Page 14 of Dual
I stand up, jaw clenched. She's drowning, and I'm failing her. Failing them, as surely as I did when they needed me nine years ago.
Mads grins over at me—fully Mads now, Anna gone wherever it is one of them goes while the other is out and dominant—and grabs my hand. "Let's dip out, babe, and go do something fun for once. I never get you in daylight!"
FIVE
MADS
I hangonto Domhnall's arm like a cat with its claws sunk deep, holding on for dear life as we step out of the therapist's office and into the crisp afternoon air. The sun slaps me right in the face, golden and warm, and I pause—just for the littlest bit—to throw my head back and bask in it.
How long has it been since I felt this?
The air is chilly, but the sunlight is all-encompassing, sinking into my bones like the best kind of drug. I close my eyes, smiling to myself. For once, everything's perfect. I've got Donny on my arm, we're outside in the glorious daylight together, and there's nothing heavy pressing down on me. No chains, no shadows, no suffocating whispers in my head.
Well, except for her.
But she's not here right now. Thanks a million, Dr. Ezra.
I crack one eye open and glance up at Domhnall, expecting to see him as drunk on freedom as I am. But instead, he's watching me with that pensive, broody stare of his, all dark and unreadable.
Ugh. Men.
I arch a brow. "Where to now, Cowboy?" I still can't believe out of all the places in the world Domhnall Callaghan chose to land, he picked Dallas, Texas. My fingers curl tighter around his arm, possessive.
He doesn't answer, just keeps looking at me like I'm something new. Something strange.
I trail a teasing finger down the front of his shirt, toying with the buttons. "We could lay out naked in that lovely backyard of yours," I murmur. "Feel this gorgeous sunshine over every inch of our skin." I lean in closer, lowering my voice to a whisper. "I've been getting a little pale lately."
I squeeze his arm and bounce on the balls of my feet, impatient. "Come on, Donny, let's hurry home."
Nothing. Not even a smirk.
I'm about to start pouting when he finally shakes his head, as if snapping out of whatever deep, broody hole he fell into. "I've got a better idea."
My interest peaks immediately. "A better place to fuck?" I scan the busy downtown street with renewed energy. "Because I've always wanted to do it in public."
Domhnall rolls his eyes, his mouth twitching at the corner despite himself. "Somewhere fun."
"Fucking is fun."
He gives me a look before pulling out his phone and thumbing through something, ignoring me.
I let out an exaggerated groan. "Oh, Donny," I wheedle, pressing against him. "If I didn't know how much you loved fucking me, my feelings might be hurt. Lucky for me, I know just how ecstatic your cum face is, and that's not something you can fake." I mimic the way his brow scrunches up, grabbing his forearm. "And your brogue comes back, and you usually say something sweet like, 'ah god,' and then you can't do anything but make that pained moan of yours that always sends me right over the edge."
His thumb freezes on the screen. His eyes lift, darkening with that familiar heat.
Aha. There he is. My lusty monster.
I bite the inside of my cheek, looking around for a store with a public restroom stall, but before I can act on my absolutely genius idea, he's back to thumbing through his phone like I'm nothing but background noise.
"What are you even doing?" I demand, crossing my arms. "Your hot fiancée is standing right in front of you offering up hot sex, and you're answering a work email?"
He clicks something, then tucks his phone away, finally meeting my gaze. "No, I was getting us tickets. Like you said, you never get to come out and play in the city."
I blink. "Tickets?"
He nods. "So I thought I'd get us seats to a show."
A delighted gasp leaves me before I throw my arms around him. "Oh, thank you!" I pull back just enough to press an enthusiastic kiss to his mouth. I didn't think he was going to play along. Usually, he's such a sourpuss about always wanting her around.
