“Do you know how much I love you?” I whispered. “I love you so goddamned much that it scares the shit out of me. You have no idea the kind of power you wield, how much of me you own. Knowing you were completely vulnerable, that you were locked unknowingly in a bathroom with someone who literally lurked around while you were naked, while you were washing yourself, makes me sick. He could have raped you.” My voice broke on the last part because I had to force the words out of my mouth.
“He didn’t,” she said quickly and tried to turn to face me.
I wouldn’t let her. I liked her where she was. It was easier to bare my heart when she wasn’t staring into me with her eyes.
“No, he didn’t. But he’s put bruises on you. The way you looked in that pool last night. The way your body just kind of stopped. You sank to the bottom with a dark cloud of hair obscuring your face. I knew you had to be reliving what happened. It broke me, Rim. Loving me has cost you so fucking much. Too much.”
This time, she wouldn’t let me hold her. She spun around and tipped her chin up to look at me. I let her see. I let her see the bleakness in my eyes.
“Loving you has given me way more than I imagined.” She reached up and brushed the backs of her knuckles across my cheek. I dragged my fingers through her hair.
“It scares me too,” Rimmel whispered. “How much I love you.”
“I’m going to protect you. I’m going to protect us,” I said. “I won’t ever stop.”
“Next time, talk to me. Nine times out of ten, I’ll probably do what you ask just because you ask me to. I know you want to shield me, but I can’t be beside you if you’re always pushing me behind you.”
“Deal.”
Rimmel leaned forward to kiss me, but I lifted my lips, denying her. Her eyes narrowed, and I smiled. “One more thing.”
“What?” she asked suspiciously.
“Do not get in between me and a chair. Me and any fight ever again.”
“We’ll see,” she replied noncommittally.
I growled my displeasure, but she only smiled.
“Kiss me, Romeo.”
I pushed my face down to hers. Our lips melded together like they were one and the same. To me, her lips felt like velvet, the softest touch I’d ever known.
I hunched around her, wanting closer, gathering her against me until there wasn’t even enough space for air between our bodies. My tongue slipped into her mouth and licked against hers, the slightly rough texture a direct contrast to the softness of the rest of her.
I groaned, but the sound echoed into her mouth.
My face bumped against her glasses, and I pulled them off quickly and tossed them onto the couch.
Her hands began to wander over my body and slipped beneath the hem of my shirt. Her touch was light as it danced across my abs and up over my chest. When her hands brushed the dog tag lying against my chest, she retreated to push my shirt up to reveal the expanse of my stomach and part of my chest.
Her lips were warm and moist as she pressed them against my skin and then slipped over to press a kiss against the metal of the necklace.
“Baby,” I murmured and grabbed a handful of hair at the back of her neck. Gently, I tilted up her head and her eyes fluttered open to look at me. “I’m not sorry for what I did. But I am sorry if it hurt you.”
“I love you,” she whispered.
The words pierced my soul.
We walked through the dark house, nothing but two shadows in the night, until we stepped into the bedroom and our bodies were cast in the orange glow of the firelight.
I brought her around to kiss her again. This time it was lazy and slow as I backed her up toward the bed. As we moved, she unbuttoned my jeans and then shoved her hands down the waistband, reaching into the back of my boxers, and cupped my ass.
My cock was already throbbing, already jealous that she was touching the rest of me. I pulled back so I could quickly rip off my clothes, and when I looked back, I noted she was doing the same.
When she was standing in front of me in nothing but a pair of black panties and a black lacy bra, I sank down on my knees before her. Her nipples were erect beneath the cups of her bra, and I wrapped my lips around them, moistening the fabric and using my tongue to rub against it, creating friction against her already sensitized skin.
Her hands delved into my hair, fisting in the thickness, and her back arched. I lavished attention on both her breasts until the fabric was wet and she was panting. Her hips twisted around like they were searching for something, and I smiled.
I kissed down her flat stomach and then buried my face in the center of her panties.
Rimmel’s groan filled the bedroom, and I felt like a superhero. The fabric between us was too much so I pulled it down her legs and she kicked it away.
Her body swayed on her feet when I licked up her center with one long stroke. My hands wrapped around her narrow hips and pushed her back so she would sit on the bed. I stood to lift her farther back, but she grabbed hold of my jutting cock and slid her mouth down over it.
I jerked in the tight space of her mouth and she took me as deep as she could. I let her stroke and lick me until my knees started to feel weak and I knew I wouldn’t be able to pull her off if she went any further.
I pulled back and she looked up. Rimmel’s little pink tongue darted out to lick across her lips, as if she were tasting every last bit of me.
A low growl rumbled the center of my chest, and she smiled. She moved quickly, turning so her bare ass was in perfect sight, and crawled up toward the head of the bed to lie down. Before she turned over from her hands and knees, she looked back at me over her shoulder.
I lunged forward, grabbing her hips and pulling them toward the center of my body.
She made a sound of appreciation, and I smoothed my hands over her hips and naked ass. My hand dipped between her legs and slipped in her already flowing juices. I rocked against her without thought, and she pushed her tight little butt into me.
