Page 36 of Loving Roman
He kisses up the side of my neck before whispering, “We can do whatever you like, Tesoro. We can go to dinner another time.” He runs his finger up my spine, using his nail to tickle my heated flesh. “What would you like to do instead?”
I loosely wrap my hand around his shaft, which is still semi-hard, and give him my most sultry look. “I can think of a few things.”
“Yeah? Tell me what you’re thinking.”
19
–roman–
Standing in Alice’s kitchen,wearing only boxer briefs, I reminisce about last night. It meant everything to me. We lit each other’s world on fire, and I know I want her in my bed and beside me in my life from here on out. It may seem fast, but I’m not a young, inexperienced man. I’ve spent enough time on my own to know when I’ve found someone who’s perfect for me.
I’m reasonably certain she feels the same, but I doubt she’s prepared to move at my speed. I also need to consider the kids and our living arrangements. I knowThe Parkerville Projectdoesn’t have an issue with couples running a group home since I’m the only single counselor, but theydorequire couples to be legally married to do so. It’s an antiquated idea, but it was put in place to ensure stability for the kids. Not that marriage guarantees stability.
I set about making coffee for my girl while she finishes up in the shower. She wanted us to shower together, but her shower is the size of a matchbox. There was no way in hell we were both going to fit. I figured I’d let her have the first shower,then I’ll jump in after breakfast. As the coffee brews, I check her refrigerator. She has it well stocked with everything I need to make omelets. A knock rattles her front door as I crack the first egg. Turning off the heat, I check to see if Alice can answer it since this is her place, but the water’s still running. I doubt she can hear the knock, so I quickly grab my best pair of jeans, as another frantic knock sounds.
“Just a sec,” I call out as I slide my second leg into my pants.
Another sharp knock sounds before I get them done up. Man, talk about impatient. I quickly answer the door to find a young man and woman standing on the other side, holding a tiny pug. The guy’s eyes are comically wide as the woman looks me up and down.
“Damn. Mom’s been holding out on us. At least we know why she wasn’t answering her phone.” Fuck, this must be her son and his wife
“Uh, hi. You must be Noah and Heather.” I step back from the doorway, allowing them to enter. “This little guy must be Taco.” I scratch the little pup behind his ears, and he wriggles like crazy at the attention.
“Uh, yeah.” Noah looks at his wife with raised brows before looking back at me. “I’m sorry, you have us at a disadvantage. Who the hell are you?” he snaps.
I’m guessing she didn’t tell them about me during her visit last weekend, and last night was rather unexpected. We were supposed to enjoy a dinner date, not have an all-night love fest. Not that I’m complaining. I hold out my hand. “I’m Roman. I’m a … uh … friend of your mom.”
“I’m ready to go again!” Alice calls out playfully as she steps from her bathroom wrapped in a towel that barely covers her torso. And even though there’s nothing sexual in those five words, the meaning behind them is clear.
“Hi, Mom,” Heather calls out gleefully. Her eyes sparkle with delight while her lips tip up with a smirk as she finger waves at Alice. I’m guessing she’s enjoying catching her mother-in-law out.
Alice freezes in place. Sheer horror overtakes her face as she holds the towel tighter to her body, her eyes darting between the three of us. I make a move to go to her, but she widens her eyes at me and shakes her head, telling me to stay put. I lock my feet in place, so I can follow her request against my better judgment.
She jabs her thumb over her shoulder toward her bedroom. “Uh, I’m, uh … just gonna get dressed.”
“Oh, don’t get dressed on our account. We can come back later … when you’re not so busy.” Heather winks, causing Alice to blush a bright crimson. She nudges Noah with her elbow. “Right, honey?”
Noah’s too shocked to respond, his eyes flicking between me and his mom.
Alice shuffles out of the room, closing the bedroom door behind her, and Noah turns to Heather. “That’s my mom you’re talking to like that, not one of your girlfriends. Tone that shit down,” he snaps.
Heather snickers at him, patting him on the arm. “Oh, stop it. Mom’s a grown-ass woman and she deserves to have a bit of fun.”
Noah growls at her, “Stop fucking talking about my mom like that.” He jabs his finger in the direction of Alice’s bedroom. “That’s my mom.” He pouts like a child.
As awkward as this is, I feel sorry for the kid. It can’t be easy seeing your mom as anything other than your mom. Having the visual of her having sex thrown in your face … I shudder involuntarily.
Heather’s expression softens, and she moves into herhusband’s body, wrapping him in her arms, squashing Taco between them. She whispers something in his ear that makes his body relax into her. He eventually pulls back and kisses her temple, then nods, almost to himself. He turns back to me, and I realize I’m still half naked. I know I wouldn’t like to find my mom’s lover half naked in her house. Jabbing my thumb over my shoulder, much the same way Alice did, I excuse myself to find my shirt and finish dressing, telling the kids to make themselves at home.
I step into her bedroom, closing the door quietly behind me, to find Alice sitting on the edge of her bed, hiding her face in her hands. Kneeling on the floor at her feet, I rub my hands along the outside of her jean-clad thighs and kiss the top of her head.
“I’m sorry, Alice. When I opened the door, I didn’t consider that Noah and Heather would be the people on the other side.” Her tear-stained face tilts up to mine. “I can leave if that’s what you need.”
Not that I want to fucking leave, but it has to be her decision. Noah’s her son, and I imagine it was a shock for him to be greeted by a half-naked man in his mother’s home. And it’s obvious that Alice isn’t coping much better than Noah at being caught out.
“I should have told them about you when I visited last week. I was scared of Noah’s reaction to my seeing someone. He’s never seen me with a man since his father, and he was only four when we lost him.” This is the first time she’s mentioned Noah’s father, and I’m trying to make sense of her statement.Lost himsounds like he died, and Noah’s twenty-four now, so that makes it twenty years.
She’s been alone for twenty fucking years!
