by Tillie Cole
His mother had planned all this crap? Planned to ambush him and persuade him to call us off? Hordes of questions almost spilled from my lips: Why do they treat him so badly? What have they done to him throughout the years? But I kept quiet. He was pulsing with anger and I didn’t have the heart to push him any further.
“Why did you lie and say you were going to the gym? Why not just be honest with me?”
He spoke through gritted teeth. “I was honest, I swear. She called when I was finishin’ up. The plan was to just drop off the jersey and leave.”
“But Shelly was touching you. She kissed you and you let her! How could you do that?”
Rome threw his head back on a groan. “Because I don’t want my parents to come after you! I had to play along… to protect you. You don’t understand what they’re like! Powerhouses, Mol. ‘Round here they’re fuckin’ powerhouses.”
Shifting closer, Romeo gently took my face in his hands. “God, baby. I would never do anythin’ to lose you. Believe me when I say that I sat there and endured their schemin’ hell to protect you. Fuck Shelly, I can’t stand the bitch!” He stood and paced before me, sincerity dripping from every action. “Don’t matter now of course.”
I frowned. “Why’s that?”
He stopped and exhaled a humourless laugh. “Because I told Momma to shove her Blair/Prince marriage merger bullshit when I came gunnin’ after you.”
A flicker of hope fluttered in my chest. “You did?”
He stalked closer, climbing on the bed, forcing me on my back. “Mm-hmm. Told her that I ain’t ever marryin’ Shelly ‘cause I’m with you. That I’m done with their shit ‘cause I’m with you. Plus, I ran down the street after your cab, screamin’ and bangin’ on the paintwork. I’m sure that hammered home my point.”
Reaching out, I clutched his hair and brought him towards my lips, only breaking the contact to say, “You need to tell me if you’re going through stuff with your parents. Tell me so I can’t doubt you. It’s hard for me to trust, but I’m learning to trust you. Please… confide in me.”
Rome brushed his stubbled chin along my throat, inhaling my scent. “Baby… you’re safe with me, and I would’ve told you everythin’ that happened when I got home. I didn’t expect to see you. God, it almost destroyed me when I saw your reaction from across the road… and then you ran, after you promised you’d never run from me.”
His hips tilted and his hard groin pressed between my legs. I had to bite my tongue to stop from moaning out loud. “I do trust you. I-it just looked bad. She kissed you. I… I didn’t like it. I needed to get away.”
Rome continued grinding against me, my eyes rolling back in pleasure. “I’ll never cheat on you, Shakespeare. You’re too damn important to me for that. I told you I’d never fuck around on you, and I don’t like to be doubted.”
Nervous excitement surged within me at his usual brusque tone. “Okay.”
I twisted the sheet in my fists as his hardness pressed against me with more pressure and I felt that delicious feeling build at the bottom of my spine.
I stared down into Rome’s eyes and they brightened.
“Romeo,” I murmured as he moved and began shifting to the foot of my bed. “What—”
“Shh…”
Romeo’s hands drifted up my bare thighs and under my dress. My breath caught in my throat when two fingers grasped the edge of my panties and slowly pulled them down.
My head pressed into the pillow as Romeo discarded my underwear to the floor and set to lifting up my dress to my hips. I made sure my tattoo was well covered.
“I’m gonna taste you, baby. You’re gonna come in my mouth.”
“Ah… God,” I whispered, only to suddenly lift my back off the mattress on a moan when Romeo’s mouth latched onto me.
“I only want you, Mol. You get me?” he said as his tongue built up speed.
“Yes! I get you!” I screamed, unable to focus, mouth lax.
“Fuck, you’re so beautiful.”
He didn’t let up until I exploded, panting feverishly as I held on tight to his dirty-blond hair, only pushing him away when his actions became too much for me to take.
Romeo shifted to his knees, straightening my dress, drinking me in, spread on my back, and crawled beside me, wrapping me tightly in his arms. I knew he was relieved that he’d taken back some control by the calm that had settled upon his flushed face.
Once I’d caught my breath, I turned and ran the back of my hand across his cheek. “God, Rome. You’ve got me so confused. I never know whether I’m coming or going with you.”
