Page 36 of Ruined

Maria pulled back, brow furrowing. “You okay?”

“Yeah. Just distracted.”

She swatted my chest. “Better be distracted by me and not some other girl.”

If only she knew.I plastered on a smile and let her pull me deeper into the crowd.

Dominic swaggered into view, slicing through the crowd. His suit clung to his broad shoulders and trim waist. The fabric stretched over his biceps as he adjusted his silver tie. Light glinted off the rings on his fingers. His light brown hair was styled back smooth.

My throat tightened as my eyes tracked the line of his jaw and his mouth curving into a smile. The male bartender grinned back at him as Dominic leaned in to say something, his hazel eyes glittering.

That charming smile.Fuck.

Dominic turned his head, and his gaze crashed into mine.

The breath I’d been holding punched out of me.

His stare locked on to me like a shot fired straight across the room. The noise around us fell away, and all I could hear was the rush of blood in my ears.

I froze.

His gaze slid to Maria. His smile grew taut, and disappeared.

Fuck him. I didn’t need his approval.

I yanked Maria toward me, forcing my lips onto hers. I kissed her. Her tongue played with mine. Slippery and revolting.Goddamn it. I used to be able to do this. Now it made me feel disgusting.

Maria would see through me. She’d tell everyone I couldn’t perform like a man should, and it’d be all over. My grip on Maria’s waist slackened, the taste of her lip gloss lingering like stale sugar.

What would it be like to kisshim?

I shoved down the question, but it spread like fire through dry grass. I pictured him leaning in, fingers tracing my jaw, mouth hovering above mine. I imagined the heat of his breath, the intensity in his eyes, daring me to lose control. There wouldn’t be anything soft about his kiss.

A rough mouth. Whiskey instead of mint. I deepened the kiss. Maria let out a breathless moan, shattering the fantasy. I pulled back, shoving down a wave of nausea, and looked at Dominic.

He wassmilingat me.

Maria yanked on my tie. “Why do you keep looking over there?”

“Nothing. Thought I saw someone I knew.”

“Dance with me,” she pleaded.

“Yeah, sure.”

I pulled her onto the floor.

Dominic laughed at something the bartender said. Some guy clapped him on the back, too damn close for my liking.

Why couldn’t I let it go?

I’d spent the whole morning working out until my muscles screamed. Squats, deadlifts—anything to push him out of my head. I couldn’t. I’d sucked on his thumb. If he would’ve touched me, I wouldn’t have stopped him. I probably would’ve come. From another man’s fucking hand.

Jesus Christ.

I’d been fine before I met Dominic.

I spun Maria around, focusing on her. We danced through another slow song.