A/N: Hi guys. Adam still has a lot of suffering to do and mistakes to make before the end of this book. Please bear with his bad choices as things continue. This is a coming of age story so Adam has a lot of growing to do. And unfortunately he will do things that might drive you crazy.
Also, this is a really long chapter, the longest yet. So settle in and get comfy, prepare for chaos.
~*~
I had a restless night of tossing and turning. It had left me ragged, each tick of the clock had echoed the thunderous beat of my heart throughout the night. I hadn't even managed to eat dinner the night before because of the dread I was feeling knowing that Dominic was going to somehow take retribution for the kiss he had witnessed. He had stared at me with a terrifying intensity all throughout dinner while Lily rambled on about how I could approach Ryans feelings for me.
"Your door was locked last night," Dominic stated, his voice cutting through the car's silence like a knife, pulling me out of my thoughts. His words sent a shiver down my spine. Had he tried to enter? I couldn't remember hearing the doorknob, and I was on high alert through the whole night, part of me expecting his attempted intrusion.
I mustered a feeble nod, though, my voice barely a whisper. "It usually is."
The rhythmic tapping of Dominic's finger on the steering wheel felt like a countdown to my doom, each tap amplifying the racing of my heart.
The drive was a silent torment, my mind a whirlwind of panic, wondering when Dom would strike. But as we continued on with no incident, I was surprised he had nothing more to say. I was beginning to allow myself to relax as we got closer to my work. Maybe Dominic wasn't going to do anything about the kiss he witnessed last night. Maybe he was feeling some fear at being caught by Ryan, anxious at the potential of someone other than me exposing our affair. While he knew I'd never tell Lily what we did, he couldn't be sure that Ryan wouldn't.
But my growing relief was short-lived. He suddenly veered off-course, taking the wrong exit which eventually led to a gravel path that promised only seclusion and uncertainty. I sat up attentively, wondering where we were going but he just chuckled at my reaction. The outside world soon faded away and it was just me and Dom, the tension growing the longer he drove.
"Detour," he said simply, the word dripping with an ominous chill. The car came to a halt, and as he turned to face me, I knew that my day of reckoning had arrived. I was definitely going to be late to work.
"I'm not happy with what I saw yesterday," he stated, waiting for me to respond. When I didn't, he continued, "You were silent during dinner, you didn't want to come swimming, and you locked your door... Are you avoiding me?"
My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at him, his words hanging heavy in the air. It was painfully obvious that I had been avoiding him, but admitting it would only invite the chaos of his anger. He had a strange vulnerability and uncertainty that made him feel dangerous and unpredictable as he waited for my answer. I shook my head quickly, denying the truth. There was no telling how he'd react if he really thought I was avoiding him.
"I'm not," I lied, hoping to diffuse the tension. But his narrowed eyes told me he saw right through my facade.
"You know you're mine, right? Because it didn't look like that last night," he said, his voice laced with disappointment as I stared at him wordlessly.
I remained silent as he waited for my declaration of devotion, but it didn't come. At my continued silence, his hopeful expression shifted to anger, and in that moment, I knew I should have at least lied.
Without warning, Dominic unbuckled himself and stormed out of the car, the slam of the door jolting me. Was he so mad that he had to step out to clear his head? I watched in confusion as he circled the car, his footsteps purposeful. Panic gripped me as he reached my door and swung it open. He leaned over me, his hands reaching for my seatbelt. I yelled in protest, pushing against him with all my strength, desperate as he tried to unravel me from the seatbelt.
"Get off!" I cried out, my fear skyrocketing as he forcefully yanked me out of the car.
I crashed onto my knees, his grip on my clothes still tight. The wild rage in his eyes sent shivers down my spine, and a chilling realization struck me: he had brought me here for an execution. He was actually planning to kill me, all because of Ryan.
"Please, Dom," I managed to choke out, my voice trembling. He looked down at me, his expression unreadable.