“Always comin’ I hope,” he said slyly, pursing his lips. I play-punched him in the ribs and watched his smile slowly fade away. “I’m not sure if you get the significance of what I did today in comin’ after you, in leavin’ my momma like that.” I didn’t, but I understood by his shaken demeanour that it was huge.
Romeo gripped the sides of my dress, pain evident in his large eyes. I smoothed his hair from his face. “What is it, baby?”
He swallowed and glanced out of my balcony doors, before fixing his attention back on me, whispering a heartbreaking, “Don’t ever leave me.”
I felt my heart miss a beat in response to his desperate plea. “Hey, what’s all this?”
Romeo pressed his forehead to the warmth of my stomach, wrapping his arms tightly around my waist. “I just can’t believe I’ve got you in my life. You make everythin’ better and I don’t wanna lose you.”
I ran my fingers through his hair, concerned at his strange behaviour. “I won’t leave you.”
“You almost did today. You told me to leave you.”
“It was a misunderstanding.” I swallowed nervously. “Truthfully, Rome, how much trouble are your parents going to cause us?”
I shuddered as I remembered his mother’s disgusted face and catty wave my way. Even from today, I could tell she wasn’t going to let our relationship drop, and Romeo’s erratic emotions were playing heavily on my mind.
“Don’t know. Not gonna let you near them to risk findin’ out. I’m gonna protect what we have no matter what. I explained to your friends what happened. They understood, but Cass punched me in the stomach and called me a stupid shithead for hurtin’ you. Jimmy-Don has his hands full with that one. She’s one scary gal!”
I giggled and guided his mouth off my stomach and to my lips before laying my head next to his on the soft pillow. “What did your momma whisper in your ear when you saw me? You went white.”
Rome immediately crashed his mouth to mine and spoke against my lips. “Shut up, Shakespeare. I’m done talkin’ and need to show you again how sorry I am for hurtin’ you.”
The master of deflection struck again.
13
Saturday arrived, and when I opened my eyes, lying in place of Romeo on his pillow was a ladies red Crimson Tide jersey, number seven on the back with the name PRINCE above it in large white lettering. I ran my hands over the writing and flipped it to the front. His number was there again and in the upper left hand corner was a four-leaf clover stitched into the material. A note was pinned to the collar:
My jersey for MY girl to wear at the game.
Sit with Ally and I’ll come to collect my good luck sweet kiss.
Your Romeo x
* * *
The stadium was packed. It was an expansive sea of red and white shirts. Groups of students had painted their chests red with R-O-L-L-T-I-D-E white lettering branding their skin. On the away team side, navy and white shirts dominated the stands.
Cass, Ally, and I grabbed a Coke and snacks from the indoor vendors and set off walking to our seats. As soon as we passed the full stands, people began cheering, and when the three of us looked to the screen in confusion, there I was, being followed by the camera, with digital four-leaf clovers scattered around my face, creating a border. I stumbled at the sight and Cass and Ally screamed.
“Oh my God, Molly, you’re famous!” Cass trilled in awe as she wave
d to the camera and blew a kiss. She was in her typical Stetson and jeans, wearing Jimmy-Don’s jersey, and she lapped up all the attention.
I scurried to the seats, covering my face with my Big Gulp, completely humiliated and chanting under my breath, “Ohmigod, ohmigod, ohmigod!”
I tried to ignore the catcalls and whistles directed my way. Ally and Cass sat on either side of me, laughing and clapping along with everyone else. I was just thankful that I’d decided to apply more makeup than usual and had assured that my mass of brown hair was at least in a stylishly messy chignon.
After a few minutes of tortuous fan-focused hell, which also included the cheer team facing me and waving their pom-poms—except for Shelly, who scowled and refused to acknowledge me—the introductions of the starting team began on the big screen. Cass whooped and hollered and dragged me to my feet to dance along to the music pumping through the sound system. When a segment showcasing Romeo’s highlights played to Planet Perfecto’s “Bullet in the Gun,” I couldn’t help but jump up and giggle along with my crazy Texan friend as the pregame infectious atmosphere took hold.
