CHAPTER NINE
NOAH
Scrolling through Dominik’s social media profiles made me hate myself a little. I’d been fighting the urge for days now. Finally, I gave in.
Lying on the couch in the living room of the four-level split I shared with Damon, I surfed through Dom’s Instagram. He wasn’t the type to post much. Most of his photos were party pictures from the graveyard parties the Kings liked to throw.
I studied a photo of Dom and Casper doing shots together. Dom had his head tipped back, bringing the small glass to his lips. A slight smile on his face. That motherfucker didn’t deserve to be so goddamn hot.
Since receiving the request to take him out, it’s all I’d been able to think about. I started watching him more on campus. When he didn’t know I was around. Sneaking peeks at him on his way to class. Following him through the parking lot.
A few times he’d almost caught me. Maybe I wanted to be caught. I wondered what he would do.
Even though it was early evening, it was already dark outside. What were the Kings up to tonight? Needing to appease this urge I had, I told Damon I was going out for a bit. Then I got in my car and drove over to the house Dom shared with Stray and Auryn.
I parked down the street where I could see the house without being seen myself. Dom’s all black Audi sat in front of the house. Knowing he was inside made me a little crazy. He was so close.
Stalking my targets wasn’t part of my routine. This wasn’t how I usually handled a job. Once I found my target, I did the job and moved on. Finding Dom wasn’t the problem. Once I killed him, this would all be over. I didn’t want the rush to burn out so quickly.
I didn’t plan to stay long. I was about to drive away when the front door opened and Dom walked out. Despite the cold, he wore only a black hoodie and jeans. Getting into his car, he fired up the engine and pulled away from the curb.
After giving him a head start, I started my car and followed. I couldn’t help but be curious. Where was he going? I doubted the Kings usually did their business solo. He must’ve been up to something else.
I followed him out of the residential neighborhood onto the main road. He crossed through downtown, heading to the other side of Wintervale. An area known for being a little shady at times. Plenty of nightclubs and bars with unsavory reputations. Maybe he was out to do business after all.
Because I didn’t want him to recognize my car, I kept my distance.
Even in the dark, my silver Lexus would be easy to spot as we passed beneath street lights.
A little trickle of anticipation spilled through me.
Something as simple as following him through town shouldn’t have brought me such excitement.
I almost lost him when he made it through the light before it turned red. I did not make it in time. Frustration engulfed me. My knee jittered about as I tried not to stomp on the gas. Finally, the light turned green, and I sped through the intersection.
There was no sign of Dom’s car anywhere. I scanned the parking lots of the restaurants and nightclubs along the street. Then I spotted it. Parked at the end of a row behind one of the nightclubs.
I pulled into the lot, parking a few rows away. Now I had a decision to make. Did I go home feeling satisfied that I’d tracked him across town? Or did I go inside the nightclub and hunt him down?
What would I even say? I had no reason to be here other than simple curiosity. It wasn’t time for me to make a move against him yet. Nothing too final anyway.
I wrestled with myself. The need to lay eyes on Dom drove me from the car. I got out, shoving my hands into my hoodie pocket. The frigid night air cut through the fabric. Might almost be time to layer up.
The sudden awareness of being watched struck. Before I could turn around to scan the parking lot behind me, I was grabbed from behind. The breath knocked from my lungs as I was slammed against the side of my car.
Dom pressed his forearm across my chest, holding me in place. In his other hand, he held a knife against my throat.
“Following me, Cunningham? Care to explain yourself?”
Fury blazed in his gorgeous eyes. I found myself getting hard at the sight. This was what I liked about him. This was the attraction. There was a sinister side to this man that spoke to the darkest parts of me.
“I might’ve been. I may also have been on my way here as well. It’s a small city, Dom.” Enjoying the way every word out of my mouth made him angrier, I grinned.
His arm tightened across the base of my throat, threatening to cut off my airflow. The cold steel of the knife blade bit into my skin. I wasn’t afraid of Dom. Even if he sliced me wide open, I suspected this twisted part of me would still enjoy it.
