Storm Prep
Talon
Shit! What the fuck was Dominic doing here? I had caught glimpses of him earlier in town, but dismissed it as paranoia. Seeing him now, though, was a clusterfuck waiting to happen. I didn’t know how Lucas would react to meeting him, and I didn’t know how he’d react to knowing that Dominic was pursuing me. Fuck, what would Dominic do to Lucas?
I stiffened at the thought of anything happening to Lucas and dreaded the thought of possibly fighting Dominic.
Dominic’s graceful exit from his vehicle contrasted with the tension I felt mounting. I moved closer to Lucas, whose eyes were locked on Dominic, tracking his every move.
“You know, you two are very hard to track down,” Dominic called out with a casual arrogance that belied the situation’s gravity. “Almost lost you in traffic, fuzzy bunny.”
“You followed me?” Lucas blurted his tone, a mix of surprise and annoyance.
“Yes, and I’m kind of annoyed to find you here… with the sneaky kitty,” Dominic added, shooting a conspiratorial wink in my direction.
Lucas turned to me, confusion and betrayal written all over his face. “Do you two know each other?”
I hesitated, my throat tightening. The truth could complicate things further. Before I could form a response, Dominic chimed in.
“Yes, it’s been quite the cat and mouse game. Though our dear cat here seems to prefer playing the mouse,” he quipped, his tone light but loaded.
Lucas retorted, his voice tinged with forced lightness, “So, he’s been ducking you as well?”
“Indeed, he has,” Dominic confirmed, his gaze flitting between Lucas and me.
I wanted to clarify, to smooth over the rising tension, to explain why. I opened my mouth to respond to their back-and-forth. Wait, did they know each other? The question hit me like a brick wall. Dominic said he was following Lucas and called him a fuzzy bunny.
“Wait, do you two know each other?” I asked, voicing my question.
A distant rumble of thunder cut through our conversation, drawing Lucas’s attention upward. He glanced at the sky, then back at us with a hardened expression.
“This isn’t the time,” he said firmly. “I have work to do. If you’re both sticking around, then help. Otherwise, you can leave.”
Lucas moved toward the fallen plywood and bent to pick them up.
“Oh, I’m not going anywhere. I’ll gladly help, fuzzy bunny,” Dominic said, hurrying to Lucas’s side.
“Me either,” I added, determination settling in. “I’ll get the tools. We’ll get this done.”
Lucas shot a quick glance at me, a flicker of surprise in his eyes before he returned to his task. Perhaps he thought I’d leave, but who could blame him? All I had done lately was run. I’d hurt him and Dominic. I needed to make amends—to explain. My lion roared within me. He was practically buzzing with the presence of the two he desired most. I made a silent promise to him. I’d make this right. We’d work out our differences.
Dominic’s voice broke through my introspection. “So, fuzzy bunny, are you going to make me guess your name?” He teased with a playful tone. “I can always continue to call you that, you know.”
Lucas chuckled, a sound that seemed to lighten the air around us for a moment. “I’d prefer you didn’t. It’s Lucas, Lucas Bondar.”
“What a fabulous name!” Dominic exclaimed, his voice rich with warmth. He stepped closer, encroaching on Lucas’s personal space with a boldness that was all too Dominic. He reached out, brushing Lucas’s cheek with the back of his fingers. “A very nice name, indeed. I’m Dominic Billings, and it’s a pleasure to meet you properly.”
“It-It’s nice to meet you too,” Lucas replied softly before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. After a moment, he opened his eyes and smiled. “We really need to get this done. I heard on the radio that the storm had picked up speed.”
“Okay, then. You’re the boss. Let’s get these boards up,” Dominic said, stepping back to give Lucas space and rolling up his sleeves in preparation.
Lucas nodded, lifting a heavy plywood sheet toward the window. Dominic quickly came to his side, helping him position it against the pane. I grabbed the drill and moved to join them. “I’ll handle the drilling while you hold it steady,” I offered.
“Oh, I’d love to see you drill,” Dominic quipped, his tone playful yet suggestive.
My face flushed, and a laugh escaped my lips. Lucas, on the other hand, was all business, giving a slight nod. His focus remained fixed on the task at hand, but I thought I saw a glimmer of a smile. Setting to work, I drove the large screws into the wall.
“This is nice, isn’t it? The three of us working together. A perfect time to get to know each other under a bit of pressure, right?” Dominic said with a light chuckle, attempting to ease the tension.