The music changed as the starting line-up’s pictures travelled across the big screen. Romeo’s picture was last, and his stats came up accompanied by the deafening roar of the crowd.
The announcer took to the microphone as the cheerleaders rushed along the band’s spirit line from the tunnel to the field.
“Alabama, get to your feet for your Crimmmssssooonnnn Tiiiddddddeeeeeeee…”
The team exploded out onto the pitch and the stadium almost lifted from its foundations with energy. Austin and Jimmy-Don led the team, pumping their hands to get the crowd going.
I looked frantically for Romeo, and at the very back, slightly behind everyone else, he ran out, waving his helmet in his hands, the camera following his every move.
As he reached the pitch, it seemed like every single supporter began to chant, “Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss,” over and over until I was sure it could be heard in the next state over. Ally grabbed my hand as Romeo’s amused face dominated the north and south Jumbotrons, and with a salute of his hand, he turned towards the direction of our seats and broke into an easy jog.
When he got to the end of the field, our gazes met, and he crooked his finger for me to go to him. The crowd only seemed to increase in volume at his playfully cocky action.
My feet planted to the ground, fear seizing me on the spot. I knew my eyes were as wide as saucers as they darted around the roaring crowd.
I felt a hand on my back and Cass pushed me forward, forcing me to move. “Go on, girl. Don’t keep him waiting in front of all these folks!”
I threw her a dirty look over my shoulder and she waved her hand in dismissal. I faced the field once more and Romeo stood only metres away with a hungry expression and his hands on his hips, waiting to see what I would do.
“You can do this, you can do this,” I repeated in a quiet chant as my boots propelled me forward.
When I reached the edge of the field, Romeo grabbed my hand and launched me forward into his chest, his other taped-up hand cradling the back of my head.
The crowd lost control.
He pressed his forehead to mine, leaving me no other choice than to focus solely on him, letting the deafening stadium noise fade into the background.
“Hey, Mol.”
“Hey, you.”
“You gonna give up that lucky sweet kiss?”
“If that’s what you want.”
His nostrils flared. “It most definitely is.” He tipped my head and pressed his mouth to mine—passionate and all-consuming—before pulling back, winking, and taking to the field, leaving me stood like a mindless, love-drunk dunce.
For a moment, I didn’t think I could walk, but I turned and, without lifting my head to face the screams, practically ran back to my seat. Ally and Cass were laughing at my embarrassment, and we stayed on our feet as the game kicked off.
Rome was having an unbelievable game. At least, it looked as though he was, and by Ally’s and Cass’s nudges and high-fives, I was pretty sure I was right. By halftime, they were leading by twelve and everyone was confident it was going to be a convincing win.
I was sitting back in my seat, just enjoying the electric atmosphere, when I caught Ally staring at me. “What?”
She tilted her head in assessment. It caused me to fidget. “You know, in all this time, I’ve never seen your hair down. Is it long?”
“Yeah, probably to nearly the bottom of my back. Why?”
Her eyes sparkled with scheming. “We’re going straight home after the game.”
“O-kay…”
“You, Miss Molly, are gonna look hot tonight,” she enthused.
“I don’t think I could ever be classed as hot, Ally.” I was pretty sure she’d had too much sun.
“That’s because you’ve never been shown how. I’m gonna fix that tonight. We’re about the same size in clothes, so you can wear one of my dresses. One that’s gonna have Rome all freaked out.”
“Go for it, Molls. Why not have Bullet panting to fuck your fine ass!” Cass added, doing her best to be encouraging.
Tipping my head back, I groaned loudly. “Not a bloody chance. What do you think this is, some flippin’ cheesy teen movie or something?”
Anger showed in Ally’s brown eyes. “My makeover skills are unrivalled. You’re doing it.”
I stared at Ally’s face and bowed my head. “Ah, sod it! I’m actually pretty intrigued to see what you manage with all this,” I said, gesturing to my mountain of hair.
She dropped her frown and danced on her seat. “Doubt me if you will, but Rome will go crazy when he sees you. We’ll tell him to meet us at nine and not a minute before.”
