Page 22 of Chasing After You (Twisted Desires #3)

He smiled at me again gently. And for a second, I thought maybe this really could work. Maybe I could let myself like someone like Eli. He didn’t set my skin on fire, but he didn’t make me feel like I was being watched in the best and worst ways either.

“Hey, that’s fine. I must say I’m surprised, though.

I know you mentioned not having a lot of experience sexually, but I didn’t think that meant you had no experience with guys at all.

Like datewise. That’s okay. Like I said in our messages, we can take things slow.

I really like you, Josh. I have a good feeling about you. ”

I blushed. “Thank you. That’s been an insecurity of mine.”

“Everyone starts somewhere. It’s no big deal. I care more about other things, like how kind I can tell you are,” he said as his hand touched mine across the table.

“You seem nice, too,” I spluttered.

He chuckled, giving my hand a light squeeze before letting it go. “I would hope so.”

We talked a lot over the next hour, covering everything from where we went to school to our favorite streaming shows, and the new dog he’d just adopted.

As it grew later, a subtle shift in the air became noticeable. Couples made out and walked with their hands on each other’s lower backs.

Eli asked after returning from the bar with refills of our drinks, “I know you don’t have any hands-on experience, but what do you think you lean towards in terms of positions or roles in a relationship?”

“O-oh,” I rasped, flustered by the question.

He chuckled and clarified, “You don’t have to answer that if you don’t want to. It was a bit too forward. Sorry about that.”

“Are you… What do you like?” I avoided his eye contact, instead focusing on my drink.

“I’m verse, but I like being the more dominant partner.”

My mind filtered through the terms I’d learned from porn. “That’s when you…” I blushed, lowering my voice. “That’s when you like to give and receive, right?”

Eli laughed, “Yes.”

“Oh…”

“You’re a lot cuter than I imagined. I like it,” he said, smiling.

He thought I was cute?

“T-thank you.” I blushed.

“I’m really enjoying our time together, Josh—”

I didn’t see Dorian walk in, but I felt it.

I turned toward the door, heart already sinking, and there he was. Black jacket, ripped pants. Messy hair, half-up, half-down. That expression that might’ve looked calm to anyone else, but made my stomach twist.

He walked straight to our table, all the while making eye contact with me.

Eli looked confused as Dorian stopped, looming over our table. “Uh… friend of yours, Josh?”

Dorian glared scathingly at him before turning his attention back towards me. “We’re leaving. Get up,” he ordered, his voice cold and serious.

“Excuse me?” I stood up, startled, embarrassed. “What are you doing here?” I turned and addressed Eli, “I am so sorry. This is my little brother. He’s supposed to be at home.”

Dorian growled lowly, “Which is where you should be.”

“I’m on a date—”

“No, you’re trying to convince yourself of something you don’t feel.”

That pissed me off. “You don’t get to say that! You don’t know what I feel!”

He leaned closer, his lips brushing my ear. “I know every single thought that goes through your head, brother . You are going to come with me right now, or I’m going to beat this little prissy bitch to a pulp while you watch.”

“What, no—”

He turned to Eli, gave him a tight, polite nod. “Sorry, find another fucktoy for the night.”

And then he grabbed my wrist, tight enough that I briefly wondered if it’d bruise from his grip. He roughly pulled me out of the bar, towards his bike.

“You can’t just show up and drag me out like that!” I snapped, pulling my arm free. “What the hell is wrong with you? You just ruined any chance I had with him! How did you even know where I was? Did you follow me here?”

He shoved a helmet into my trembling hands. “Put that on.”

“No! What the fuck?” I shouted, pushing the helmet into his chest.

“You were going to make a mistake!” he yelled back.

“What do you even mean?”

“Put. The. Helmet. On,” he seethed, pushing it back at me. “Put it on or I will go in there and shove a spoon into his eye.”

We stood there, breathing hard, neither of us backing down.

“Why are you doing this?” I asked, voice cracking. “Why can’t you just let me do this?”

“Because it would be a fucking mistake,” he said, stepping closer. “Because no one else will ever understand you like I do. No one else will ever love you like I do.”

That word echoed in my head.

Love.

“You don’t love me,” I said, but it didn’t come out steady.

His eyes searched mine. “Don’t I?”

And then he kissed me.

There was no hesitation, no room to pull away—just heat and hunger and all the things I’d been desperately pretending weren’t there. His palms cradled my face like I was something sacred and fragile and his.

I shoved him away, breathless. “Dorian…”

His chest rose and fell, eyes still burning. “You don’t have to pretend anymore.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lied, my voice coming in harsh pants.

“Yes, you do. I would’ve put you over my knee and caned your ass if you’d just admitted that you needed my attention. You didn’t have to come out here acting like a goddamn whore. You’re. Mine.”

I stared at him, unsure if I wanted to punch him or feel his lips against mine again, maybe for longer this time.

“Take me home, please,” I finally whispered, voice hoarse.

Neither of us spoke on the ride back.