I smiled, appreciating Dominic”s effort to lighten the mood. Despite all our interactions, the ‘accidental’ meetings, and his undeniable charm, I had been standoffish, even hostile. My mind flashed back to the last angry words I hurled at him. Had I actually said I’d kill him? What the fuck was I thinking?
“You going to stare at that screw all day or actually drill it?” Lucas’s voice, tinged with a hint of impatience, snapped me back to the present.
“Oh, yeah. Sorry,” I muttered, quickly refocusing on securing the plywood.
Dominic, never one to miss an opportunity, leaned in closer to Lucas. “You’re quite good at this, Lucas—very good with your hands. I wonder how good they’d be at other tasks,” he mused, his voice dropping to a suggestive whisper.
The comment hung in the air, charged and provocative. I found myself smiling, surprisingly free of the jealousy that had gnawed at me when Jeremy flirted with Lucas or that annoying twink was all over Dominic. The lack of that familiar twinge was startling yet liberating.
“You okay there, kitty?” Dominic’s voice broke through my thoughts.
I jerked my gaze to him, realizing I had growled, not out of jealousy, but out of frustration from earlier encounters. Lucas and Dominic both stared at me, confusion marring their expressions.
“Um, sorry. Just was thinking about something,” I managed, embarrassed.
“We have more windows to do. Do you think you can control yourself a little longer?” Lucas asked, his voice carrying a mix of jest and seriousness.
“Yeah, it… No. I need to tell you. Both of you, I’m sorry. Please. I know I have a lot to explain, and you want to wait to finish this, but please, let me say I’m sorry. I have to apologize.” I couldn’t stop the words. I needed to clear the air.
Lucas swallowed and glanced at Dominic, who appeared to be weighing my words. Turning back to me, Lucas responded, “Apology accepted. But we need—and will talk—after we get the work done.”
“I accept your apology, too,” Dominic added with a wink. “And I agree with everything the fuzzy bunny just said.”
Lucas rolled his eyes, and I couldn’t help but grin. “That works for me.”
Thunder rolled in the distance again, reminding us of the urgency. Lucas nodded. “Okay, let’s get this done.”
The tension seemed to dissolve as my apology was accepted, replaced by a lighter, almost playful atmosphere as we resumed our storm preparations. Dominic’s earlier flirtations, rather than stirring jealousy, now sparked a curious anticipation within me. I watched him and Lucas interact, their exchanges dotted with laughter and teasing glances that made the air around us feel charged.
Dominic, ever the provocateur, suddenly tugged at the hem of his shirt. “Is it just me or is it getting hotter out here?” he quipped, pulling the shirt over his head in a smooth motion that left his toned torso bare. The muscles of his chest and abs were perfectly defined, his skin glistening slightly with sweat from the labor and the humid air.
I couldn’t help but pause, my eyes tracing the contours of his body. The sight sent a warm thrill through me, and I grinned appreciatively. “Yeah, definitely hotter,” I agreed, feeling a flush of heat that had nothing to do with the weather.
Lucas laughed, shaking his head at us both. “You two are something else,” he said, though his eyes lingered on Dominic a moment longer than necessary before he turned his attention back to the window we were boarding up.
Dominic winked at Lucas, then at me, his demeanor playful yet seductive. “Just trying to keep things interesting,” he said, walking over to where Lucas was measuring another piece of plywood. He leaned close, ostensibly to help, but his proximity was clearly more about continuing their flirtation. “Need a hand with that, or maybe a few more suggestions on how to use your hands?”
Lucas flushed, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth despite his attempt to appear focused on the task. “I think I’ve got it, but I’ll let you know.”
The easy banter continued, and I joined in, the earlier awkwardness fading away. The dynamic between us was evolving, becoming something new and unexpectedly exciting. Each laugh and shared look built something, a connection that felt both wild and strangely right.
As we secured the last board, I caught Lucas”s eye, and an unspoken acknowledgment of our newly forged bond flickered between us.
“We did it,” Dominic announced, stepping back to survey our work.
Just then, the skies darkened ominously, and lightning sliced through the clouds. Simultaneously, our phones beeped with urgent alerts.
Lucas grabbed his phone, his expression turning serious. “We need to take cover now. There’s a tornado on the ground.”
Fuck. Just when I thought we might catch a break, the storm had other ideas.