“Whatever you say. Just don’t make me regret this!”
The game kicked off for the second half and in the end, they won. Rome did his usual interviews after the match, and Austin was given MVP, which had Lexi flipping about the place in sheer joy.
I stood at my seat, waiting for the crowds to calm before telling him we were heading home. With a slap on the back to his teammates, Rome came running over and when he reached me, he picked me up and swung me around, causing the men to jeer and the women to “aww.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck and whispered, “Well done, baby. I’m so proud of you.”
“Thank you,” he croaked with a raspy voice full with emotion, and he brushed a feather-light kiss on my lips. When he lowered me to the floor, Ally came over and hugged him in congratulations.
Rome took my hand. “Stay here, okay? I’ll be back soon, and I’ll take you out for dinner before we head to the club.”
“No can do. I’m taking her home to get ready now,” informed Ally with a saccharine smile.
The look Romeo shot her should have had her recoiling in fear, but she simply smacked his arm and said, “Don’t bother pulling that shit on me, Rome. You can be without her for a few hours.”
His eyes narrowed menacingly. “I don’t want to be. I’m taking her out, end of discussion.”
I put my hands on his face. “Go eat with the guys and come to our house at nine. Please… for me.”
“Fine. For you. But I’ll be there at nine on the dot and you’d better be ready,” he growled and branded me with a fiery kiss before smacking me on the arse, a bit harder than was deemed playful, and walked back to the field in a dark, sullen mood.
I sighed. “Great, now he’s pissed off with me.”
Ally shrugged. “He’ll get over it.”
“You’d better be right.”
* * *
“What do you think?” Ally asked as she uncovered my eyes in front of the full-length mirror.
“Fuck me!” I whispered as I stared at the girl in the reflection, catching the girls giggling in the background.
“Looking like that, Molls, I may just do that!” Cass joked, flicking her tongue out suggestively.
“Told you I was good,” Ally said s
mugly.
“That you did,” I replied, still struck by the sight.
Ally had certainly delivered. I didn’t even recognise the girl looking back at me. She had long, smooth hair, straight at the top and loose barrel curls at the ends. Slices of caramel lifted the espresso colour, giving it a sun-kissed feel, and her skin was brightened by a bronze shimmer. Smoky eyes made her golden-brown eyes striking and her hourglass figure was flattered by the short fitted, body-con black dress, strapless with a structured sweetheart neckline, with high black cowboy boots finishing off the look.
My staring in the mirror was interrupted by a fervent knock at the door, and Cait entered the room. “Hey Ally, Rome and the guys are waiting for you downstairs.” Cait blinked in surprise. “Molly… I almost didn’t recognise you. You look drop-dead gorgeous, honey.”
“Thanks, Cait,” I replied with a deep blush.
We headed down the stairs, and I saw Romeo at the bottom, dressed in a red plaid shirt, folded at the sleeves, and low dark jeans—he looked so bloody gorgeous.
Austin, who was in his usual all black, saw us first. I watched as his eyes widened on realisation that the girl at the back was me. Rome was sharing a joke with Jimmy-Don as he casually leaned against the door, and Reece began tapping at his arm. Romeo swung his head to him, scowling in annoyance, but Reece ignored his stern stare and pointed wordlessly my way.
As Rome looked up, I almost laughed at his reaction. He jumped from leaning against the wall and pushed through to the bottom of the stairs. As I walked down each step, I grew in confidence, and if the over-awed expression on Romeo’s face was any indication, I’d say that Ally’s plan had worked.
When I got to the bottom step, we were almost the same height. My thumbnail was gripped between my teeth as I squirmed under everyone’s silent attention.
Stealthily, Romeo’s hands reached forward, grasping my backside, and he jerked me to his hard body. Sparks of desire flew from his hot brown eyes. I knew in that instant that tonight would be a test to our control. My insides griped almost painfully in sexual lust; a ravishing heat had taken over my body. And by the feel of Romeo’s rough, wandering hands and his jeans against my pelvis, he was fighting to keep his composure too.