Page 79 of Poles Apart
“I’m worried about you. Those dickheads deserved the police, not for you to let them off the hook.” Dom thought Jacob sounded as mad about it as he was, but he didn’t want to talk.
“Fuck it, Jacob. Just drop it, will you?” he snapped, clenching his jaw. Heknewhe was being unreasonable, but the whole night had been a shit show from the start. The unsteady pole—he’d nearly fallen off and broke his fucking neck—then this. He was done and didn’t need Jacob mothering him, for fuck’s sake.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to control the anger burning in his chest. He opened the door and got out of the car, grabbing his bag out of the back.
“I’ll see you around.” He slammed the car door and stomped towards home. He was so fucking over tonight.
“Dom don’t be like that,” he heard Jacob yell as he walked away. He needed to be away from him and on his own. But before he could reach the door, he was pulled against Jacob’s strong, hard chest.
“Don’t, Dom. Don’t push me away,” he whispered in his ear. “I don’t know what I’d have done if they'd gone any further. It fucking wrecked me to see you like that, helpless with those two monsters pawing at you.” Dom felt Jacob’s warm breath in his ear, and he relaxed against his chest. “But don’t push me away. Iloveyou, and I’m here for you. Right here.” He slowly turned in Jacob’s arms to look into his beautiful face.
Dom could no longer contain the tears that’d threatened to fall since they left the club, and he sobbed into Jacob’s chest.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I feel ashamed and embarrassed.” He tried to pull away, but Jacob held him closer.
“I’m going nowhere, baby. It’s you and me forever. You know that, right? And I won’t let those two dickheads come between us.” Jacob kissed his forehead, and he sank into his arms, taking comfort from this fine man who was willing to stick with him.
“I can’t believe they blindsided me like that. I was an idiot to fall for their plan.” Dom sniffled but felt he needed to explain what had happened.
He sighed and carried on. “They asked me to come into the office to look at some plans for extending the club. They asked me if I would be interested in going into business with them. I stupidly thought they were serious. I feel like such a fucking idiot. I only thought of how it could help me and Jordan. I should have listened to my gut. I don’t know what I’d have done if you hadn’t come along.”
“I know, baby, but Iwasthere, and I’ll always be there for you. Always. You get that, right?”
Dom nodded. He couldn’t have talked if he’d wanted to. His throat was thick with emotion.
Jacob continued. “Now. I want you to go upstairs and straight to bed. I’ll call you in the morning and come around later to see how you are. I have my interview tomorrow afternoon, so we might have something to celebrate.”
Shit, he’d forgotten about that, and he opened his mouth to tell him good luck, but Jacob put a finger to his lips.
“No more. I love you but go to bed. I need you firing on all cylinders tomorrow.”
Dom kissed his finger, and Jacob replaced it with his lips. He melted into the kiss, not knowing why he deserved it or him. He’d been shitty and mardy, taking his anger out on Jacob when in fact, he was the one that had saved him.
He ran his hands up Jacob’s arms and brought him closer, deepening the kiss, trying with all he had to show how sorry he truly was.
They parted, Dom breathless with want and need, but he stepped back. He needed to rest, as did Jacob.
“You need to go to sleep and prepare for your interview, and I promise I’ll go to bed.” He looked at the floor, feeling the need to apologise again. “I’m so fucking sorry, Jacob. I acted like a spoiled child. Talk about being a diva.”
“You’ve nothing to apologise for.” He hugged him again. A shiver ran down his spine, and it wasn’t from the cold.
They parted, Jacob walking back to his car. Dom watched as he drove away, still feeling like a fucking idiot. He’d almost sabotaged the best thing that had happened to him in a long time and all because he was too ashamed to say he’d been stupid.
It was a good job Jacob was as insistent as he was or else their relationship would have been over before it had started.
He let himself into the apartment and was surprised to see Charlie in the kitchen.
“Oh. Hi, Dom. How did it go tonight?” She chewed on the piece of toast she had in her hand, and he was again reminded of Jacob.
He shook his head. “I’m done with them, Charlie. I won’t be going back there to dance again, but that’s a story for another day.”
She nodded but didn’t ask him for details. She said goodnight and went back to Jordan’s room. They’d talked about not moving in together for a while, but he could see it happening sooner rather than later, and he wondered if Jacob would consider taking him in.
* * *
Dom spoke to Seb the next morning, needing to make sure he was OK. He still didn’t mention Jacob, nor did he talk about Heaven. Seb didn’t need the extra worry at this point, and he knew hewouldworry.
He pottered around the flat in the morning, making breakfast for the three of them. Charlie had stayed over again, and he was starting to feel a little like a third wheel. He took himself into his room and lay back on his bed, going over the events of the night before. The feeling of shame was going to take a long time to fade.
