Page 80 of Chasing After You

“I didn’t think anything.” But the way he said it told me that wasn’t entirely true.

I sat up slowly, pushing the blanket away. “I couldn’t sleep.”

Dorian nodded, sitting up too, keeping some space between us. He didn’t reach for me. Didn’t say anything for a long moment.

“I’m glad you came,” he said eventually. “Even if you don’t want to admit why. It’s been an insane twenty-four hours.”

That it had been. I’d almost forgotten it’d all started with me going on a date with Eli. And now I was in bed with my brother.

“I need to say something,” I said, more serious now. My heart had already picked up speed. “And I need you to actually listen this time.”

His expression shifted immediately—alert, focused. “Okay.”

“The roofies. That’s not okay, Dorian.” I looked at him hard. “You don’t get to make decisions about my body without my consent. I don’t care if you thought I needed rest, or that it was harmless, or that it came from a good place.”

He opened his mouth like he was going to defend himself. I raised a hand to stop him.

“No. Let me finish.”

He closed it again.

“I don’t care if you’ve done worse things before. I don’t care if you thought I’d get over it. You don’t drug me.Ever.I could’ve had a bad reaction. I could’ve gotten sick. You didn’t even think about the risks.”

“I—” he started, then exhaled sharply, looking down at his hands. “You’re right.”

I kept going. “I’m telling you this clearly so there’s no confusion. If you ever do anything like that again—anythingthat takes away my right to choose—I’m gone.”

He looked up sharply, a flicker of something desperate and wild behind his eyes.

“I’ll leave, Dorian. I mean it. I’ll disappear. Or I’ll call the cops.”

The silence between us stretched, thick and brittle.

“I understand,” he said finally, voice quieter than I’d expected. “You’re right. I crossed a line.”

I studied his face. “You say that, but do you actuallygetit?”

His jaw flexed like he wanted to argue, but instead, he gave a small, stiff nod. “Yes.”

I watched him closely, searching for a lie. For a deflection. For manipulation.

“I’ll do better,” he said. “If you give me the chance. Please stay with me.”

I leaned back slightly, feeling the tension ease, just a little. “I talked to Greyson last night. He’s a therapist.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, Ollie suggested I talk through stuff with him,” I said.

“Did it help? What did he say?” Dorian reached his hand out to grab mine, intertwining our fingers.

I nodded. “I don’t think it was what I wanted to hear, but it made me realize some stuff. Oh… and he said to tell you that I’m okay with the uh… with you touching me while I’m sleeping… It’s the drugging part that really bothered me.”

“I promise, angel, never again. The drugging, I mean. Going to fuck you awake on the regular. But… going back to how you said you don’t want me making decisions about your body without consent…”

“Yeah?”

“Have you happened to look in a mirror…?”