But then, unexpectedly, he leaned over and opened the backseat door. In one swift motion, he lifted me to my feet and shoved me inside. I stumbled backward, landing on my back. Before I could react, he climbed over me, his hands closing tightly around my throat.
"Stop it!" I choked out, my fingers desperately clawing at his hands. His weight bore down on me, intensifying the feeling of suffocation. Panic surged through my veins, my heart racing with dread. Dominic's ironclad hold on my throat left me struggling for air, his elbows knocking my defending hands aside. "Dom, stop!" I wheezed, seizing the brief moment his grip eased. Suddenly, his hands withdrew, and I gulped down a precious breath, only for his large hand to clamp over my mouth.
"Shut the fuck up," he snarled, his lips descending onto my throat, one hand silencing me, the other restraining my hands.
A strong suction and slight pain told me he was trying to mark me, for everyone to see. I squirmed and mumbled my protests into his palm. Angry tears welled in my eyes and finally he pulled back, smirking as he admired the spot left on my throat. Fury rose in me then and I sank my teeth into his hand. He cursed loudly, yanking his hand back swiftly before impulsively back handing me.
I blinked, stunned by the action, pain immediately pulsing in my temple from the impact. But before I could respond, his palm quickly slapped back over my mouth, this time with his thumb tucked under my jaw to forcefully hold my mouth shut. He was in a blind rage now as he yanked my tucked in shirt out of my pants and undid my belt and zipper easily. I protested into his hand which only made his grip tighten on my face as he fished out my limp dick. He began to jack it off, knowing my hormones would make me more docile in his assault.
My dick began to harden and my muffled objections grew louder, mingled with the hot trail of frustrated tears. With my eyes shut tight and breaths forced through my nose, I fought against a rising tide of panic, as his hand remained pressed against my mouth. I tried to ignore the sharp sting of his nails against my skin, and soon my focus was overtaken by the pressure of his hand on my dick. Memories of Dom's touch, once a source of pleasure, flooded back, threatening to weaken my resistance. Dominic seemed to sense my dwindling struggle, and with a calculated tenderness, his hand left my mouth, his lips taking its place in a silent promise of both comfort and chaos.
He kissed me fiercely while jerking me off, and I was frozen, lips still unresponsive. He gave a frustrated grunt, his hand grabbing my throat roughly, giving it a threatening squeeze, urging me to kiss back. A whimper escaped me, muffled by his mouth on mine, and he smirked, a silent victory that I couldn't escape. Shame coursed through me at my bodies reaction. I tried to summon hatred for his touch but it was impossible. A fiery rage burned in my chest, my self-loathing only helping to fuel it.
Dominic drew back, his gaze locked on my lips, breaths ragged.
"I fucking love your mouth. Kiss me back before I do something I regret," he breathed.
His lips claimed mine once more and my stomach coiled with conflict— a shameful part of me enjoyed him saying that he loved my mouth, and another part was terrified of what he meant when he said 'before he did something he regret.' Had he not already done so much to regret?
With a resigned exhale, I surrendered. I closed my eyes, trying to remember the once-pleasurable sensations. The feelings crept back and I felt a warmth inside me, his touch softening as he sensed my defeat. Pleasure began to eclipse the pain, the intoxicating lure of desire making me question why I had even fought against him in the first place. This was much better than his angry fists. His tongue tasted mine and my moan vibrated against his lips. I sensed his smugness and wanted to scoff at his arrogance, yet my hands betrayed me, pulling him closer. My hands slipped up the inside of his shirt, my fingers tracing the contours of his chest.
He pulled away from the kiss, breathless, and asked, "You're not cheating on me, are you?"
I shook my head at his stupid words and pulled his face closer to mine. I didn't care about his doubts or what he thought was happening between us. All I wanted was the pleasure his lips brought, a temporary escape from the pain. But he resisted, pulling away from my grasp, denying me the kiss I wanted. I huffed impatiently, wishing he would just shut up and make me feel good. That's all he was good for.
"Say it," he demanded, desire darkening his eyes.
