then smiled at each other.

  All thoughts of Dominic were forgotten when I noticed how they looked at each other, it was with longing or love or something. It was a bit creepy.

  "Do you both love each other?"

  Branna snorted as she looked away from Ryder and looked back to me.

  "I do love him," Branna beamed.

  Oh, my Jesus.

  "And he loves me."

  Oh, my God.

  "And we're goin' to live together."

  Oh, my Moses.

  "Then get married and have babies."

  Holy Mary, Mother of God.

  "WHAT?" I screamed into Branna's face, wiping the smile from it. "You're engaged to that?" I pointed a trembling hand to Ryder, who avoided making eye contact with me.

  "Him, not that!" Branna growled.

  I felt tears well up in my eyes.

  "I can't believe you would do this to me! If you marry him, that bastard will never be out of me life. Never!" I cried.

  Tears legit fell from my eyes, and I didn't care that Ryder or Dominic could see.

  Branna's bottom lip quivered. "Stop it, Bronagh. I'm not doin' this to hurt you, babe. I love you more than anythin'; you're me sister but your problems with Dominic have nothin' to do with Ryder."

  "Only the fact that they're related," I snapped through my sobs.

  Branna sighed. "You're only cryin' because you're mad at Dominic because you thought he was kissin' Destiny in school today-"

  "Branna!" I screamed cutting her off.

  She closed her mouth while I could practically hear the cunt across from me smiling. He obviously told her what happened before I could. I pushed Branna off me, turned and scrambled up the stairs.

  "I'm not goin' to your poxy weddin', and he isn't movin' in here because this is my house too. You can move out if you want to be with 'em that much, and screw you Dominic, I wasn't upset because that would mean I have to care about you, and I don't, I hate you!" I screamed as I ran up the stairs and down the hallway to my bedroom, slamming the door so hard behind me that the walls shook a little.

  I dove onto my bed, put my face in my pillow, and screamed. I was panting by the time I was done and just lying motionless on my bed.

  My world and life as I knew it was ending. Branna was engaged to Ryder.

  En-fucking-gaged to Ryder!

  Ugh!

  I heard my bedroom door open and inwardly rolled my eyes.

  "Leave me alone, Branna," I muttered. "I don't wanna talk to you."

  The bottom of my bed dipped down the centre, then next to me, as she crawled up on my bed beside me. I heard shoes hit the floor, and I sighed out loud.

  I turned my head. "I said leave me be, Bran - get out!" I screamed when Dominic's silver, grey eyes stared back to me instead of Branna's blue ones.

  "No," Dominic smirked.

  I reached out to punch him in the face, but he caught my hand, pulled me to him and crushed his lips onto mine. I widened my eyes in shock.

  What in God's name was happening?

  "Dominic, stop it!" I growled into his mouth.

  He ignored me and simply took advantage of my open mouth to slip his tongue inside. I honestly thought about biting him, but I was afraid his blood would get in my mouth if I did that.

  "Shut up and kiss me, baby. Just fucking kiss me!" Dominic snarled as he sucked my bottom lip into his mouth.

  I squeezed my eyes shut and forced myself not to kiss him back.

  Think of the first time he kissed you, what did that lead to? Him trying to seduce to and fingering you in the hospital. Think of him bullying you, teasing you, making fun of you, torturing you every day in school and him loving every second of it. Think of him with Destiny and Lexi and Sammy and Jenny and Ciara and-

  "Stop thinking and kiss me," Dominic growled again.

  I opened my eyes and shook my head. "No," I replied, licking my lips and tasting him on them. "You're up to no good, I know you well enough to know you don't like me like you think you do. You hate me just as much as I hate you and you're tryin' to-"

  "I'm trying to kiss my girl, that's all," Dominic cut me off.

  "Your girl?" I gasped trying to pull away from me him, but he didn't let me move.

  Did he not take me seeing him almost kissing Destiny as a big fat fucking break up?

  Dominic grinned. "You've been my girl since you slapped me across the face two days after I met you. No girl has ever hit me before for touching their ass, but you did and you insulted me to no end and openly professed your hatred for me every day you encountered me after that. I like it in a weird, twisted way. You don't fall for my bullshit, Bronagh, you're yourself with me. You don't act the way you think I want you to act just so we can hook up. You avoid me at all costs and refuse to look at me most days; you're amazing."

  I gaped at him. "You're so fucked up. You actually like me because I hate you?"

