Free Elemental Fear by Ada Frost

ticked.
    Undeterred by a half-naked woman straddling a man on the sofa, Vanessa sank down into an armchair. “So, what are we watching?”
    I still wrapped my arms around myself feeling just as exposed with my jumper on. I was ridiculously thankful they returned when they had, but I hated how they’d found me.
    “You want to join us?” Elliott asked , smiling.
    “Definitely . What do you think, Dominic?” She turned to him, and he shrugged sulkily.
    “I’ll put the kettle on ,” he growled and went into the kitchen.
    “Someone is a happy boy,” Elliott said sarcastically. “I’ll go get another DVD,” he said before lifting me and depositing me roughly onto the sofa. I bounced a little before catching my balance.
    I watched as he left the room.
    “You really have him fooled,” Vanessa said. Her contempt for me was palpable. I was becoming more accustomed to her venom. With each meeting, she loathed me more. I just wish I understood her hate. But then again I never understood Elliott’s hate, so who am I to judge?
    “I’ll go help...Dominic...with the drinks ,” I stammered.
    “What a surprise ,” she snapped sarcastically. I bowed my head and scurried to the kitchen.
    “Did you have a good night? Where did you go?” I asked him, trying to add a little lightness to my voice, but it still came out nervously.
    “Not as good as you obviously ,” he snapped, storming past me into the living room.
    “What jumped up his backside?” I said to myself.
    “I’ll tell you what’s jumped up my backside,” he mocked my voice.
    I turned stunned. I thought he had left the room.
    “I thought you’d gone –“ I pointed to the living room, but he wasn’t hearing anything I said. “Last night...” He lowered his voice to a low whisper as he stormed back to me. I braced myself against the counter, mere inches from him as he spoke through gritted teeth.
    “Holding you all night was amazing , and I fucking hate that I'm not supposed to like doing that. I hate that I feel like this and I really, really, fucking hate walking in on you two shagging on my mum’s sofa.” He let out a frustrated breath and bowed his head to look at the floor. I wanted to howl and scream. I felt the same way, my heart had always belonged to him. I had never had full control over it. From the moment I met him, stared into his beautiful eyes, I had relinquished control over the organ. It has always been his. I opened my mouth to speak, a small smile blossoming, my heart bloomed, then scorched to dust when realization hit why I couldn’t profess my feelings, why my heart broke every time I saw him smile at Vanessa, why I died inside each day knowing I would never be his.
    He lifted his face to look at me, and the flash of pain in his eyes broke my heart. I never wanted to hurt him.“You don’t get it, do you?” He croaked out. As if clarity suddenly hit him, he shook his head, stood straight and pulled his shoulders back. “Forget it. I'm having a bad day, that’s all.” He offered a fake smiled and turned to head back into the living room.
    . “I hate it too, I hate not...being with you,” I gasped and covered my mouth.
    He paused at the door , turning to face me, his amazingly blue eyes were smoky hot, filled with lust. He stepped towards me and my blood throbbed through my veins. I felt alive, captivated by the gorgeous man prowling towards me.
    “ Angel, the film is starting, hurry up.”
    Dominic paused and looked over his shoulder. I lifted the coffees and walked past him, avoiding looking into his eyes. Dominic followed and sat sulkily on the sofa where Elliott and I had been sitting, and Vanessa sat curled next to him. I noticed he made no effort to put his arm around her. He simply sat with his hands fisted in his lap. He radiated pent up anger, and the room almost shook with it.
    “So –“Elliott broke the silence. I knew with the glint in his eye and the tone of his voice , he was looking to cause trouble.