Page 15 of Falling for You
“They don’t need to know, Rome. It can be our secret like it was,” I plead.
“No!” he says harshly. Taking a step toward me his face softens, “I won’t let you be a secret, Ems. You don’t deserve that and neither do I. I want to love you out in the open.”
“Love me?”
My question causes pure panic to etch across his face.
Before he can respond a knock comes at the door, “Roman, we need you in the kitchen.” Clark’s voice is loud, and gruff, breaking the moment we have.
He looks at me, and regret fills his eyes. “I gotta go.”
“Roman. Don’t go.” I rush to the door to find Clark standing on the other side. His eyes widen when he sees me, knowing what is at stake for Roman if Hunter finds out.
He turns quickly to follow his boss to the kitchen. Clearly, he wasn’t expecting me despite his plea to not give up on Rome. Which leads me to wonder who he was expecting.
I turn back to the bathroom, the cold water still running from a moment ago. I splash some on my face, take a deep breath, will those tears back in and pat my skin dry before going back to the group.
I slide into my chair, not making eye contact with any of them, especially my date. I listen to the conversation swirling around me, my mind somewhere else. My brothers are being nice to this guy, only it’s the kind of nice that I know is really sarcastic and making fun of him. I can’t take it anymore. They’re keeping me from the person who really makes me happy. Now keeping me from the guy who could make me happy for the night.
I reach over, draping my arm over his shoulders, “Let’s get out of here, babe.”
A tipsy smile graces his lips, “You got it, sweetheart.”
I push back from the table, “We’ll see you guys later, we’re going to get out of here.”
My brothers all go slackjaw, realizing that they can’t chase this date away especially if I leave with him and they’re stuck here. Violet and Willow, however, both chuckle under their breath.
I loop my arm through his, and we walk out through the brewery.
I catch Roman’s eye as we walk past the bar, laying my head on my date’s shoulder and turning away from the man I don’t know if I want to forget. I’m tired of the back and forth with him. I look up at my date, smiling at the simplicity of our deal. Other than forgetting what his name is. I should probably figure that out.
We walk back to the cabin, the same one that is covered in construction materials, drop cloths, a cooler holding my snacks, and an out of order bathroom. Hopefully he won’t mind roughing it. At least I’ll get a real orgasm, if he’s even capable of giving one, but I can work with that too.
His hands are roaming sloppily around my body, moving but not actually doing anything for me other than annoying me.
I slip the key into the lock, opening the door to the cabin.
He snickers. “This is a nice place.”
“It’s under renovation.” I point to the tools all over my dining room, and the missing cabinets in the kitchen.
“I see that.” He ignores the mess and lunges toward me, pulling me into his arms unceremoniously.
I ignore his advances for now, something doesn’t feel right with him, not like it does with Roman. “Would you like a drink? I have uh…” I pull out of his arms, walking over to the cooler at the edge of the kitchen, “some hard cider?” I pull two cans out of the cooler.
“No, baby, I just want you.” He pulls me into his arms once more. His lips make contact with mine this time, they take over more than my mouth, his tongue goes too far nearly choking me, his hands are too rough, digging into my skin.
When our teeth clash, I can’t take it anymore.
I pull away from him. He looks at me concerned.
“What’s wrong, baby?”
“I just…” I pause. “I have an early morning. So I need to get to bed if you don’t mind.”
I walk toward the door, opening it for him to leave.
He stalks toward me before stopping in front of me with his finger pointed at me. “You’re a fucking tease. Fuck you.”
