Page 100 of Devious Love

She scowls, her brows pinched together, making her look older than she is.

“I’m curious. Why is it that you always have something to say to me about my relationship, but never to Dom?” I rest my forearms on the table, ignoring the tension in my neck. “Is it because it’s easier to spew hatred on your daughter than it is to confront a man who can stand up for himself?”

She lifts her chin, her face reddening, yet she stays silent.

I don’t speak either, letting the silence stretch until it’s uncomfortable. She’s always been harder on me than Matt. And what she’s doing now? It isn’t just about my relationship withDom. This is payback for me choosing to live with my dad. For choosing what was best for me.

A shudder rolls through me, one so violent, Dom feels it too. He squeezes my knee again and moves a fraction closer, silently telling me he’s got me.

And then he speaks, voice low and rough. “I, for one, don’t give a fuck what people think about me.” He angles forward, his focus fixed on my mom. “You don’t like us together? Too bad. And if you think I’m gonna sit here and listen to you tear her down like this, you’re out of your goddamn mind. Grow the fuck up. You’re her mother.”

She glares at him, her lip curling. “You don’t understand. Our neighbors?—”

“Fuck the neighbors. Fuck everyone.” He rolls his shoulders back. “Youare the problem, not them, and we’re done putting up with your bullshit.”

Her jaw unhinges.

Dom stands abruptly, his chair loudly scraping the floor. He looks down at me, his hazel eyes still burning with anger, but the moment I smile at him, full of gratitude, his features soften.

“Let’s go to my place?” He holds his hand out to me.

Without hesitation, I stand and slip my hand into his, relishing the jolt of electricity that courses through me on contact.

“Sorry, Dad. Matt.”

“That’s okay, kid.” Allan nods, his eyes full of warmth as he looks at us. “See you tomorrow.”

Matt stands as well. “I’m headed to my room. I’ve lost my appetite.” He zeroes in on Mom, his face blanching. “I hope you’re happy.”

As Matt strides toward the stairs, I follow so I can collect a few changes of clothes and my backpack. I don’t want to stay here longer than necessary.

Tuggingon the sleeves of the cotton shirt I stole from Dominic’s closet, I shiver. The colder it gets outside, the harder it is for the furnace in his apartment to keep up.

I’m staring at the notepad and the paperback sitting side by side in front of me when the bathroom door opens and Dominic steps out, wearing nothing but a pair of low-slung sweatpants. His hair is wet and tousled, his skin a little pink from the hot water. As I drink him in, my body heats up. Turns out, I don’t need to rely on the crappy furnace after all.

I loved his buzz cut, but the longer hair gives him a rough edge that ignites a fire deep in my belly. It’s cropped close on the sides, with just enough length on top to run my fingers through…and damn if I don’t do that all the time.

“What are you doing?” he asks, stepping closer.

“Trying to decide whether to read or work.”

His lips tug down as he crouches beside the bed so we’re eye to eye. “Are you eating enough?”

Confusion rushes through me. “What?”

He brushes a thumb over my cheekbone. “You look thinner.”

“I’ve been busy, but I grab food when I can.” I chuckle. “But everything’s fine; don’t worry.”

He scrubs a hand over his face, eyebrows furrowed. The expression sends a chill through me. I hate to make him worry, to be a burden. So, I stand from the bed, pull my iPad out of my bag, and quickly pull up a design I’ve been working on.

“One day, when the custom shop is off the ground, you should build a bike for yourself.” I tap the screen to enlarge the image. The black design is sleek and shiny—a raven, reminiscentof the one inked on his arm. “And when you do, I think it should be this.”

He hovers beside me, not moving, his hazel eyes locked on the screen. “You did this for me?”

My heart pangs with affection for him. “I wanted to give you something special for your birthday. I hope you like it.”

His breath hitches, and he swallows audibly. Then, he drops back onto his ass.