Ten

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine – Hookup

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Madeline approached Dominic on the couch and looked him over. Was he asleep or just dazed? She cursed herself for letting him get drunk. But then again, a guy like him is going to find a way to get drunk, either one way or another. She wasn't exactly impressed with him anymore, but he was somebody, and she needed somebody tonight.

She knew she was in a dangerous place, and that it would become all the more dangerous for her to be alone, especially now. The other women in the room didn't like her, and this fellow was the only man to show a real interest in her. She did wonder if Carl or Gabe could be persuaded to show her attention as well, but doing so could be complicated. She decided she had to give Dominic one more try.

"Dominic?" she shook him gently, "Dominic, are you alright?"

He tossed and turned and came awake groggy, "Oh, shit, is it morning already?"

"No, it's still night. Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired. Did I miss anything?"

She perked up, smiling, and crossed her legs, "Nope, just some jokes and hijinks."

"Really?"

"That guy Gabe is hilarious. He's cute too."

Dominic sat up and rubbed his eyes, "He looks like kind of a pussy to me."

"Yeah," she replied, "But he probably got all buffed up in prison. He's got nice little muscles. Not too big, not too little." She knew the power of jealousy.

"I could still knock his sorry ass into the ground if I wanted to."

"With your sexy paddle?" she teased.

He laughed, but replied, "No, with my bare hands. I could take him."

"Maybe," she smiled as she dangled her high-heeled foot in his direction.

"No maybe about it," he sat up straight, "I could take that guy easy."

He leaned in closer to her.

"Are you jealous?" she asked.

"No," he huffed, "I just don't think much of that guy. I don't hate him. He's just not someone I would normally associate with."

"I'm jealous," she admitted.

"Why? Of what?"

"I'm just lonely," she sighed, her blue eyes looking pouty and forlorn, "You're the only friend I have here and I've been all by myself since you've been hung over."

"I'm not hung over," he insisted, "I can drink a lot more than that."

"Really?"

"Absolutely."

"You know," her expression changed, "You never did finish that massage."

"Yeah," he smiled, his hair was messy and his eyes were a little red, but he was otherwise just as handsome as he had been earlier, "Would you like me to start?"

"Maybe after I go to the bathroom."

"Oh," he looked a little disappointed.