I didn’t give it a second thought. I pushed the tip of my swollen head inside her. She shuddered, and I looked down at her narrow waist that gave way to softly curved hips.
I plunged the rest of the way in, and she collapsed onto her elbows. It changed the angle, and I went even deeper into her. My pelvis rocked against her and I rotated my hips in a circle.
She was so tight. So wet and so fucking perfect.
My eyes slid closed as I rode her from behind. In and out, in and out I thrust. I could see her hands fisted in the blankets and hear her ragged breathing. I bent at the waist, bringing my chest against her front, and filled my hand with her breast. Gently, I pinched the nipple and rolled it around in my fingers.
Rimmel ground against me and started rocking her hips. I knew she was close. Her inner muscles squeezed around me. My free hand slid lower, and I pressed my thumb against her swollen clit.
She came apart in my arms. When she would have collapsed completely onto the bed, I held her up and kept riding her. My own release came hard and fast. I pulsed and emptied myself into her body while bliss stole over every last part of me.
I collapsed onto the bed beside her and lifted her boneless body across my chest.
I hated fighting with her. But damn. The make-up sex was awesome.
We were both so satisfied that neither of us moved. I thought briefly about pulling back the bedding to cover her, but with the fire going and our body heat, it really wasn’t necessary.
I thought she’d gone to sleep, but a long time later, her quiet voice filled the room.
“Romeo?”
“Hmm?” I asked and dragged a hand up the length of her spine.
“He kept telling me to ask you why he was so mad.”
I knew who she was talking about, and I was glad she hadn’t said his name. I didn’t want it in this bed with us.
“I’m the one who got him arrested. I had the nameplate put in his room. I had the dean search it. I knew what he would find.”
/> “He lost presidency because of you.”
“No. He lost presidency because he’s an asshole and because the members of Omega just needed an excuse to dethrone him. He was supposed to be out of the house completely, but his daddy made some calls.”
She fell silent again. It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence, but silence all the same. I knew she was awake by the way she would occasionally stroke her thumb across my bicep.
“You pissed again?” I finally asked.
“No. He deserved it.”
“Damn.”
She lifted her head and rested her chin on my chest. “You wanted me to be mad?”
I gave her a lopsided smile. “I was hoping for more make-up sex.”
She laughed. But then her eyes turned serious and she tucked her hand beneath her chin. “You need to stay away from him. No more games.”
I stared at her levelly without saying a word.
“I mean it, Romeo. I know you want to pay him back for everything he’s done, but it only makes things worse.”
“Sign the restraining order.”
“Okay.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Just like that?”
“I’ll sign it if you stay away from him.”
“No.”
She twisted my nipple.
“Ow!” I hollered.
She laugh and I rolled to pin her beneath me.
“Say it,” she demanded.
“Or what?”
“Or I won’t kiss you anymore.”
I grinned and lowered my head to do just that. She turned her face so my lips brushed her ear.
“I have ways,” I said darkly, “of getting what I want.”
“So do I.” She matched my tone.
I made a frustrated sound and rolled off her. She sat up and all her hair fell over her shoulders, creating a curtain over her bare chest.
“Please, Romeo,” she said sincerely. “No more of this. I’ll get the restraining order and that will be the end of it.”
I could tell she wasn’t going to give in. I wanted that protective order in place. I couldn’t be with her twenty-four-seven, but that paper would be. “Fine.” I agreed grudgingly.
Rimmel smiled brilliantly and leaned over to kiss me. “Thank you.”
Somewhere in the room, my phone went off. I jumped up and fished it out of the pocket of my jeans. It was a text from my father.
PAPERWORK IS DRAFTED. NEEDS SIGNED.
WE’LL BE RIGHT OVER.
I tossed the phone on the bed. “Paperwork is ready.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “That was fast.”
“I told him we’d be over.”
She frowned.
Shit. Did she seriously change her mind already? “What is it?” I asked, slightly irritated.
“I don’t want to put that dress back on.”
I threw back my head and laughed.
She glared at me. “Do you have any idea how uncomfortable those stupid tights are?”
“Well, you looked hot.”
“Who cares?”
I chuckled. “I sure as hell don’t. You look good in anything.” Then I realized I was wrong. “Well, except that lesbian sweater you have. That’s not attractive on anyone.”
She threw a pillow at me. I caught it.
“C’mon, you can wear one of my shirts.”
That seemed to make her happy, and she quickly pulled on a pair of fuzzy pajama pants, the slippers I gave her, and one of my shirts. I dressed in a pair of sweats and a T-shirt. At the door, I crouched down and pointed at my back.
She jumped on and I lifted her with ease. God, she weighed practically nothing at all. Her legs wound around my waist and her arms hooked around my neck.
I carried her between the houses and into my father’s office.
He grinned when I walked in with her on my back. From behind his desk, he turned the paperwork toward us, and I handed a black pen over my shoulder.
When Rimmel patted my back to put her down, I didn’t listen. Instead, I bent over so she could reach the papers. She laughed but put the pen to paper. After she signed her name, I stood.