"I'm not cheating on you!" I yelled, my annoyance evident. God, he was so fucking annoying.
"And?" he pressed, his hand teasingly slow on my dick. My breath hitched, and I felt a flutter of anticipation.
"And I'm yours," I forced out, glaring at his pleased expression. I would just have to clarify later that I didn't mean it, when he wasn't in the mood to kill me.
"That's my good boy," he murmured, his eyes scanning my face with deep appreciation. "I've missed you so much."
His mouth crashed onto mine, continuing the kiss, and I could sense his overwhelming joy. I kissed him back, a sadness settling in my chest for enjoying his words. I was sad for lying to him, and even sadder that a foolish part of me missed being his "good boy." It was infuriating. His hand moved swiftly on my dick, as if rewarding me, and I could feel my imminent climax building within me. His mouth, hot and hungry, kissed me with a fervent passion, and I held him close, losing myself to him.
But then his kiss abruptly ended, and his hand fell away, leaving me in a sudden stillness. Blinking in confusion, I met his gaze, now smirking down at me with insufferable arrogance.
"What the fuck?" I growled, reaching for his hand, trying to force him into continuing. But he easily slipped from my grip with a chuckle, his amusement only fueling my frustration. His smirk extinguished any lingering desire and it felt as though I emerged from a passionate daze, my anger suddenly spiking.
"You don't want to make a mess before work, do you?" he teased, extracting himself from the car with infuriating grace. He leaned down to peer into the backseat where I was still sprawled on my back, dick out and aching with unresolved yearning. Oh this motherfucker.
Humiliated, I hastily shoved my dick back into my pants and made myself presentable again. I remained in the backseat, seething, as Dominic made his way back to his spot behind the steering wheel. Since my arousal was gradually fading at the lack of his touch, the pain was finally catching up to me. My face burned with more than just embarrassment; a dull throb of my head echoed the strike of his earlier aggression, and the sting of scratches marked where his nails had gripped my face a little too tightly. A headache was imminent, a throbbing souvenir of Dominic's cruelty.
Fastening my seatbelt, I caught Dominic's watchful eyes in the rearview mirror, my glare sharp as daggers. Phone in hand, I used the camera as a mirror to inspect the damage. The deep red hickey on my throat was a blatant brand, a crimson warning to anyone that dared to touch me. It was going to be impossible to conceal from coworkers or Lily. Fuck. The sadistic asshole had marked me, leaving his claim etched onto my skin. My reflection mirrored the fury within, urging me to lash out at Dominic for his careless branding. I wanted to yell, call him stupid for leaving such evidence. But I bit back the words, not wanting to provoke his temper further.
"Let's see him try to kiss you now," Dominic quipped, amusement lacing his voice as he shifted the car into reverse.
His comment earned a scathing look from me, and Dominic did a double take at my expression. He swiftly spun around, his sudden movement making me recoil in fear.
"I'll fuck that look right off your face," he threatened, his tone sharp as a knife. I averted my gaze, focusing on the view outside the window instead, and he chuckled to himself at my response.
The passing fields were a blur as we headed back to town, each mile increasing my yearning for the sanctuary of work. This man was insufferable. Assault me and then leave me hanging when I finally gave in? Ridiculous. The humiliation of succumbing to him, of admitting to being his again, gnawed at me. God dammit. I guess it was better than being strangled to death. Anger bubbled within me, replacing the dread I had been feeling about facing Ryan. The anger coursing through me filled me with an unfamiliar confidence. Fuck Ryan if he wanted to abandon our friendship and leave me with this possessive brute.
I saw the rosy bruise on my neck in the reflection on the window. What if I managed to leave a mark like that on Dominic? He'd probably kill me for real. Maybe I could arrange something to make it look like Dom was cheating with another woman? Then my relationship with Lily would be saved and it wouldn't have been my teenage hormones that destroyed her marriage. The odds of me being Dom's only secret? Slim. He clearly had a taste for forbidden fruit, and I was sure others had to be involved with him somehow. I couldn't account for his actions when he was home alone all day working when I was at school or work
The idea intrigued me. Dom would probably be thrilled if I pretended to be into him, playing the seducer for a change. How would he react if I suddenly took control, and kissed him all over, gave him a feigned devotion that he seemed to crave from me? I had never marked someones skin so I wasn't sure how easy it would be to leave a hickey on him. But maybe I could trick Dom and set him up that way.
