Tall, Dark, and Broody

MILES

Fuck me.

I couldn't tell if it was my shock or a plea. I couldn't even focus on the warning in Kenzie's tone as the tall man with dark hair and golden eyes approached me. He had broad shoulders and a slim waist underneath a black t-shirt, and I couldn't tell if his thighs matched his arms under his dark jeans. Definitely an athlete. Maybe football? The nicely toned muscles of his chest and arms had me guessing that it was probably football.

As he stood a foot away from me, being a whole head taller, I hoped I wasn't drooling. I stared up at him and held out my hand. "Miles," I said, redoing my introduction, but he just stared at my hand, crossing his bulging arms.

Broody, eh? I liked that.

I closed my hand, pulling it back. Kenzie pulled on my arm. "Are you sure you want to do this?" I didn't miss the worry laced in her voice.

I nodded my head, patting her hand with mine. "Absolutely."

She stepped back, giving me room. Dominic, I think, stepped forward, leaning toward me, which made my breath hitch. The bastard smirked like he knew how good he looked. I heard the crumpling of paper and saw that he took my forty dollars.

Marcus stood on the other end of the pool table. "Shall we flip a coin?"

I held a hand up. "No, he can go first."

Whistles and cheers of encouragement were heard from the crowd. Dominic raised a brow in amusement. I just bowed, swinging my arm wide for him to start.

I was starting to regret my decision when, after he broke the balls, he made three in the pockets one right after the other. He made his fourth but missed his fifth. The crowd cheered him on, and I nodded my approval as I assessed the balls left on the pool table.

I grew excited. I was about to be one hundred dollars richer, and I couldn't hide the giddy smile plastered on my face. Dominic tilted his head to the side, looking a bit confused, his arms crossed again. I only lifted my chin in triump before bending over to make my first shot.

The balls connected, and two of my balls made it into the pocket just as I predicted. I rounded the table and shot again, making another in. Kenzie shouted. "Woo! Miles!"

I smiled. Dominic wouldn't be getting another turn. It was a proud secret of mine that I was a fucking beast at pool. Old man Tony from the market, who was a pro, taught me all his tricks, and I excelled at it. I still was no match for him but I had gotten pretty close.

Walking around, standing in front of Dominic and giving him a smug smile, I bent over, hitting the balls and making three in the pockets. I could feel his eyes raking over me. Good. I wanted him to look at me.

I only had two left and knew exactly how to make them. I bent over again, practically laying on the pool table, and shot my final hit. The white ball bounced over one of his balls and smacked right where I wanted it into my last two, splitting them and making it right in the pockets.

The crowd roared. Kenzie was hopping up and down, squealing in delight. I brought my pool stick up to my lips and blew.

"Damn girl! You know how to play some pool!" said Marcus, rounding the table to me. Dominic's nostrils were flared as he glared at me. I marched right up and held out my hand.

"I'll be needing my forty dollars back." And maybe a steamy make-out session if he was up to it. Something in my twisted body liked the way his golden eyes glared at me, the way his full lips twisted in a scowl. I could make him feel better if he'd let me.

He reached in his pocket and started to pull out my money when he hesitated. He gave me a hard look before saying in that lovely deep voice of his, "Double or nothing."

Oh I was definitely going to try and fuck him after this. Or maybe that was just the alcohol talking.

I gave him a devilish smile. "You're on."

We started the game again (I went first this time), and I won. Maybe winning was a bit of an understatement. I absolutely demolished him. He didn't even get a chance to play. He just stood with his arms crossed, watching me with a glare on his face.

When I was done, I smiled at him sweetly with my hand out again, trying not to shiver at the dark look he gave me. Nodding at Marcus, he took two hundred from the stack along with my forty dollars.

Maybe I should have noticed how quiet it got, but I was too giddy over my easy win. Over the extra money that was going to be added to my savings. I didn't notice the shift in the atmosphere.

My sweet smile disappeared as he threw the money in my face. I closed my eyes in disappointment. He was an asshole.

"Take that chump change. You look like you need it more than I do. Do you like crashing parties and swindling people in their own houses?"

I bent down to pick up the money, almost falling since I was still drunk but made it back up. Awe, I must have hurt his pride.

"Wait, what the fuck?" I heard Kenzie say. I turned slightly to shake my head at her. She was always coming to the rescue. I'd never been one to entertain rudeness. Maybe it was conditioned into me from my mother. But I had a bit of liquid courage today, and I was pissed to be attracted to such a dick.

I huffed a laugh. "I didn't think you'd be such a sore loser. Spend too much time on mommy's tits still?"

I heard a gasp. A few, actually. Kenzie was behind me, grabbing my arm. I tried to get loose, but the girl had a grip.

Dominic looked even angrier than before, and if I wasn't drunk, I'd have the sense to back away from the danger he was emanating. Instead, I stupidly raised a brow in challenge.

The next thing I know, he's pouring his drink on my head. The smell of beer filled my nostrils as I stood frozen in shock. Laughter filled the room.

The fucker poured his damn beer on me! Because he lost!

Kenzie shot daggers at him, ready to fight, but I stopped her.

What shocked me even more was that I wasn't even mad. This was treatment I was well acquainted with. Abuse was practically my fucking friend. And that made me laugh.

I laughed so damn hard, tears gathered in my eyes, and my stomach started to burn. It was funny how he thought that would hurt me. That someone who lived in this mansion who probably thought highly of himself, thought he could hurt my fucking feelings. He didn't know who I lived with, who raised me. Nothing could touch my heart now.

Not even tall, dark, and broody.