His Games, Her Rules

“I get angry when other men look at you, Robyn. I should be the only one who gets to look at you and admire how beautiful you are.”

Shit. I’m speechless for the millionth time since I met him. He’s rendered me speechless.

“There you are!” A familiar voice calls, breaking me from Dominique’s spell.

I don’t know who they are but I’m glad they came right when I needed them. I needed an escape out of this awkward situation before I did something stupid and God answered my prayers.

I turn away from Dominique’s compelling gaze to find Camilla standing in front of me, Aimee by her side. I notice Aimee’s attention on Dominique and I have this urge to punch her in the gut.

“Hey, Dom.” Camilla greets her brother.

“Hey,” Dominique says to her. I notice he has his eyes on me even when he answers Camilla’s greetings. Heat rushes to my face and butterflies jubilate in my stomach.

Things this man does to me. They are things I don’t understand, yet I love every bit of it.

“Hey, Camilla,” I say.

“Do you mind if I snatch your girlfriend? The girls and I want to hit the spa and I would love to get to know her better.” Camilla says to Dominique.

“Well, that’s up to her.”

Shit. As much as I’d love to get out of this awkward situation with Dominique, I despise the idea of being alone with Camilla and her Hollywood friends. I already despise Aimee and I badly want to hurt her unless she stops looking at and talking to Dominique. Imagine being in her presence for another hour or two. I’m going to have to fucking kill her.

“Sure. I would love to.” I say and stand up.

Slowly, I bend down to pick my cover-up, with my butt in Dominique’s face as I wrap it around my waist. I hear him cuss under his breath and I smile, happy I’m leaving him sexually frustrated. I grab my sunglasses and put them on as I turn around to look at Dominique whose irises are dark with lust swirling in them.

I lean down to kiss him on the cheek as I whisper in his ear. “I hope you had a good view?” I stand upright, a small smirk on my lips as Dominique watches me, a frustrated sound leaves his lips.

“Don’t miss me too much, darling.” I turn to look at Camilla who’s grinning at me as she loops her arm around mine. I don’t miss the sour look on Aimee’s face.

I just hope she chokes on her own spit.

As Camilla pulls me away, I add an extra sway to my hips as I walk. I can feel Dominique’s eyes on my body as I go. I turn to look at him from above my shoulder, and just like I predicted he’s staring at me. I wink at him as Dominique smirks and chuckles under his breath.

I look away, heat rushing to my face as my stomach flutters. I can hear my heart beating erratically against my chest with the realization that I’m the one who’s got his attention out of the hundred people on this beach.

Fuck me. How badly am I falling anyway? Real bad, if you ask me. Real fucking bad.

***

The spa session with Camilla and her bridesmaids was unbearable just like I imagined. Camilla is nice. She’s friendly and humble, but her friends are privileged cunts. I’m sorry I had to use that word. Some of them spent the entire session talking about themselves, especially Aimee. God, that woman is so irritating. I still can’t believe Dominique would sleep with her. Well, Aimee’s got the looks, obviously. But the minute she opens her mouth, shit, she’s the most annoying person I’ve ever met. Talk about a cliche.

A lot of guys would definitely want a piece of her if she lets them. And to top it all, she’s got rich parents. How did I know that? She talked about them too.

It’s nightfall and Camilla dragged me and her three friends, Aimee included, to this luxurious club in LA. Camilla and her friends are dancing on the dance floor as I excuse them to go sit at the bar as I order three shots.

I’m exhausted and I badly need to rest my feet. The bartender sets my order in front of me as he leaves. I grab a shot and throw my head back to gulp the alcohol. The liquid burns my throat as I slam the empty shot glass down. I’m tipsy, maybe a little drunk and agitated. Part of it is because I still can’t get Dominique’s words out of my head no matter how hard I’ve tried.

“I get angry when other men stare at you, Robyn. I should be the only one who gets to look at you and admire how beautiful you are.”

As badly as I want these simple words to remain simple, I know there’s a meaning behind his words. He’s staked his claim on me and the thought alone is making me question all the things I’ve taught myself since coming to New York. My principles. Every fucking thing.

I grab the second shot and gulp the entirety of it as I slam the empty glass down.

“Are you having a celebration? You’ve been downing every one of these shots like a hungry tigress.” A British accent says beside me as I turn toward the source of the voice.

Aimee stands next to me, a small smile on her lips as she watches me. She’s trying to act nice and she sucks at it.

“What’s it you’re drinking?”

“It’s called shots.” I snap at her.

“I know. What kind?”This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

“I didn’t care to ask,” I say as I turn away from her.

My emotions and hormones are messing with me tonight and the last person I want to talk to tonight is the person standing next to me.

“Sure thing, Greta.” She called me the wrong name for the tenth time today. I turn to glare at her.

“Why are you a fucking skank?”

Aimee tilts her head to the side as she feigns innocence.

“I’m sorry?”

“If you can’t call my name properly, maybe shut the fuck up.”

Aimee chuckles sadly. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around why Dom chose you.”

“Yeah? Keep trying to wrap your head around it, you might probably realize you are a fucking bitch and no one can stand you. That’s how pathetic you are.”

I pick up the last shot and I gulp the liquid as I slam the glass down. I stand, obviously drunk as I match Aimee’s fiery gaze. “You’re nothing. You’re like a mosquito, loud and insignificant. And do me a favor, stay the fuck away from my man. You look at him ever again I’m going to gauge your fucking eyes out. Don’t ever talk to him ever again. Read my lips, you’re nothing.” I turn to walk away as I stop on my track to stare at Aimee who is glaring at me.

“By the way, the whorehouse called, you’re due by twelve,” I smirk at her as I walk away, heading toward the exit.

I can’t believe I just called Dominique my man. Is he though? Maybe I shouldn’t have attacked Aimee like that. Blame it on the alcohol and jealousy. What she had with Dominique was a long time ago, and yet the idea alone makes me mad.

At least she’s going to stay out of my hair through the duration of this vacation.

My phone rings in my bag, Katy Perry Roar blasting within the confinement of my purse as I step outside. The cold air hit my face at once as I shut my eyes to take a breather. My phone stops ringing and suddenly it starts to ring again.

I need to return to Santa Monica and get out of this dress and maybe soak in a hot bath. I’m drunk and I’m feeling a little dizzy.

Irritated by the incessant ringing of my phone, I open my purse and take out my phone. Staring at the unknown caller ID displaying on my phone, I click the answer icon and put the phone against my ear.

“What?” I snap at whoever this caller is.

There’s a short silence and the only sound I can hear from the caller is their silent breathing on the other end. I scoff, proceeding to pull the phone away from my ear, but the next words I hear leave me paralyzed on the spot.

“Hello, Lilith.”

My heart clenches at once at the sound of the familiar voice as my heart drops to my feet, including my purse. It had slipped out of my hand at the sound of her voice. Is this a dream? Am I hallucinating due to the high level of alcohol consumption? I pull the phone away from my ear to stare at the number, hoping this isn’t real and I’m imagining things. But it’s real.

They’ve found me.