Suddenly Dom spoke up, interrupting my plotting. "Adam, never forget that you are mine. You have been mine since the moment I first laid eyes on you."
I blinked, taken aback. He what? When was that? Back when I was fifteen? At his and Lily's wedding? I did very briefly attend his bachelor party, forced to by Lily, but I couldn't even remember speaking to him aside from normal pleasantries. There was no way he meant then. He had to be thinking of when I came to live with them, when he saw me shirtless in their pool for the first time. I could still remember his expression at seeing me on the floaty in his swim trunks, his eyes glued to my bare chest.
"Damn, you're obsessed with me," I scoffed, crossing my arms defensively. A sense of unease stirred within me. But he just smirked, glancing back at me, not denying my words.
Soon enough the car pulled up to the gym. I hadn't looked at him once since he threatened to fuck the glare off my face. I hopped out of the backseat, relieved to be done with the guy.
"Stay out of trouble!" Dom called out as I was about to close the car door. He meant stay out of Ryan, most likely. I leaned down to look into the car, and Dom looked at me expectantly, a slight smile on his face.
"Fuck you," I said, feeling a sense of satisfaction as fury blazed in his eyes.
I slammed the car door shut and hurriedly made my way to the building. I could hear his engine rev and the tires squeal as he peeled out of the parking lot, probably fuming. I let out a sigh of relief as the double doors closed behind me. Hopefully, I wouldn't face any consequences for that later.
My pocket buzzed, and anxiety churned in my stomach as I checked my phone.
"Be a good boy today. Or else." Was all it said.
I scoffed and put my phone back in my pocket, heading to the break room. I put my hoodie away and put my name tag on. On my way back onto the floor, I paused to check the schedule. My gaze fell to Ryans name and saw he was indeed scheduled to work with me today. My heart started pounding, a hint of my earlier anxiety creeping back in. As I stepped out of the break room, I scanned the gym, but couldn't spot him. He must've been avoiding me.
I got to work on cleaning the equipment, on high alert, constantly looking out for Ryan. Soon enough, he was called to the main counter to take over for the guy who was on duty. I finally spotted him emerging from the locker room, his eyes catching mine. His gaze lingered on me for a short moment, his face unreadable, but then he continued on past me, striding past the line of members at the desk. From where he stood, his eyes glanced back to me, casting downward where he saw the bright red mark left by Dominic. With of roll of his eyes he quickly looked away, starting a conversation with a gym member, not even bothering with a customer service smile.
Anger and anxiety welled up inside me. I just wanted things to go back to how they were before, for Ryan to be my friend again. It's not like I asked to be in this mess with Dominic. Couldn't he understand that? But after seeing the mark on my neck, Ryan refused to acknowledge my existence in any way. He must've been pissed and I felt a twinge of sadness in my chest, remembering him kissing me. Did he really even like me? What the hell was that?
The rest of our shift passed with him ignoring me. Every time I stole a glance at him, I felt stupid when he paid me no attention. But I knew he couldn't ignore me when it came time to clock out. Soon enough, we lined up to punch out.
"Hey," I said, hoping to catch his attention, but he continued to ignore me, not even glancing my way.
I felt the wave of embarrassment wash over me as one of our coworkers raised an eyebrow, sensing the tension between Ryan and me. I pursed my lips, feeling awkward as Ryan and I made our way out to the curbside to wait for our rides. I felt so alone as I stood a few feet away from him. Normally, Ryan and I would stand together, chatting away. But now we stood six feet apart, the silence becoming unbearable in the nighttime chill.