“Small city, huh? Is that why you were sitting outside my house earlier? Are you fucking stalking me?” Dom shook his head, like he couldn’t quite believe it. “That’s wild, man. Why the hell would you do that?”
Good question.
“Are you going to use that knife?” I asked, ignoring his question. “Or is it just for show?”
The heat of his body so close to mine sent another shot of blood down to my cock. Mere inches separated us. If he got any closer, he would feel my erection.
Dom’s response was to press the blade tighter into my skin. The sharp sting was followed by a warm rivulet of blood sliding down the side of my neck. “Does that answer your question? Now stop pissing me off, Noah. Why are you following me?”
“Maybe I just want to fuck with you,” I smirked. “Maybe I’m bored. Maybe I wanted to see that look on your face.”
Dom’s expression darkened. “Give me one reason why I shouldn’t kill you right here and now.”
Our eyes locked. I couldn’t be the only one feeling the tension rising between us. God, why did it feel so good and so fucking frustrating at the same time?
“Because then this little game we’re playing would be over,” I answered honestly. “And I don’t think you’re ready for that yet.”
He pressed closer, and I knew damn well he felt my hard on against him. “You think this is a game?”
“Of course. That’s all it’s ever been. And even though you’ll never admit it, I think you love it just as much as I do.” My gaze dropped to his lips. Full and inviting. Perfect for biting. I wasn’t sure if I could hold myself back much longer.
Dom’s low laugh dripped with poison. “You’re fucked in the head, you know that?
I don’t know what you’re up to here, Noah, but you better tread carefully.
We should’ve killed you already. You’re running on borrowed time.
It’s probably not a good idea for you to work this hard to get my attention.
If I were you, I’d stay the fuck away from me. ”
Did he even realize that he was now pressed fully against me? So close that I could feel his hard cock against my thigh. I couldn’t help but laugh in his face. Probably not the smartest move considering he still held a knife to my throat.
“Do you really expect me to believe that? Do you think I can’t feel how bad you want me right now?” Taunting Dom was dangerous as hell, and yet, I couldn’t stop the words from spilling out of my mouth.
The pressure of the blade against my throat increased, cutting deeper. Dom’s eyes were wild with his desire to kill me. I saw it within him, barely restrained.
“I will fucking kill you,” he promised, his voice low and deadly.
“Do it then. What’s stopping you?” Even while staring death in the face, I wasn’t one to back down.
For several long strained moments we stared into one another. I’m not sure which one of us moved first. Those few precious inches between his mouth and mine suddenly ceased to exist.
Dom’s lips were on mine. His hand sliding around my throat in a grip powerful enough to end me. Holding tight, he thrust his tongue into my mouth. Entangling it with mine. Practically choking me with it.
I welcomed his violent kiss. Responding with my own pent-up desires.
They burst forth to take over me as I did my best to devour him.
He tasted like mint and faint traces of marijuana.
It killed me to stand there when I wanted so badly to touch him.
I knew how precarious this moment was. How fast it could all come to an end.
As Dom deepened the kiss, he pressed his cock harder against me. I groaned when he bit down on my bottom lip. Something told me that being fucked by him would be a life-changing experience. Even though I considered myself a switch, I preferred to top. But I would bottom any day for this man.
Caught up in the rush of the moment, I reached out to touch his face. My mistake.
Dom jerked away, like he’d just realized what was happening. I raised a brow. A silent inquiry.
He quickly put space between us. His expression changed from one of wonder to absolute rage. “If you tell anyone about this, I’ll torture you before I kill you. Stay the fuck away from me, Noah.”
There was no hesitation. Dom slammed his fist into my face hard enough to make me see stars. I grabbed onto the side of my car so I wouldn’t hit the ground.
With blood pouring from my nose, I watched him storm over to his own car. When he paused to glance back at me, I swiped a hand through the blood and smiled.