Page 85 of Counterpoint
Adrian shrugged. “I think Dominic Bradleyisa rock star. I think he’s also a scholar and incredibly intelligent. He’s sexy and fun and utterly unexpected. He looks damn fine in my ropes, too.” He twined Dominic’s fingers in his own. “And I want to know more about him...about you. I want to know the whole you.”
Dominic tossed the magazine between them, but didn’t pull his hand away. “You were so mad at me for this.”
That hit hard enough that Adrian flinched. “Yeah. I know. I shouldn’t have been. It’s—” He struggled to put his emotions into thoughts—he was a shitty poet, too. “It’s your secret to tell. I knew there were aspects of your life you weren’t sharing, and that was your right. I mean, I’m just a guy you met at a bar—”
“You’re more than that.” Dominic’s voice was tight.
“Now, yes. But—no one has the right to demand everything from you. You weren’t ready to tell me. And I shouldn’t have gotten mad because you didn’t. End of story.” Even when he’d discovered Dominic’s secret. After all, tonight he’d have found it all out anyway, and from the proper source. “I wish I could rewind to lunchtime and not bothered with the bookstore.”
Dominic grunted. “I didn’t know how to tell you earlier. Because the thing is—I don’t want anyone to know. I mean, outside the band. They know.”
And Adrian wasn’t the band. “Is it...anxiety?”
“Kinda? That was the diagnosis way back when. My parents dragged me to see someone after that talent show, and they wanted me to stop the whole ‘band nonsense’ as they called it. But Iwantedto be in Ray’s band.” He laughed. “And the therapist agreed I should try. We worked on coping mechanisms and the like, and the panic attacks lessened. This was the first really bad one in years.”
“Fuck, I’m sorry.” Adrian shouldn’t have been such a shit.
“But I should have told you. I mean, I trusted you enough to let you tie me up. After that weekend—” The throw slid off Dominic’s shoulders. “I was so fucked up, because it was perfect and beautiful and you’ve given me so much of myself.”
He turned and held out his other hand. Adrian took it.
“Fuck, Adrian. After the first time you put cuffs on me, I should have been able to tell you that I’m hiding from my big-name rock-star persona because if the world sees me like this, the twink in button-downs, I’m probably gonna pass out. And no one will ever look at Domino the same way again.”
Except with the world the way it was...it would come out eventually. Secrets were hard to keep. But Adrian didn’t voice that, not now. “I won’t tell anyone.”
Dominic nodded. “I know we were supposed to go to dinner—”
“I’ll cancel the reservation.”
“No,” Dominic breathed out. “Maybe move it back a little? Still gotta eat and I want... I want to do something normal with you. Be your boyfriend. Be—myself.”
Of course he agreed. He kissed Dominic’s hand, then rose from the floor to call the restaurant. By the time he was done, Dominic was standing, too, the magazine in one hand, the blanket in the other. He stared at the cover, his brows furrowed, then tossed the blanket on the couch. “Are you gonna read this?”
“I’d like to, if that’s okay.”
One of Dominic’s smiles cracked through all the worry and pain. “Yeah. I think I’d like that. You’re right. This is my life, too.”
It was, and one Adrian desperately wanted to know more about.
Dominic handed him the magazine. “I should go piece myself back together well enough so we can eat.”
The cover was slick under his fingers, and cool. Such a contrast between that and the warm, rough man before him. “My house is yours, Dominic. Always.”
Dominic’s eyes widened. “Do you mean that?”
“Yes. Absolutely.” He opened his arms and Dominic folded into them, their cheeks brushing. “I adore you. I love you. I don’t want you to hurt. You can always come here.”
“Library and all?” The words were muffled into Adrian’s sweater.
“Especially there.” He stroked that lean back. It was glorious naked, and perfect clothed. He wondered what it looked like onstage.
Dominic pulled back, and that beautiful grin had returned. “I’m so glad you sat down next to me all those weeks ago.”
“Me, too.” Because that moment had changed Adrian’s life. He didn’t know exactly where he was headed, but he was excited to find out.
Chapter Sixteen
Dom’s body ached as he climbed the steps up to Adrian’s master bathroom. He took off his shirt and bowtie before washing and drying his face. What he really wanted was a nice long shower that he could hide in, cry in, and come out feeling drenched and purified.
