Dominated (Obsessed II)

24.

Focus
Bianca Dawson

I woke to the faint rattle of rain against the windows. Dominik was still beside me, arm draped over the pillow like he was claiming it for himself. I shifted, stretching my legs over the edge of the bed, the cold floor biting at my bare feet. He opened one eye, letting it slide over me lazily, a half-smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"You're up early," he said, voice rough with sleep.

"I could say the same," I replied, letting a small smile appear as I swung my legs fully to the floor.

He sat up, brushing his hair back with one hand, eyes still on me. "You think too much."

"And you don't?" I asked, teasing.

He didn't answer. He just watched me, quiet, steady. I let my fingers brush against his hand as I passed, thumb tracing lightly over the back of his palm. A small moment, grounding.

"I should get up," I said, finally, feeling the weight of the morning in my bones.

He nodded, standing. "I have to run a few things. Be back soon."

I didn't argue. I just watched him go, boots tapping softly on the hardwood, the door clicking shut behind him. The house, suddenly too quiet, felt larger without him.

I wandered into the kitchen, rubbing at the sleep still in my eyes. The rain streaked the windows, soft and steady, the scent of damp earth seeping in. My phone buzzed on the counter. I picked it up. A message from Amelia:

I'm coming over. We need to talk.

I froze. Amelia here? That wasn't normal. Her appearing at what felt like another secret house was strange. Something had happened. Or better, something had happened to Richard. Why else would she come all the way here.

The doorbell rang before I could think any further. I opened it, and Amelia stepped inside, tense, scanning the room like she expected something to ambush her. Her hair was pulled back, her coat damp from the rain, hands gripping the strap of her bag.

"You're sleeping with him?" she asked immediately. She looked pale, her hair was a mess and her eyes, I could tell she wasn't sleeping.

I leaned back against the counter, arching one eyebrow. "Sleeping with who?"

"Dominik," she said, eyes sharp and accusing.

I let a small, sly smile creep across my face. "That's... a loaded question."

"Why don't you love him? Why are you stringing him along?" Her voice rose slightly, the tension in her shoulders matching the edge in her tone.

Annoyance pricked at me. "I'm not stringing anyone along," I said evenly, eyes narrowing. "You act like life is simple. Well. It isn't. People aren't simple. Especially him."

Her jaw tightened. "So that shopping trip," she pressed, "was that supposed to butter me up, knowing how I feel about him, you know. I didn't fully admit but you know. How could you?"

I raised an eyebrow. "I don't understand you," I said honestly.

"I don't understand you either," she snapped. "You know how he feels. And yet—"

I held up a hand. "You know how he feels about me," I said slowly, measuring my words. "It's hard to accept but I've learned you can't chase what doesn't want you. He does not want you. Right now, Amelia, you need to stop worrying about what I'm doing and focus on Richard. That's the only thing that matters."

Her eyes flickered with disbelief, then frustration. "You're... cold."

I shrugged, letting a hint of amusement creep into my voice. "I'm focused. That's different. People get in the way when you lose focus. You know that better than anyone. Right now, everything else is noise. Richard is the signal. That's it. That's what you need to think about."