Page 121 of PS: I Hate You

“Onlyallthe time. Dom this, Dom that. We have no lives outside of our Dominic Perry fan club. Adam is arranging our annual conference in your honor. I’m in charge of the swag. I’m thinking shirtless blow-up dolls that look like you.”

“Maddie,” he huffs. “You can’t say stuff like that.”

“Why not? Saying stuff like that is ninety percent of my personality.”

“Because when you go on nonsense tangents at my expense, I want to kiss you. Then fuck you until all you can say is my name.”

“Dom!” I gasp.

“Just like that.” He grunts. “And now I’m hard at my desk.”

“That is entirely your fault. And here’s your boner killer. What do I say to Adam?”

“What do you mean?”

My gut churns, and I have a flashback to that motel in Delaware where I threw up what felt like my entire soul when Dom rebuffed me after I kissed him.

“He asked if something happened on our last trip. And we both know somethinghappened.”You said you wanted me in your perfect future.“I just want to know what we’re telling people.”

And I need you to be the one to pick the words.

There’s a pause on the other end of the line and dread liquifies my bones until I slip out of my chair and settle under my desk. I really wish I weren’t in a cubical right now. Luckily, the office has mostly emptied out for the lunch hour.

Finally, Dom speaks. “I want you, Maddie. In every way I can have you. As your boyfriend. Your partner. Whatever you want to call us. But it needs to be just you and me. Monogamous. I’m yours. Only yours.” His inhale is heavy and audible. “Are you mine?”

Warmth starts in my chest, then spreads through every one of my limbs, regrowing all my bones until I’m ready to get up and start dancing. Or at least crawl out from under my desk.

“Uh, yes. Okay. Sure,” I say, starting to frown at my inability to speak like a mature adult. “I mean, I’ve got to say yes, right? I’d lose my membership to the Dominic Perry fan club if I didn’t.”

His laugh is a ragged growl. “You’re adorable. And frustrating.”

“I think what you meant to say was gorgeous and intriguing.”

“Cute and aggravating.”

“Effervescent and captivating.”

“All those,” he relents. “Plus, sexy as fuck.”

The way he speaks the irresponsible word in his deep, tantalizing voice is too much for midday on a Monday. Plus, I just agreed to behis, and my mind is struggling to come to terms with that fact.

And trying not to panic.

I need a moment without his sinful voice in my ear to process these last five minutes of conversation.

“Glad we agree,” I chirp. “Love you! Bye!”

I hang up.

Then gape at my phone.

I said it again. We went through that whole conversation without acknowledging my slipup, and then I said it. Again.

With a groan, I toss my phone across my desk before burying my head in my arms.

Chapter

Thirty-Six