Page 206 of Wicked Savage Cruel
He just stares for a beat and says, “Fine, let’s see it. If he’s wrong, I’ll apologize for him being an asshole.”
My eyes widen. “What? No!”
He gives me anare-you-serious expression.“It’s a swimsuit. I’ve seen you in a swimsuit.”
Dominique is shaking beside me fighting not to laugh. I push him. “This is your fault.”
He smirks. “Show him the suit, Baby Henderson.”
I grind my teeth together. Fine. I’m not embarrassed. I fucking rocked this swimsuit. With my eyes on his, I tug the t-shirt off. Dominique’s eyes stay trained on my face, but I don’t miss the hitch in his breath.
There’s a gasp. “Jesus Christ.” That was from Aaron. “Don’t look at my little sister like that, you fucking perv.” That catches both our attention, but when I look, Aaron isn’t talking to Dominique, he’s glowering at the guys he’s been playing corn hole with. “She’s only se—“
“Hey!”
He turns.
“Don’t you dare,” I warn. If he tells everyone I’m seventeen I will murder him. He must see that in my eyes, because he manages to keep his mouth shut and gives Dominique some weird look. Silent communication passes between them, and then the shirt is being shoved back over my head, only this time when my head pops out it’s to see Aaron heading for the door.
I follow him, Dominique right behind me, and as soon as we’re all safely inside Aaron whirls on me. “What the fuck were you thinking? Do you know what goes through those guys' heads when they look at you? Shit.”
I wait. I’m not really sure what is happening right now. Aaron has always been protective, but he’s also always let me do my thing. This is different. Almost like he’s spiraling. I don’t think all this anger is really about me. At least I hope it isn’t.
“It’s a swimsuit. I’m at a party in my own house I might add. I don’t care how guys look at me or what goes on in their head. As long as they don’t touch me without permission, I’m good. You’re overreacting—”
“Overreacting? Overreacting! Jesus Christ.” He spears his fingers through his shaggy blond hair.
“You said that already.”
“Well, it warranted a repeat.”
I smile a little at that. He takes a few deep breaths and then turns to Dominique and gives him a fist bump. “Thanks, man. I appreciate you looking out.”
Dominique grunts and meets my stare. There’s a warning, as if he’s sayingdon’t you dare say a thing about what happened in the classroom.
I glare back, my eyes conveying my own response.I’m not an idiot, asshole.
“I’m gonna go down to the park. I need to get the image of my baby sister in that,” he nods in my direction, “out of my head. I can drop—”
“I’m good. Go ahead. Kasey can give me a lift.”
I scowl, but Aaron’s not paying attention. “Cool man. I’ll see you later back at the house.”
He heads for the door, but at the last second Dominique stops him. “Yo!”
He waits until Aaron turns to face him. “If something comes up, you call. You hear me?”
More silent communication passes between them, and damn, is that sort of creepy. I know Aaron and Dominique are friends. Best friends now. But it’s like they have their own language, and there is seriously something going on with my brother that definitely has nothing to do with my swimsuit.
NINETY-TWO
Kasey
And then there were two. Aaron leaves to go boarding, leaving me and a very shirtless Dominique behind. Right. Clothes. He needed clothes. Which meant I needed clothes. Gah.
I head for my bedroom, conscious of Dominique’s silent steps behind me. Once inside, I head for my dresser and pull out a pair of yoga pants and a sweater. I look down at the shirt. I don’t want to give it back. It’s soft and comfy and it smells like him. Like cinnamon and sandalwood and yum.Oh my god.I cannot believe I thought that. Not keeping the shirt. I am not that girl and no, I am not hung up on him. Just no. He’s an asshole. An inconsiderate, domineering jerkface.
I pull it over my head and hold it out to Dominique, who’s just standing there. Staring. It’s the first time I’ve gotten a good look at his front and yeah, it's just as good as the back. Better actually, which is completely unfair.
