Page 319 of Phobia
He holds his arm out, blocking my escape, and walks me backwards until I’m against the wall. “Don’t be modest,Naomi.”He says my name like it’s a weapon, and it takes all my strength to stop my body from shaking.
“What do-”
“Connor,” a deep voice booms from the doorway, and I know it’s desperate times because I’m relieved Tommy’s here. “You don’t want to play with that one; it’s feral.”
It?
Connor ignores Tommy, and his unwelcome, clammy fingers creep up my leg. “If it’s good enough for Dom.”
Tommy strides towards us. “I’ll rephrase. She’s. Off. Fucking. Limits.” Now in my eye line, he smirks at me, adding, “For the time being.”
Now more interested in Tommy, Connor turns on him, and I use the opportunity to rush to the sinks, making Tommy my shield.
“Dom may let you suck his cock, but you need to remember where you are in the pecking order,my friend,” Connor seethes.
Tommy doesn’t flinch.
“Who’s this bitch to him?”
“Payment,” Tommy retorts—that one word stabbing my heart. “A bet. A punishment. A passing folly. Take your pick, Connor, then go find another hole to sink your dick into because until Dom’s proved his point, you’re not touching hers.”
I want the ground to swallow me up. I’ve never been so devalued and humiliated in my life. Every word Tommy uttered pushed the knife in deeper, and I’m angrier at myself than anyone else because the pain tells me something I didn’t think could happen.
Dom hasn’t just been beating against the walls of my mind; he’s been chipping his way into my heart. I didn’t know it till now, but it must be true, or Tommy’s words wouldn’t shred my soul like this.
It’s fine.It doesn’t matter.
I may have fallen, but I just caught myself. I’ll chalk it up to the way Dom praises me, holds me, chases my nightmares away, the repeated oxytocin hits and orgasmic bliss and say no more of it. I’m a big girl. I’ve pulled myself up from lower curbs.
Connor scoffs, disgust dripping off him. “It’s all right, Tommy. She looks like she might cry, and I’ve never been a fan of sad fucks.” With that, he leaves.
Neither Tommy nor I move straight away, but then he clears his throat and turns to face me. “You OK?”
“Fuck off and find Billy. I’m going back.” I let the anger flow. That way, if any tears fall, he’ll think it’s down to rage instead of pain and shame.
Tommy slowly nods. “What I just said-”
“Is the truth, so don’t worry about it.”
“Naomi-”
“I want to fucking go!” I yell, and for once, he listens.
Chapter 26
“Repeat those words to me again, Tommy. Slowly.” I stare him down, my pulse raging. I didn’t even know Connor was here.
“Look, Dom, I was going to bring Naomi to you, but she would’ve kicked off in front of everyone, so I thought it best to do what she wanted and give her a chance to cool off.”
Gripping onto the desk till my knuckles turn white, I turn to Frank. “Why is it Connor’s never where I expect him to be and always where he’s not supposed to be?”
Even Frank looks concerned. “Because there’s more to this than meets the eye, Dom.”
“Just kill him,” Tommy offers.
Heaving a sigh, I shake my head. “Can’t. Not after what I did to the rest of his family—it will look personal. Connor has more friends than we realised. I need all the pieces in place before I act, or this business will come tumbling down around me.”
“We’ll get on it,” Frank states, gesturing to Tommy to follow him.
