Page 190 of Quinlan

He removes his jacket, places it on the kitchen island next to me and rolls the sleeves of his white dress shirt up. I’m drawn to the veins cording his muscular forearms. To the way his shirt moves with him.

When he catches me staring, he winks.

Rome, being playful. I could get used to that.

“So… Not that I’m complaining...” I watch him retrieving a dustpan from under the sink, close to where I guessed it’d be. “How come you’re home early?”

His expression clouds, but he catches it fast, flashing me a soft smile.

“Sure you’re not complaining?” Rome turns to the floor. He grabs the fork, tossing it in the sink. Next, he swipes the broken pieces of the plate into the dustpan. Cleaning the mess I’ve made.

“Over this? You here, and bent over?” I tease him, dangling my feet. “Never.”

“What are you complaining about, Quinlan?” Rome empties the dustpan into the trash, the ceramic clinking as they land at the bottom. “That Liam and Damien aren’t here?”

There’s not a hint of jealousy in his tone. Rome sounds genuinely curious.

“No. I figured they’re busy planning world domination.” He stands up, and I poke his hip with my toe. Rome snatches my foot, biting my ankle. He turns around after I’ve squealed enough. “The four of us will have time together. I miss them, but I love that you’re here. Like I said, I’m not complaining.”

For the longest second, Rome stands there. He’s studying me, assessing me.

Eventually, his expression settles. He’s decided I was telling the truth. “We will. We’ll have all the time.”

He reaches into another cupboard, his shirt stretching over wide shoulders.

Hot.

These three men have the rare ability to be hot even when they’re doing something as mundane as retrieving wipes.

“Changed my mind.” The kitchen floor is sparkling in no time, and Rome turns to me. “I am complaining.”

“About?”

The obvious thing would be to say that he was supposed to talk to me. That he doesn’t look like he’s going to go through with it.

I’m done pushing him, though. He’s here in the middle of the day and it’s fucking perfect.

“That you’re there by the trash can.” I spread my legs wide, ignoring the fact that he has his back turned to me. He’ll turn back soon enough. “And not here.”

Rome looks over his shoulder. The storm behind his eyes isn’t one that’ll end up with me dead. I thought he could kill me when I just got here. I don’t anymore. I know it’s a look of a man who’s barely restraining himself.

A man who’s more than ready to fuck me on every available surface in this penthouse.

Instead of doing exactly that, he shakes his head. His molars gnash.

“Rome?”

He turns around fully, walking up to me. Though he’s hard, his cock standing proudly in his pants, Rome doesn’t kiss me. Doesn’t touch me where I’m aching for him.

“As much as it pains me, I’m not here early to fuck you. There’s something else I have to do.” One of his hands grabs me by thehips, pulling me toward him. The bruised knuckles of his free hand stroke the side of my face, and I lean into his touch. “If I remember correctly, I made you a promise.”

This is it. It’s big. Huge. Scary. Dread lines the pit of my stomach, and my hands on the island are clammy.

After this, there’ll be no more secrets between Rome and me. He’ll give me the keys to a part of himself I suspect only Damien and Liam are familiar with. And Anne, his sister, but that’s a given.

I’m looking forward to it. Have him lend me some of his pain. Tell me who we need to fuck up.

That’s what love is all about.

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