Page 16 of Counterpoint
Hot, soft fingers over his cheeks. “But you were sitting there all alone. I don’t understand why you were alone. You’re a gem of a man.”
Except Dominic only existed in the cracks and crevices of Domino Grinder’s life, which left no time for long-term lovers. “I’m notthatinteresting.”
Adrian huffed a breath. “Yes, yes you are.” He nudged him in the shoulder. “A few more blocks, and I’ll show you.”
Dom shivered, even though it was summer and he was wearing a long-sleeve shirt. Yeah, he wanted uncovered and unmasked. So he went and walked and tried not to focus on the tightness of his jeans or the rapid beating of his heart.
They ended their walk in front of a brownstone in the middle of a block. As Adrian had said earlier, not exactly the same neighborhood, but close. Close enough to be local. Close enough that they could become a thing. A serious thing.
The fear caught his throat and scrambled down into his heart. Unmasking himself meant unmasking Domino, which meant Dominic would be the one in the spotlight. The one onstage. And hecouldn’t. He just...couldn’t.
Adrian must have noticed something, because he loosened his grip. “You don’t have to come in.” He spoke in such a gentle, reasonable tone. “We can simply say goodnight.”
Dom shook his head. “It’s not you.” Utterly true. Because if Dominic were anyone else, he’d be thrilled—he was thrilled on a deep level. This felt like a beginning of one of those grand adventures. If not love, then at least a romping good time. But he was also the guitar player of Twisted Wishes, and there was no forgetting that. No abandoning it.
A one-night stand was easy. This...wasn’t that. He didn’t want it to be that.
Adrian took his other hand. “Dominic.”
That voice brokered command and made Dom lift his gaze. Stare into those brown eyes.
“Do you want to come in?” Adrian gave his hands a little squeeze.
“Yes.” More than anything in the world.
A nod. “Then what’s stopping you?”
“The fact that I want to come in.”
Adrian’s shoulders dropped, as did his eyes. He rubbed Dom’s fingers with his own, then let go. “Goodnight, Dominic,” he whispered, the hurt too evident in his stance, his words. He turned to climb the stairs to his door.
“Adrian.”
He didn’t turn, but he did stop. Thank god.
“Please don’t let me walk away.” Because he’d hate himself for weeks and weeks. Because he’d regret everything, maybe for the rest of his life.
Adrian swung around slowly and watched. Eyes intent. Jaw working. Dom couldn’t read the shifting emotions on his face. Not even when he spoke. “Give me your hand, then.”
Dom did, reaching out like Adrian’s fingers were a lifeline. When the grip closed and Adrian pulled him forward, he went, like he had before. Up one step, then another. Adrian didn’t let go when he fished out his keys to unlock his door. Nor when he pulled him into the house and locked them in.
A hand under his chin forced Dom to look up. “Am Ithatterrifying?”
“No. It’s not you. It’s—” He couldn’t put it into words, and that had him laughing. “See, this is why I don’t do lyrics. I can’t actually get the shit in my head out. But it’s not you. Iwantyou.”
A slight smile at that. Adrian swept a thumb over Dom’s jaw. “Love ’em and leave ’em. And I’m not letting you do that, am I?”
“No, you’re not.” Dom leaned into Adrian’s touch. “You’re making me want to come back. Need to see what happens. Which—that’s never happened.”
Adrian’s gaze flickered. “I’m honored to be the first, then. Especially since I’m not particularly special.” He kissed Dom’s forehead, then let go. “Would you like to see my library? I can lend you that book.”
The resistance in Dominic, that awful hesitation, cracked, because Adrian was absolutely that special. And he never could say no to books. “Yeah. A library would be fine.”
“So books and food are the way to your heart.” Adrian laughed. “No wonder I like you.” He nodded down the hall. “Come with me.”
The hall opened up into a living room, well-appointed with wooden floors and a bright rug. And bookshelves galore, plus a huge TV. Despite the books, something told Dom this wasn’t the room Adrian meant. This wasn’t alibrary.
Given that Adrian kept going down another hall, Dom must have been correct. Adrian nodded off to the right. “Kitchen’s that way. Dining room is straight ahead.” To the left was a staircase, and they climbed. He paused when they got to the next floor. “Bedrooms. Bathrooms. My office.”
