Page 27 of Worth the Trouble

“Practicing?”

I spin, not realizing he followed me, and he’s standing right in my bubble, catching me off guard.

“Why are you here, Rome?” I ignore his question because he still hasn’t answered mine.

There’s no reason for him to show up in the middle of the day, even if I have imagined it a few times. We aren’t friends.

But here Rome stands, in my living room with barely a few feet between us. And I’m reminded how dangerous it feels to be around him. Because my thoughts are murky and my skin tingles.

Rome takes another step forward and I step back, unable to help it. He closes in on me, and I try to keep my distance until my back strikes a wall, pinning me in place in front of him.

Stopping, he plants a hand on the wall beside my head. But he doesn’t lean in closer or touch me. He doesn’t need to because I feel every inch of air between us. His eyes are fixed on mine and his expression is unlike anything I’ve seen on him.

Vulnerable, maybe?

He swallows hard, and I’m reminded of the third eye on his throat always watching, even when he blinks. Reminding me that when Rome is in my space, there’s no escaping.

“Why did you lie to your mom?” Rome asks, once more ignoring my question.

“My mom?”

He nods, eyebrows pinching, and I almost think he seems genuinely curious about my answer.

“You should be thanking me,” I say under my breath. “I saved you from the wrath of Katherine Chen.”

“You think I can’t handle your mom?”

I shake my head, but the darkness in his eyes makes me think that maybe Rome is one of the few people in this world who wouldn’t be affected by the force that is my mother.

“Either way…” I switch gears, not entertaining whatever thought flashes in Rome’s mind. “The last thing she needs to think is that I’m out here getting distracted.”

“Is that what I am, Lili?” Rome leans in the slightest bit. “A distraction?”

Something about my name rolling off his tongue is more disarming than him calling me sweetheart.

“I think you know you’re a distraction, Rome,” I challenge him. “Hence why you still refuse to answer my question.”

“Just because I haven’t answered doesn’t mean I’m refusing.” Rome shrugs, his eyes dipping to my throat as I swallow. “Maybe there’s no answer. After all, I was hanging out with the band, then I was headed home. But somehow, I ended up here. Why is that?”

Rome shifts, and I swear if I breathe in my chest might brush his. Part of me wants to—wants to feel him like I did on the back of his bike. And something about the inch of space he leaves is torture, which he must know because the grin that paints his lips is downright wicked.

Tipping my chin up, I dare to face him. To stand toe-to-toe with this tattooed rock star who takes up residence in my head when I don’t have room left. I tilt my face and we might as well be sharing a breath.

I stand off with a man who I get the impression is used to people bowing down and giving him exactly what he wants.

I lick my lips and don’t miss that even if he doesn’t break my stare, he swallows at the movement.

I don’t know why Rome Moreno is at my house, but I know it’s for nothing good. His scent is addictive, and his body turns good intentions bad. Then there’s the fact that he makes me feel at ease when I know I should be keeping my guard up. Somehow, he’s my kryptonite.

The good girl inside me crumbles to pieces. She’s tired, and starving, and desperate for a taste. It could be that my mom’s visit set me on edge. Or that years of being told what to do makes me want to go rogue. But with Rome standing in front of me, it’s a dare I can’t resist.

I can’t help that I rake my teeth over my bottom lip just to draw a reaction, or that all this man makes me want to do is challenge him.

His gaze drops to my mouth, and I feel us both pause around a truth neither of us wants to accept.

“You’re here because you can’t help yourself,” I say, knowing it’s bold but also that I’m right. For whatever reason, I’ve caught the beast’s attention, and I can’t help but want to feel what it means to be his prey. “What do you plan on doing about it?”

9

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