“Thank you for doing this, Mr. Anderson,” Rimmel said.
“Tony,” he corrected.
“Tony,” she echoed.
“My pleasure,” he replied. Then he glanced at me. “These will be served in the morning.”
I knew that was his way of warning me in front of Rimmel.
He wanted me to be prepared, because we both knew Zach—and Zach’s father—wasn’t going to be happy.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Rimmel
He wouldn’t stop laughing.
My death glare was so not working.
In fact, it was only making him laugh more.
I crossed my arms over my chest and climbed out.
“Smalls!” he yelled after me, then started laughing all over again.
“I’ll show you Smalls,” I muttered. I walked over to the nearby grassy area and bent, scooping up some of the snow that was piled on the side of the pavement.
I ignored the sting in my fingers as I packed the frigid mush into a tight ball.
“Baby,” Romeo said, coming up behind me. “C’mon, I’m sorry.”
I stood up and launched the snowball as I was turning. It hit him between his neck and shoulder. White ice burst apart and some of it slid down the inside of his jacket.
I started laughing.
He didn’t look amused.
I admit it made me laugh harder.
Calmly, Romeo reached up and brushed away the remaining snow that was sticking to his shoulder.
I snorted.
He lunged at me, and I squealed. Before I could dodge him, he picked me up by the waist and flipped me over so my head was facing the ground. I had to press a hand to my glasses to keep them on my face.
It seemed like the easiest thing in the world for him to walk while I dangled above the ground. He stopped beside the very snow pile from which I made my snowball. He stretched out his arms so I dangled over it and then lowered me down.
I began wiggling and fighting, trying to get free. “No!” I screeched. “That’s cold!”
“You mean you don’t want me to dunk your face in this here bank of snow?”
“Romeo,” I warned.
“Payback is only fair,” he sang.
“You had it coming and you know it!” The blood was rushing to my head and making me feel funny. “Put me down!”
He chuckled and swung me up so I was back on my feet.
“You suck,” I said and stuck my tongue out at him.
“Usually, that tongue would distract me, like I know you want it to, but not today. We’re busy.” He draped an arm across my shoulder and steered me back in the direction of the idling Hellcat.
It was spotless. The lime-green exterior barely had a spot on it. Romeo washed it constantly. He hated how the snow and salt on the roads got it so dirty all the time.
“This really isn’t necessary.” I tried for like the five millionth time.
“Yes, it is. Knowing how to drive a stick shift is something every girl needs to know.”
“I’m not every girl,” I grumped.
“No. You’re my girl. And my girl needs to know how to drive a Hellcat.”
“Why couldn’t you have gotten an automatic like everyone else in the country?”
“Real men drive stick shifts.”
I snorted.
“Come on,” he said, a smile already creeping back onto his face.
“Stop making fun of me!”
“I can’t help it, Smalls. It’s the first time anyone has ever needed a stack of books to see over the dashboard in this car.”
I gave him a scornful look. “It has bucket seats.”
He nodded gravely. “I knew my textbooks would come in good use sometime.”
I rolled my eyes and he gently pushed me toward the driver’s seat. With a sigh, I gave in and sat down on my stack of books.
Frankly, I thought this was a crime against the written word.
I might as well dog ear the pages and write notes in the margins while I was at it.
Once I was in, Romeo jogged around and got in the passenger seat. We were sitting in an empty parking lot of some business that had shut down. The asphalt was cleared of snow, and Romeo had come here earlier in the day to throw salt around just to make sure there wasn’t any ice. There wasn’t a ton of snow on the ground, just enough to cover the grass completely.
I knew any day now we were likely going to get a huge storm that would make the few inches out there now look like nothing.
As if he could read my thoughts, Romeo said, “I need to teach you now before the roads gets too bad and we have to wait ‘til spring.”
It was almost enough to make me wish for snow.
Almost.
“Fine,” I muttered. “Let’s do it.”
He bit back another smile as he explained how I needed to drive with two feet. Frankly, I was amazed he was teaching me this. I could barely walk without falling, let alone drive a car with both my feet at the same time.
I was a disaster waiting to happen, and he was letting me learn on his precious baby the Hellcat.
“This is the gear shift.” He went on, taking my hand and placing it on the thing that stuck up between the seats. “Start out in one,” he said and then went on to explain the rest. I listened, because the faster I learned, the faster we could be done.
Even though I listened, it was confusing.
“Okay,” Romeo said when he was done. “Now you try.”
“What if I wreck?” I worried.
“There’s nothing here to wreck into, Rim.”
I gave him a look that promised I could find something to run over.
He laughed but then shook his head. “Let’s go.”
With a sigh, I pushed in the clutch and brake at the same time. I turned the engine over and put my hand on the gear. The car lurched forward, then stalled out.
“It’s okay,” he said patiently. “Try again.”
I tried again.
And again.
On the fifth try, I got the car to move a couple feet before it stalled out.
Romeo was holding on to his patience, but I wasn’t. “I’m a failure,” I said.
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