Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 98736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
“He’s protective of you.”
“I know. I love my brother. I’ll never be able to repay him for all he’s done for me, but that doesn’t give him the right to make my choices for me.”
I don’t say anything because she’s right, but that doesn’t mean he’s not going to be pissed if we were to take this farther.
“So, that’s it. Just no? You tell me I’m everything and that if Forrest wasn’t my brother, you’d risk his friendship. That’s it. No further discussion?”
“We can’t.” Those two words feel like glass slicing my tongue.
She nods. “Okay then. When you see me with someone else, I want you to remember this moment. I want you to remember that you didn’t want me bad enough to fight for me.” She tries to step out of my hold, but my fingers dig into her bare skin.
“Don’t.” It’s a warning, but I’m not sure what of. The threat that I won’t fight for her, or that she’s going to find someone else. I know I just thought that same thing, but it’s different when it comes from her lips.
Can I handle that?
Can I sit back and watch as another man holds her, kisses her, and gets to be a part of her everyday life?
If the panic that’s rising inside me is any indication, the answer is no. I won’t survive that.
“Don’t what? Live my life? Move on? You can’t expect me to stay in limbo like this. Roman, I care about you. I want this with you. I’ll fight whoever we have to fight who doesn’t agree, but I can’t do that on my own. I can’t do that without you being in this with me. So, yes, I’m going to live my life. I’m going to move on, and just like my brother, there isn’t a damn thing you can say about it.”
Mine.
Mine.
Mine.
That one word repeats over and over in my mind, and I don’t think. I act.
The action has me lifting her onto my lap, sliding one hand behind her neck and pulling her mouth to mine. The instant our lips touch, I know I’m sunk. I know that there will never be another woman on this earth for me.
I nip at her bottom lip, and she gasps, which allows me entrance into her mouth. Her taste explodes on my tongue as I explore her. I keep a firm grip on her neck, holding her to me, because I am not ready to end this. My other hand grips her bare ass. She rocks her hips against my hard cock. Even through my jeans, I can feel the friction that move causes. I’m mindful of the fresh ink on her hip.
This kiss has months of built-up desire and tension. I’ve wanted this for so long… to taste her. To have my hands all over her. I don’t know if I’m going to be able to stop. Not just tonight, but ever. One taste and I’m addicted.
I don’t know how long I kiss her. What I do know is when I finally pull away, we’re both panting, and Emerson’s lips are bruised and swollen. I rest my forehead against hers, while I let the reality of what just happened settle in.
I crossed the line.
Not the invisible one I’ve already crossed with her. This is the real one. I blew the line apart. It no longer exists. I just pushed us into a situation that’s going to be messy as fuck, but sitting here with this goddess wrapped around me, the taste of her lips still on mine, I can’t seem to find it inside of me to care.
“Rome?”
For the first time since all of this started, I hear actual worry in her voice.
I cradle her cheeks and hold her gaze. “What’s wrong, baby girl?”
“You kissed me.”
I smile. “I did.”
“What does that mean?”
“Honestly, I don’t know, Em. I know that the thought of someone other than me kissing you has rage boiling in my veins.”
“You want me?” Her softly spoken words would have brought me to my knees had I not already been sitting.
“I want you. It’s never been about that. Me wanting to be with you has never been the issue. I don’t know how your brother will react, and I’ll be damned if I’m the man in your life that causes you to be estranged from the only family in your corner.”
“Then we don’t tell him.” Her words are rushed. “We see how this goes. We can do that. We’re adults. We make our own choices, and we can keep this between us.”
“I don’t know if I’m going to be able to do that. Now that I’ve tasted these lips—” I trace my thumb over her bottom lip. “I don’t know that I’ll be able to stay away.” It’s true. I’ve fought this for so long, and I only have so much control.