Page 114 of Worth the Trouble

He always looks sexy as hell, so I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to the sight of him.

Leaning against the counter, he crosses one ankle over the other and ticks an eyebrow up at me. “See something you like, sweetheart?”

“On that note.” Eloise hops up and shakes her head.

Sebastian, Noah, and Adrian follow Rome into the room.

“Don’t even try and play innocent, princess,” Rome says to Eloise. “I know you and Adrian are into some freaky shit.”

Her eyes go wide, and she looks at Adrian, who laughs and shakes his head.

“He’s fucking with you.” Adrian walks up to her and wraps an arm around her shoulders. “I don’t kiss and tell.”

“This would befuck and tell.” Rome shrugs. “Doesn’t matter, her face confirmed it.”

Rome is definitely the troublemaker of the band, and he can’t seem to help starting shit just to see how far he can push them.

“Leave my friend alone,” I say, walking over and wrapping my hands around his waist to look up at him.

“Now you’re on their side?”

“When you’re picking on them, yes.”

He leans down to bring his lips close to my ear. “You’re going to pay for that later, sweetheart.”

His teeth graze the shell of my ear before he bites down on the lobe, and I feel all the blood in my body rush between my legs. I try to wiggle away, but he wraps his arms firmly around me and holds me tight.

“We’re taking off,” Sebastian says, and it finally draws Rome’s attention. “Have fun.”

“Thanks again.” He waves but doesn’t stop looking at me as the band leaves.

“Is your secret project done yet?” I ask, looking down the hallway to a room he hasn’t let me inside of for a month while he and the guys worked on something in there.

“Maybe.” Rome grabs the front hem of my cropped T-shirt and pulls me to him. “Want to find out?”

He gives me a quick dirty kiss before pulling me behind him down the hallway. I’m reminded a little of the first night we did this. Feeling like I was falling into an alternate universe with him. Knowing if I went too far, I’d never get out. And I never did, but I also don’t regret it.

Rome stops in front of the door and pauses, turning to face me. “For you, sweetheart.” Then, he opens it.

It takes me a moment to process what I’m looking at because the room is empty. But the floors that were carpeted have been replaced with smooth wood planks, and the walls on three sides are mirrors, while the fourth is windows.

“A dance studio?” I step inside, noticing how the lights on the ceiling are small and dim like stars, and how the room has a quality that feels almost magical.

Rome stands behind me and pulls my back to his chest. “Just because you’re done with it professionally for now, doesn’t mean you can’t fall in love with it again, even if it’s just for you.”

I blink back the tears forming in my eyes. It’s the sweetest gesture from a man who doesn’t like to show this side of himself to people.

“It’s…” I spin until I’m facing him and wrap my arms around his neck. “It’s absolutely perfect. Thank you.”

Lifting up on my toes, I kiss him.

I hold the broken man with the torn heart and put him back together with my lips. I try to show him he’s enough in the way that he’s shown me. I want him to know that no matter who he is or what he’s done, I love him how he is, and I would never want him to change as long as I can be his.

Rome drags his hands down my back and over my ass. “Not perfect yet.”

He slides his thumbs into my leggings and peels them down my legs with my underwear, kneeling before me as I step out of them.

“Fuck,” he says, looking from my eyes to my pussy. “You bring me to my knees.”

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