Page 34 of Gemini
“No…”
She gazed at me suspiciously but didn’t pry. “You’ll stay safe and won’t let this happen again.”
“I won’t.”
Looking me over one last time, Andrea grabbed her things and left.
The silence grew around us. For nearly a minute, I lay against Dom’s chest, listening to his breathing, feeling his chest rise and fall behind me. He was warm and large. His arms around me held me protectively. It was…nice. Comforting.
I sniffed, then grimaced as I tasted blood. My whole body ached still, worse now that the adrenaline had subsided. My legs were sore, and I realized the gauge on my leg brace was broken—cracked.
“This sucks,” I mumbled, breaking the silence.
There was a second more of quiet and then I felt Dom’s chest shake. A low rumble. He was laughing.
I started to laugh too. We laughed together for a moment until it started to hurt to laugh and I had to stop.
Dom shifted, and I heard a tapping sound behind me before he brought his phone screen into my view.
They will pay for what they did.
I thought about Leslie out there now, going to exact some kind of revenge. “I don’t want you two to get hurt because of me.”
He tapped again, then brought the phone in front of me.We aren’t scared. But they will be.
Before I could reply, he carefully moved me off him so he could stand, setting me down against the couch.
“Where…are you going?” I asked as he turned away. He put up a hand to tell me to wait then he disappeared down a hallway.
I clutched the little pill bottle in my hands, the pills rattling within as my hand trembled. My mouth was starting to go dry. My eyes drifted over to the kitchen and the sink then around the rest of the room. The apartment was super spacious and mostly bare save for a few framed pieces of art and one whole wall painted (sleek and colorful with a cyberpunk sort of feel). There was a shelf with a couple models of classic cars. Another smaller shelf sat under the TV with a row of books and DVDs and a PlayStation 5 on top. The place was clean with little clutter save for a stack of notebooks on a table near the kitchen. There was soft light that lit one whole wall, giving the place a calming effect. At the foot of the couch was a thick black rug. There was a large window just past the kitchen where I could see the lights of the cityscape in the distance.
This had to be Dom’s apartment. It was interesting to see how nice and developed it was compared to what I had seen of other parts of the building, especially the outside which looked like an old building, contradicting the modern look of the apartment. In a strange way, it was good to know they were doing well, considering several months ago they were staying in an abandoned church.
Dom returned, moving into the kitchen. He poured a glass of water then came over and handed it to me. I took it gladly, taking careful sips, trying not to flinch at the cut on my lip. As Idrank, he took the pill bottle from me and popped the lid open. He grabbed one blue pill then brought his hand up to my mouth.
My eyes flicked up to his curiously and I opened my mouth, allowing him to set the pill between my lips. I slid it back with my tongue then took a generous swig of the water, swallowing the pill whole. “Thanks,” I rasped after I took my last gulp.
He watched me carefully before nodding his head. Then he disappeared down the hall again. He came back not long after, bending down over me, and scooping me up into his arms.
A little gasp escaped me as I instinctively wrapped my arms around him. “Where—” I started to say but realized his hands were full and I’d know soon enough where he was taking me.
He took me down the hall, passing one room to enter a bathroom at the end of the passage. Like the rest of the apartment, the bathroom was modern and looked almost new. There was a standing shower to one side but Dom didn’t take me there. He sat me down on the toilet seat next to a tub which was filled halfway with water.
My muscles stiffened as I glanced down at the tub then down to my clothes. They were covered with dirt from the street and from the dirty shoes that had stomped on me. My arms were scraped up and covered with dirt too. I could only imagine how my hair and face looked.
I felt a surge of embarrassment as Dom collected a bar of soap and cloth, setting both on one corner of the tub, then he brought over a two-in-one shampoo from the shower, placing it on the ground. He straightened and looked down at me for a moment before bringing out his phone and typing. “I can help you get in.”
He meant in the tub. I shifted a little, feeling my pulse flutter. I could probably manage to get my shirt off eventually, but my pants might be another issue since I couldn’t stand. Which wasanother thing—having to climb in. Just moving even a little hurt. It was either endure the pain or let Dom see me naked.
I chewed on my lip, thinking. Maybe it was the pain messing with my head or the pill starting to take hold so soon, but I found I didn’t entirely care if he did. The bath looked so inviting. And something about Dom made me feel safe. I believed—or at least badly wanted to believe—he wasn’t some creep. He’d never made me feel uncomfortable before. Even if I didn’t know him as well as I’d like to, I still felt he was a decent, trustworthy guy.
Maybe Andrea should’ve stayed to help me in. Too late now. I gripped my pants and took a deep, shaky breath. “Yeah, um…okay.”
Dom kneeled beside me. He took my hand and squeezed, forcing me to look into his black gaze. He released my hand and texted. “I will keep my eyes averted.”
I cleared my throat, brushing my knuckles over my face, feeling my cheeks go warm. “I-It’s fine,” I murmured. “I…I trust you.”
There was a spark in his gaze, a smirk playing on his lips. He put his phone on the sink, then reached for my shirt. I let him grip the ends of my shirt and pull upward. I lifted my arms slowly, hissing at the aching pain. Gently, he removed my shirt and let it drop on the ground. Before I could move my arms entirely, he reached around and unhooked my bra, letting it fall. I quickly covered my breasts with one arm and a little giggle escaped me. My face heated even more as I glanced at him. “Ah…sorry, just…” I giggled again. “Didn’t think you’d unhook that so fast.”
