Page 52 of Counterpoint
“Youlikehim,” Zavier repeated.
“I like him. A lot. Maybe more than I should.”
“Is there such a thing?”
Dom grabbed eyeshadow next. “Yeah, maybe? I don’t know.”
Zavier crossed his arms and levered his foot up on the opposite doorframe. It was a pose that should have been in a magazine, but those came so natural to Zav. “What was the best moment of your weekend?”
Breath caught in Dom’s throat. That moment in Adrian’s office when he fell on his knees and had held on to Adrian's legs. “I...uh. Don’t know if I could explain it to you.”
Zavier looked at the toe of the leather shoe he had up on the doorframe, pursed his lips, and met Dom’s stare in the mirror. “Try me.”
It was, Dom realized, said in the same tone Adrian sometimes used. He straightened and turned around. “So the morning after he fucked me into oblivion, I woke up and found him in his office. In boxers. Paying his bills. He was just...himself. And we talked and...all I wanted to do was kneel at his feet.”
Zavier’s foot slid off the doorframe and he straightened, his eyes a little wide. “Did you?”
“Yeah, I told him and he let me.”
“And?”
“And that’s it. I held on to him and he played with my hair, and I don’t think I ever felt more calm than in that moment.”
Zavier let out a breath. “I think you should give me his last name, Dom.”
A little spike of panic raced through him. “Was that wrong? What we did?”
Zavier blinked a few times. “No. Not at all. From what you’ve said, it was absolutelyright.”
“Oh.” The panic subsided and Dom turned back to the mirror, his heart still pounding. “Then why...”
“Because you’re myfriend. And Ray’s, and Mish’s, and I’m an overprotective asshole who looks out for his own. Your gentleman sounds fine. But our...interests overlap a bit, I think. And you have me curious.”
Dom looked into a reflection that was mostly Domino Grinder. “He’s Adrian Doran. And I think I might fall in love with him.”
Zavier grunted. “I can’t help you there.”
Dom laughed. “I don’t think anyone can.” Becausefallwas an apt description.
He rooted through the kit and pulled out a blood-red shade of lipstick and put the finishing touches onto Domino Grinder’s face.
* * *
Adrian made it into the locker room before Jackson, but he hadn’t managed to change completely before his friend joined him. Jackson took one look at his torso and whistled. “Someone had fun this weekend.”
While Jackson changed, Adrian gave his friend a once-over. There were telltale bruises on his hips and back, too. “Looks like I’m not the only one.”
That flash of smile was bright, if a bit weary.
“Club conquest or...”
Jackson waved the question away. “Club. You know my routine.”
Except he also knew what Jackson craved—and it wasn’t just a young buck. “This one interesting?”
Jackson made a dismissive noise. “Too young. He’s a player.” He closed the locker and leaned against it. “Don’t give me that look, Adi.”
Adrian held up both hands and held his tongue. He’d given the advice often enough—Jackson should get out of the clubs if he wanted more than Mr. Right Now.
