Page 25 of Prince of Malice

“That’s not an answer.”

“I don’t know,” I repeat. “I-I found out you were here and that you could be in danger and?—”

“I am fine,” he interrupts.

“How could I have known that?”

“Still doesn’t explain why you came. Why should you care if I’m okay?”

“Because…because,” I stutter. “I needed to know.”

“Just leave me the hell alone.”

“I wish I could.”

“What does that mean?” he hisses.

“I feel like I hate you,” I snarl. “But no matter where I go, you always seem to be there. And no matter what I try to do, you are the only thing that I can think about.”

“Maybe you should try harder.”

I move closer to him, half-flinching when Dominic does the same to stand his ground.

“Can you honestly say to me now that you want me gone? Can you look me in the eyes and tell me to leave?” I scream, not even caring who might be around to hear.

Dominic grits his teeth and stares at the ground before my feet. “Go!”

“I said to look at me.”

He tilts his face to meet my eyes, staring me down. His breathing grows heavy and rough, and I can hear it clearly despite the distance between us.

“Why can’t you say it?” I ask him.

“Why did you run away?” He rejects my question and asks his own.

“What?” I know exactly what he means, but I can’t bear to think about it.

“At the party.” He pauses. “At the party, you kissed me. I didn’t want that, but still, you kissed me and then you ran away. You left me there.”

“Why did you kiss me back?” My emotions swell in my throat.

“Answer my question.”

“You answer mine.”

“I don’t know,” Dominic admits. “ And I don’t know why I can’t tell you to leave.”

“And I don’t know why I ran.”

Quickly, he launches himself toward me, the same way he’s done before. Expecting it, I throw my hands up to push back against his and block his hold of my wrists.

However, this time he grabs me by the waist and shoves me against my car. My back thuds against the metal door, sending shocks all the way up my spine and throwing me off balance.

He presses me firmly against the vehicle and kisses me tenderly on the lips.

Tenderly in a way I had no idea he was capable of.

Pulling away, Dominic looks me deep in my eyes and says, “Are you going to run away again?” His eyes flash dark green and dangerous.

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