Page 30 of Counterpoint
Wow. Dom’s breath caught. A chance to play these live?
Mish voiced Dom’s next thought. “Before recording the album?”
Ray nodded. “Work out all the kinks, wouldn’t it?”
She laughed. “Honey, the only kinks here are the ones between you and Zav.”
And at that, Ray blushed to high heaven but laughed, too. Zavier just looked incredibly smug.
Dom’s heart tripped over, though. Because, in an instant, his mind was back on Adrian and his eyes, mouth, and words. And that tempting pair of leather cuffs.
“Are you okay, Dom?” Zavier peered over the kit at him.
“Yeah.” He blew out a breath. “Just thinking.”
Zavier studied him a little longer, until Ray rolled his shoulders. “We should probably take a break.”
Dom stripped off his guitar and set it on a stand, grabbed a bottle of water, and headed for the window. He was completelynotsurprised when Zavier ended up there, too, water bottle in hand. A glance told Dom that Zavier hadn’t finished his little game of mind-reading.
But Zavier didn’t say a word, just leaned against the wall by the window.
Dom turned his attention that way, too. “The show idea is fucking fantastic. These songs should be heard live.”
From the corner of his eyes, he caught Zavier shifting and drinking a gulp of water. “You should invite your gentleman friend.”
The thought of Adrian there, seeing him—Domino—onstage raked through Dom like knives. He whipped his gaze to Zavier. “How do you even know I’m gonna keep seeing him?”
“Because you’re happy. And because you have some lovely bruises on your back. Bites, I’m guessing.”
“Zav!” Dom pressed a hand to his forehead. “Why do you always point these things out?”
A chuckle. “Because you’re my friend. And because you’re notnearlyas innocent as you act.”
Well, that was true. Still, the whole thought of Zavier noticing his bruises brought heat to his face. “I mean, there’s the stuff I do, sure. But I don’t need totalkabout it.”
Zavier took a sip of his water. “So why not ask him?”
“Because he’s not into rock music.”
Zavier made a humph sound and turned his attention to the window. “And you’re Domino Grinder.”
“Fuck, I can’t tell him that, Zav!” Even the thought squeezed his heart and lungs. “Domino is—he’s not me.”
“Funny, I kind of thought it was you who worked out that wicked guitar rift just now.”
Dom winced. “You know what I mean.”
Zavier’s shoulders fell. “That’s the thing... I actually don’t.” He put his back to the wall. “I mean, there are a lot of things in this world I don’t understand. But this...bothers me. Because you’rehappywith this Adrian of yours, more so than I’ve ever seen you before.”
Dom sighed and took a long drink of water. “You’re always you.”
“I assure you, that’s not true.” Zavier’s voice dropped. “We all hide things, Dom. Every single one of us, sometimes even from the people we most trust.”
“You and Ray...”
“Don’t hide anything from each other. Not anymore.”
“Did you ever?”