Just as the awkwardness reached its peak, I felt a buzz in my pocket. An incoming text message. Part of me secretly hoped it was from Dominic, saying he couldn't make it and that Lily would be coming instead. I checked my phone and saw a text that said, "Will be there soon," with a video attached. Confused and curious, I unlocked my phone to watch the video.
I nearly dropped my phone with shock. It was the video he took of me in the pool, that humiliating moment where he made me remove his dick from his speedo with just my mouth. Anxiety welled up inside me, and I took a deep breath, trying to calm down. What did this mean? Was it some kind of threat? Did he send it to prove that he could expose me to anyone? Or was he really so thoughtless that he considered it a joke? I quickly deleted the chat history, not wanting to see that shameful video again.
As I met Ryan's gaze, he quickly averted his eyes. From his spot, the video was out of sight, but perhaps my panic was palpable enough to feel.
Words failed me as I opened my mouth, then shut it, unwilling to beg for his friendship. My situation was humiliating enough as it was. The flick of a lighter broke the silence, and the faint glow of his cigarette cut through the darkness. Its pungent odor wafted over, triggering the memory of his kiss from last night, and my stomach twisted in anxiety.
"Really?" My scoff cut through the tension. He knew my aversion to cigarettes. Weed was fine. But cigarettes?
His chuckle was dismissive. "You're judging me? That's rich," he retorted.
I huffed, knowing he was right. I had no room to judge. My own actions were the truly disgusting ones. A deep sigh escaped me, heavy with the realization of my isolation. I really had nobody to lean on. No support. I probably wouldn't even have a sister anymore after all this. Ryan inhaled deeply from his cigarette, his exhale slow and indifferent.
"This... This isn't what I wanted," I managed, my voice cracking slightly.
He glanced at me, a flicker of concern in his eyes before he looked away. "Then stop it," he said with an indifferent shrug.
I felt a rush of fear course through me, and I couldn't hold back the admission any longer. "I'm afraid," I confessed.
Ryan's gaze locked with mine, his eyes searching my face for the depth of my despair. His furrowed brows softened, and he let out a heavy sigh. Taking a step closer, he seemed ready to reach out to me, but our moment was shattered by blinding headlights and the screech of tires, causing us both to jump in alarm.
"Let's go!" Dom's shouted through the window, accompanied by a honk of his horn. His earlier anger was still fuming, intensified by the sight of Ryan standing nearby. Behind him, Ryan's dad pulled up to the curb as well.
"Come home with me," Ryan said suddenly, his glare fixed on the furious Dominic in the car.
"Huh?" I could barely believe it. Was it possible to escape from Dom, even if just for a night? Ryan firmly grasped my shoulder and steered me towards his dad's car. Opening the door, he gently urged me inside.
"Adam!" I heard Dominic's voice, filled with frustration, as he slammed his car door. Peering out the window, I saw him approaching our car, his arms raised in a bewildered shrug. "What the fuck?!"
"Dad, go!" Ryan's voice demanded with urgency.
"What on earth?" His dad exclaimed, the car lurching onto the road as he narrowly dodged Dom.
"He's after Adam," Ryan blurted out, and I whipped my head to glare at him, irritated by his disclosure of my business. His dad's eyes met mine in the rearview mirror, confusion etched on his face more than worry.
"That's my sister's husband. He's mad at me," I said, my words tumbling out in hopes of making sense of the chaos. His dad seemed to accept this, pressing on the gas and driving us away from the scene.
Glancing back through the window, I saw Dominic, a vision of pure fury, his hands clawing at his hair in a spectacle of rage, looking more unhinged than I'd ever seen anyone. As his figure shrank in the distance, my phone began to vibrate insistently. I wasn't shocked to see Dom's name flashing on the screen. Ryan's eyes locked with mine, a silent storm of worry for me in his gaze, and with a decisive click, I powered off my phone.
~*~
A/N: Thank you for reading. Sorry that this one was super long and sorry if you hate to see Adam giving into Dom like he did. Thoughts on this chapter?