  Dominic laughed. "No, I like you because you stay true to yourself and aren't in the slightest bit fake. You're also really gorgeous and have a great ass, but those things are just a plus. I really just like you for you."

  Dominic Slater, my arch enemy, had just admitted to liking me. I knew he had liked me for a while now, and after last night I definitely knew, but hearing him saying it out loud like this for the first time still made me a little weak.

  Why did my heart contract and stomach swim with butterflies over that declaration?

  I knew the answer to that question easily; I liked him back.

  A hell of a lot.

  "I'm overlookin' the pig headed comments about me looks and arse and also overlookin' your current brain fart. You don't like me Dominic. You like Destiny or was there another reason you almost stuck your tongue down her throat in reg class today?" I snapped.

  I hated how much that situation actually annoyed me.

  Dominic grinned. "I didn't almost kiss her, babe. She was in my face to try and bribe me into kissing her, but I wasn't about to cave, not when I just got you. If it was a test though, you would have passed with flying colours"

  "A test?"

  Dominic nodded. "Yeah, you're like a closed book sometimes. I don't have a clue what you're feeling or thinking, but when Destiny was close to my mouth, and you went red in the face, I knew it had made you mad."

  I felt myself blush. "No, it didn't. I don't care-

  "Yeah, you do. You don't like me kissing Destiny, and I'm betting you don't like me kissing anybody else either, do you?"

  I looked away from him, but he grabbed my chin and forced me to look back at him.

  "Do you?" he repeated.

  Did I like Dominic kissing other girls?

  I really didn't.

  "No," I murmured.

  He smiled in triumph. "Good because I don't like kissing anyone but you. I know I'm a prick and that you aren't my biggest fan, but I want to be with you. I think I'd kill if you belonged to someone else."

  "Belonged? I'm not a piece of fuckin' property-"

  Dominic grinning made me stop mid-sentence.

  "What?" I growled.

  He shrugged. "Stop being so defensive with me, babe. I want you, and you want me. Just admit that to yourself and we can move on from here."

  I huffed, looked away from him and closed my eyes.

  "I have issues, Dominic-"

  "Look who you're talkin' to," he cut me off laughing. "Don't preach to me about issues."

  I sighed again, opening my eyes and looking back to him. "No, I've issues with… with… lettin' people get close to me."

  He smirked again. "I'm pretty close to you right now, babe."

  I rolled my eyes and punched his arm. "No, I mean in here," I snapped and pointed to my heart, only to drop my hand and look away.

  "Bronagh," he murmured.

&n
bsp; When I wouldn't look at him, he pulled me closer to him and kissed my cheek. "Babe, there is nothin' wrong with letting someone get close to you. This isn't the same as what happened with your parents."

  I closed my eyes at the mention of them. "Please, don't talk about them. I love and miss them, but they are gone. Talkin' about them just hurts me chest."

  Dominic kissed my check again and nodded his head in understanding. "Okay, I won't mention them again, I just want you to know this isn't the same."

  I snorted. "Yeah, it is, if I start to care about you - more than I already do - and somethin' happens that takes you away, then I'll be hurt. I already lost two of the loves of me life Dominic; Branna is all I have left. I don't get close to people, because I can't handle knowin' they could leave me without a second's notice. It terrifies me, okay?"

  I felt another kiss on my cheek. "I won't ever leave you. That's something you should know about me, baby. Once you're mine, I won't ever let you go. I'm a stubborn prick eighty percent of the time, so even if you want to leave me, I still wouldn't let it happen."

  I would say ninety-nine point nine percent of the time.

  My heart was pounding against my ribs as he spoke, my feelings for him deepening with each passing second. "You have to promise you won't leave me, say it."

  Dominic nuzzled his nose against my cheek. "I'll promise never to leave you if you promise not to hurt me." He grinned.

  I rolled my eyes at his playfulness. "I promise."

  "I promise, too."

  I sighed then. "What if you get bored of me?"

  Dominic just looked at me and said, "Babe," as if what I just said was stupid.

  I rolled my eyes again. "What if you get punched in the head and die?" I questioned.

  Dominic shook his head. "I can't promise you I won't die because no one knows when that boat comes for them, but I'm not letting you out of this because you're afraid of death. Death is a part of life, babe, everyone and thing dies at some point. I just want you around me until that day comes."

  I let my jaw drop.

  "Deep, huh?" Dominic snorted.

  He wanted me around until he died which could be tomorrow or seventy years from now. So yeah; it was fucking deep.

  "Eh, yeah!"