Page 28 of Counterpoint
Zavier snorted and returned his focus to Dom. “Enjoy your gentleman friend. He seems to make you happy.”
Mish said what Dom had been thinking: “But...”
“But friendship is built on trust.”
Dom knew that. But having the words spoken gave them weight. “Yeah, and that’s why I don’t know if it should go further.”
Adrian might not like Domino. Hell, he’d said he barely paid attention to modern music—couldn’t get into it. How the heck was he going to enjoy or even understand what Dom did for a living? And if it didn’t go well...then his secret was out, and his privacy along with it.
He needed Domino to survive onstage, because Dominic Bradley sure as shit couldn’t be a rock god.
“Eh, I’ll figure it out.” He wasn’t sure if he was talking to himself or the rest of the band, but it really didn’t matter. Right now, there were songs to play.
Tomorrow night, there was a dinner to eat and Adrian’s promise to use those leather cuffs on him. If that night went like the last—it would be fucking spectacular.
He’d worry about what to do with Domino if he and Adrian kept seeing each other. Until then, it didn’t really matter.
* * *
During their afternoon break in practice, Dom bit the bullet and texted Adrian, his heart in his throat.
You still interested in dinner tomorrow?
He didn’t actually know which answer he preferred. Sex on Wednesday had been something else, beyond every expectation, and it had rattled him to the core. Adrian was wicked and wonderful and kind and...everything Dom wanted. The promise of those cuffs lit every bit of his insides, but there was still the question in his head of where the hell this was going. Because what Dom wanted and what was the best for the band were two different things.
He’d left the studio, despite the heat, a long-sleeve button-down covering up all his tats. That was a downside to wearing nothing but pants onstage—everyone knew Domino’s tattoos. And since they were also his, Dom hid them when he went out as himself. During a hot summer in New York? Sometimes that decision was a little brutal. But there was a breeze today, and he’d found a shady spot to sit and eat along the Highline, lost in a sea of people.
It was a good fifteen minutes before a reply came.Of course I’m still interested, Dominic. Dare I hope you are, too?
Dom stared at the text, and he could almost hear Adrian’s soft, deep voice speaking those words, including the caress around Dom’s full name.
Yeah. Yes. He was gonna do this.Sure. Just need to know where and when.
The reply came a little quicker this time.I took the liberty of making reservations at Glass Garden for 7 PM. It’s a newer place in the Financial District. Not casual, but the food is exquisite and I think you’ll enjoy it.
Dominic knew the restaurant. He’d been there with the band recently, but as Domino. And yes, it wasn’t casual at all, but of course he’d gotten away with what passed as formalwear for Domino Grinder.
It had actually taken quite a bit of self-restraint to play it cool every time the staff referred to him as Mr. Grinder. He swore they were doing it on purpose.
“I should have picked a better stage name,” he’d murmured to Ray.
“I think it’s perfect.” Ray’s smile had been large and full of teeth. It was so often lately. The melancholy and anxious version of Ray Van Zeller still appeared sometimes, but less and less often. No doubt due to the influences of Zavier.
Mish had patted him on the knee. “How’d you know Grindr would become a hookup app?”
Zavier chuckled. “Hell, Dom, Ray’s right. It is kind of perfect.”
Maybe it was—for Domino.
Dominicwould rather be dating a built computer programmer with a huge library and hands that could put him on his knees. Still didn’t mean he should do that, though.
His phone buzzed.If you’d prefer somewhere else, I can change the reservation.
Dom blinked at the text and realized he hadn’t sent one in response to the last.No, that’s fine. I can dress appropriately, even. I’ve heard great things.
Domino wasn’t going to Glass Garden, Dominic was, and the staff would call him Mr. Bradley and be none the wiser to who they served. And he could behimselffor once at a place like that.
Might I ask you to wear one of your bowties? I do like seeing you in them.
