Page 16 of Twisted Obsession

After brushing himself down, Dominic gives me an almost terrified look and excuses himself before I can say anything else. “I’m sorry,” he apologizes, looking awkward. “I need to take a shower.”

He strides into the bathroom, not giving me the chance to explain myself.

I sit there, bewildered, as the bathroom door clicks shut behind him. The sound of running water soon follows and my cheeks burn with embarrassment as I replay the scene in my mind. What was I thinking, throwing myself at him like that? He must think I'm completely unhinged.

Wrapping my arms around myself, I collapse onto the mattress, trying to gather my scattered thoughts and make sense ofthe tumultuous emotions swirling inside me. Gratitude, shame, confusion, and a lingering fear all battle for dominance.

Minutes tick by, marked only by the steady sound of the shower. I wonder what Dominic is thinking, if he's as unsettled by our encounter as I am. When the water finally shuts off, I tense, unsure of what to expect when he emerges.

The bathroom door opens, releasing a cloud of steam. Dominic steps out, hair damp and a towel wrapped around his waist. He pauses when he sees me, his expression guarded.

"Roisin," he begins, his voice gentle but firm. "We need to talk."

I nod in agreement. I really need to explain and bring him around to my way of thinking.

He looks around the room, and it’s then I realize he doesn't have a change of clothes. “Here…” I pass him the sweats and the second of the two tee-shirts he gave me, since for comfort I’m only wearing the boxers underneath the other tee. He grabs them and ducks back into the bathroom, giving me a moment to clarify everything I want to say.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves as I hear Dominic rustling around in the bathroom. When he emerges, fully dressed this time, I force myself to meet his eyes.

"I'm sorry," I blurt out before he can speak. "I shouldn't have... I mean, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

Dominic sighs, running a hand through his damp hair. "It's okay, Roisin. I understand you've been through a traumatic experience. It's natural to have intense emotions right now."

His words, though kind, make me feel small and foolish. "It's not just that," I insist, needing him to understand. "You saved me.You're the first person who's shown me real kindness in... I don't even know how long."

He sits down in the chair across from me, his posture tense. "I appreciate that, but you don't owe me anything. Especially not... that."

I flinch at the implication. "That's not what I meant. I just... I feel safe with you. Protected. Is that so wrong?"

Dominic's expression softens slightly. "No, I would never hurt you, but…”

I stop him, needing to say my piece. “The thing is, I’m…” Damn, this is so much harder than I expected, and Dominic is all patience, even though I know I freaked him out with my initial demand. “I’m a virgin,” I blurt out, putting my reality out there. “When the Viper attacked me, told me what he wanted to do to me, all I could think about was how that would be my first experience.”

Dominic looks aghast, though I’m not sure which part of my confession has put that look on his face. But since he’s not saying anything, I push on. “I just want…” I shake my head, the words not coming out the way I want them to. “When I have sex for the first time, I want it to be…” The word special is on the tip of my tongue, but I know saying it will only push Dominic away.

I huff out a breath. “I want it to be something—someone—Ichoose. I don’t want it to be by force, and the way things stand right now, that’s what’s going to happen,” I whisper, praying he’ll understand.

“So, I want you to make love to me. I want to have control over that one small part of my life, even though control is not something I can claim right now.”

Dominic's expression shifts from shock to sympathy, his brow furrowing as he processes my words. For a long moment, he's silent, and I can almost see the internal struggle playing out behind his eyes.

Finally, he leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Roisin," he says softly, "I understand why you feel this way. Really, I do. But I can't be that person for you."

My heart sinks, and I open my mouth to protest, but he holds up a hand, silencing me gently.

"It's not that I don't find you attractive, or that I don't care about your wellbeing," he continues. "But you're in an incredibly vulnerable position right now. You've been through hell, and you're still in danger. It wouldn't be right for me to take advantage of that, no matter how much you think you want it."

Tears prick at my eyes, frustration and embarrassment warring inside me. "But I'mchoosingthis," I insist. "Isn't that the whole point?"

Dominic shakes his head. "Choice isn't just about saying yes or no in the moment. It's about being in a place where you can make that decision freely, without outside pressures or fears influencing you."

He leans in, his eyes earnest. "Right now, you're scared. You're traumatized. And you're looking for any way to regain control over your life. I get that, I really do. But using sex as a way to find it... It's not healthy, Roisin. And it's not fair to either of us."

I feel the tears spill over, hot tracks down my cheeks. "So, what am I supposed to do?" I ask, my voice cracking and an edge of bitterness seeping through. "Just wait until the Viper comes for me again? Let him take that choice away from me completely?"

Dominic's expression softens further. He reaches out, hesitates, then gently takes my hand. "No. We're going to find a way out of this. I promise you that. But right now, the best thing I can do is keep you safe and help you get through this."

I want to argue, to insist that he's wrong. But deep down, I know he won’t be persuaded, no matter how much I’ve set my heart on him being my first. The realization, along with all the rest of the trauma from the recent past, crashes over me, and suddenly, I'm sobbing, great heaving cries that shake my whole body.

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