Page 44 of Ruined

I nodded and looked away, my gaze fixing on the wall. I hated that he’d seen me like this, but he looked at me like he actually cared. It was hard to keep my guard up.

“I need to take a piss,” I muttered.

He moved closer to the bed and reached out, offering his arm.

Reluctantly, I took it. He helped me sit up. Dominic’s arm slid under my back. His forearm flexed, lifting me upright. The world spun in a lazy circle as I moved my legs to hang over the bed. I tried to stand.

The movement pulled at the wound. My knees buckled, and his arm tightened on my waist. I grabbed onto him, breathing hard. He was so warm. I let myself lean into him, just to catch my breath.

Dominic chuckled. “I always thought my charm made men swoon, but I never thought I’d have to catch you to prove it.”

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

“I don’t need to. You’ve been eyeing me like I’m a five-course meal since the day we met.”

I straightened, fighting the dizziness. “You’re just the gristle stuck in my teeth.”

“And yet, you’re still sampling the goods.”

I stepped toward the bathroom. “More like tolerating.”

“Yeah?” His grip on my waist tightened as we stumbled toward the bathroom. “So you don’t like me holding you?”

“I don’t.”

“Hm. Looks like you do.”

“You see what you want to see,” I growled.

“You keep telling yourself that, sweetheart.”

“Stop calling me that.”

Dominic’s low laugh rumbled through my chest. He guided me slowly toward the bathroom, each step sending a dull ache through my side. I focused on putting one foot in front of the other, trying not to think about Dominic’s arm wrapped around my waist.

Every muscle tensed beneath his shirt. His spicy cologne wrapped around me. Each time I drew a breath, I took in more of him, and the warmth of his body made my skin hum.

I liked it.

God, I liked it too much.

When we reached the bathroom, Dominic steadied me against the sink.

I nudged his arm. “I’ve got it from here.”

Dominic hesitated, then stepped back. “I’ll be right outside. Yell if you need me.”

“Yeah.”

Dominic shook his head as he turned away. I let out a breath, leaning on the sink. After I took a piss and washed my hands, I knocked on the door.

Dominic’s arm slid around my waist. We shuffled to the living room. Dominic helped me sit on the couch. I collapsed into the cushions, pain slamming into my abdomen. Dominic sat next to me, his mouth set in a grim line.

He pulled out his phone. I glanced over. A text from Frank, whoever that was, lit up his screen. Dominic typed a quick response:When are you free?

Was that his boyfriend?

It didn’t matter. He could do whatever he wanted. He wasn’t mine. I really needed him to get out of my space.