Page 113 of Hard Bargain

He should have taken her upstairs. Aria. Alina. Whatever her name was. He could have had her under him within minutes, could have buried himself in something simple and physical until there was nothing left in his head but heat and the kind of release that wiped everything clean.

He would have forgotten about Knox.

Instead, he’d walked out—because Knox had stepped in like he had any right to, and Dominic had let him. That was what pissed him off the most: not the interruption, but the fact that it had worked.

His grip tightened on the steering wheel as he took a turn sharper than necessary. Knox said nothing, but Dominic was aware of him anyway. His earlier edge was gone, replaced by something far more restrained. Like he’d retreated into himself and wasn’t sure where he stood anymore.

Good. He shouldn’t.

The car rolled to a stop outside the building, engine still running, the quiet somehow worse now that they weren’t moving.

Knox shifted in his seat. “Thanks for the ride,” he said, sounding almost shy, as he reached for the door.

“I’m coming up.”

Knox stilled, glancing back at him, confusion clear on his face. “What? It’s not your—”

“I’m not having this argument,” Dominic cut in. “I know you don’t want me there. I don’t care. I’m coming up to check.”

Knox held his gaze, conflict moving behind his eyes. “Fine,” he muttered, and got out.

The stairwell was narrow and dim. Their footsteps echoed as they climbed, the sound too loud in the space between them. Knox was a step ahead, muscles tight, movements careful, like he was trying to make himself smaller.

Dominic followed without speaking, his temper still sitting too close to the surface to trust his own mouth. His focus locked on Knox’s back, on the tension sitting in his shoulders.

He hated it.

It came off him in waves—that reluctance, like whatever was behind that door was enough to strip him down to something quieter and more careful and considerably less him.

At the bar, Knox had been bold, stepping in without hesitation and looking at Dominic like he knew exactly what he was doing. That version of him was gone now, and it pissed Dominic off.

By the time they reached the landing, he was done with it. Knox barely had his keys out before Dominic stepped forward. He closed the distance and slammed him back against the wall beside the door. The impact knocked the breath out of him, keys slipping from his hand and clattering to the floor.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Dominic snapped. His hand locked on Knox’s arm, holding him there. “You wanted me to take you home so bad. Couldn’t stand me leaving with someone else.”

Knox’s head jerked, his breath uneven. “That’s not—”

“Yeah it is.” He pushed closer instead of backing off, angrier now. “You needed my attention that badly. Couldn’t just sit there and let it happen. So you stepped in. Made sure I walked out with you instead.” His grip tightened. “And now what? Now you don’t speak? Now you disappear into yourself?”

Knox’s jaw tightened, the fire fighting its way back behind his eyes.

Good.

Dominic pushed harder.

“Where’s the brat from the bar?” he said, voice dropping, meaner now. “The one who couldn’t keep his mouth shut. Who needed me to dump the pretty girl just so he could have—what?” His gaze dragged over him, unimpressed. “This? You’re pathetic like this.”

Knox snapped.

“Fuck you.” His voice was alive again, hand coming up to shove at Dominic’s chest even though he didn’t move him. “I didn’t force you to do anything. You made that choice. Don’t put it on me.”

There.

Better.

Dominic leaned in, crowding him, his hand sliding up without thinking until it closed around Knox’s throat. “Yeah,” he said, gaze locking on Knox’s. “There you are.”

Knox’s breathing hitched, but he didn’t pull back. He leaned into it, eyes lit with that same fire from the bar.