Page 176 of Romeo

He was getting pissed and this was getting nowhere. “I thought we’re here to hash things out?”

“Only agreed to that to get you naked and in bed.”

Chapter Forty-Two

Maddie sat up.“If that’s what?—”

Romeo grabbed her wrist and jerked her back down next to him. “How ‘bout we talk first, then we do a whole lotta not talkin’ later.”

“Because our mouths will be busy? I bet straddling your face won’t mess up your ribs.”

His anger quickly dissipated, and his lips curved into a grin. “Fuck yeah. Wanna practice first? Miss the taste of your pussy.”

That same pussy clenched at the memory of all the times he made her orgasm only using his very skillful mouth. “You know how to make me lose my mind and I won’t be able to think straight afterward, so can we get through this conversation first?”

“If we gotta,” he muttered.

“Yes, we have to because I need to know where we go from here. I need a place. I need a job. And, frankly, I need… you.”

“Got me?—”

“In one piece,” she added.

“Got a place, too, so that’s covered. That’s the foundation you talked about. Gonna work on the rest.”

“Sounds like you expect me to come live with you behind Dick’s.”

“For now, ’til I find some place better.”

“Do I have a say in where we live?” she asked.

“Long as it’s in Knights’ territory.”

She could work with that. It would also be nice to live close to Zeke, as well as Gabi again since they were her two closest friends after her younger sister Josie.

“The next problem is my job situation. And don’t you dare tell me that by being your ol’ lady I won’t have to work. Or that I can work in one of the Knights’ businesses. I worked long and hard to earn my license as a sports physical therapist. That’s what I want to do, Rome. That’s non-negotiable.”

“Everything’s negotiable.”

“Not this.“ She sighed long and loudly. “I get your heart was in the right place when you confronted Roger, but you didn’t think it through.”

“Ain’t gonna deny that.”

“If I’m returning to the Pittsburgh area, that’s going to limit my chances of doing what I love and fulfilling my dream, especially if I’m blackballed with the Pittsburgh teams. Possibly even the whole industry. No one is jumping to hire me, Rome. Hell, I can’t even get an interview.”

“Gonna fix that for you.”

He was going to do what?She groaned. “You’re going to fix it for me? I’m not sure I like that answer.” She waved a hand down his body. “Look what happened last time. I’m unemployed and you got your ass kicked.”

“What the fuck,” he muttered. “How many fuckin’ timesI gotta say this? Only ‘cause I was fuckin’ ambushed and outnumbered. In the goddamn dark.”

Boy, someone was touchy about that subject. “Okay, so explain… how are you going to fix it for me?”

“Remember when I said there’s gonna be some shit you don’t need to know? This is one of them.”

Her stomach twisted. “Rome…”

“Maddie, lemme handle it. Need you to trust me. This shit ain’t gonna work between us if you don’t. Gonna fix what I fucked up. Owe that to you and gonna make sure you get what you’re owed.”

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