Page 112 of Worth the Trouble

I’m already on my knees, and even if it makes me everything I said I’d never be, I’m not opposed to begging.

Lili reaches up and traces her fingers on my throat. She traces every lash on the third eye. She must feel me watching her like the tattoo does, but she doesn’t look into my eyes until she traces it fully.

“Not a room,” Lili says, cupping my jaw in her hand. “You can have all of it. Make it your home.”

I can’t help the stupid smile that climbs my cheeks, or the fact that her face mirrors mine when it happens. She drags her hand down my face, down my chest, and rests it over my heart.

I feel it racing for her like it’s been running a marathon my whole life in an effort to get to this moment. I feel it jump out of my chest and into her hands. Into her chest. I feel it pump with her blood.

Planting my hand over hers, I squeeze and want to keep her like that forever, even if I know we’re both a little difficult, and I’m sure there’s more to come.

“I fell for you, Rome,” she says quietly, looking at our hands on my chest. “You warned me not to, and I did it anyway.”

“I love your defiance,” I say, and it makes her smirk. “I love you.”

It slips out, or I let it. I don’t know. She pulls things out of me I didn’t think existed before she made me see them.

My confession makes her eyes go wide.

“Rome Moreno.” She pulls her hand away and lifts up onto her elbows, bringing her face closer to mine. “Did I just hear what I think I did? The infamous Riff King is off the market?”

I lean in and wrap my hand around the back of her head. “Has been since he met you.”

She bites the corner of her lip, but I bring my free hand to her jaw and peel it out with my thumb.

“I feel like I’ve beenonthe market until I met you, if that makes sense,” she says with a laugh, and I know what she means. “I love you, too.”

She tips her chin up, but doesn’t lean closer for the kiss. She makes me chase it. Why is that such a turn on? I’d chase her to the ends of the earth, and it’s not a way I’ve felt about another person.

Closing the distance, I press my lips to hers and enjoy the moment her breath escapes them. She makes the most delicate sounds when we’re kissing. Half moans and exhales I want to consume me.

I hold the back of her head and part her lips with my tongue, remembering every bit of how she tastes and feels. I thought I knew pleasure, but it wasn’t until Lili that I actually felt it. She exists in the only place where there’s so much pain it kills me, and somehow there’s also none at all.

Her hand wraps in my hair, and she bites down on my bottom lip, toying with it as she runs her tongue over it. I pull away and love the little smirk she wears like a dare she can’t live up to right now.

“Keep that up, and I’m going to carry you to the bed.” I look down at her laying on the couch. “Or here works.”

I reach for the blanket, and she laughs, pushing me off. “Rome, you know I’m not cleared for any kind ofactivityyet.”

“Activity?” I tease her. “Are we talking about mini golf or fucking, sweetheart? You’ll have to clarify.”

“Either.” She swats at my arm, and I sink back on my heels. “I have to keep it elevated, and I’m not allowed to move it too much.”

“Who said I need you to move anything?” I stick my tongue out, wiggling it at her, and she gets a full body blush that runs from her chest to her cheeks.

“Rome, my mom is here.” She looks around frantically. “Wait, where is she?”

I laugh and shake my head. “She left when I got here. Didn’t even frown at me. What was that about, anyway?”

“She’s being…” Lili thinks her words over, biting her lip. “I don’t know—different. She didn’t even argue when I told her I think I’m done with dancing.”

“Done?” I tip my head to the side.

“My hearts not in it anymore,” she says, looking a little nervous to admit it to me for some reason.

“Wait, so if you’re done dancing… at least for the time being… does that mean you aren’t leaving Denver?”

She shakes her head, fighting to hold back a smile. “Not anytime soon. Although, my lease runs out on Eloise’s house in a month, so I’ll probably have to head into the city.”

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