The Naughty One

by Michelle Love

  “No, I’m not okay, but I have to work, so … here I am.” She lowered her voice. “Is he here? Have you seen him?”

  Mac nodded, glancing around at the other residents. “He looks broken, Romy. Utterly devastated. I saw him talking to Quinto.”

  “You defending him?”

  “No way. Team Romy all the way. I’m just saying, he’s not out there preening.”

  Romy felt a little better and a little worse at that. She almost wanted Blue to be unrepentant so she could keep being mad at him. He was sleeping with his stepmother, she told herself, you have plenty to be mad about. A few minutes later, just as they were leaving for rounds, the Chief of Surgery, Beau Quinto, came to find them.

  “Okay, people, so a bit of news. Doctor Allende has requested and been granted some personal time. Therefore, I’ll be your lead for the time being. Sasse and Jones, if you could still keep to the general surgical schedule you had planned, I’ll be stepping in to replace Doctor Allende.”

  Quinto’s eyes flicked to Romy’s face briefly and she couldn’t read the expression. Was he mad at her? She bristled then told herself to calm down. The man was a professional—and she hadn’t done anything wrong.

  Quinto gave out his orders to the rest of the residents and they all scattered throughout the hospital. Romy was relieved that she had some breathing space. Mac nudged her as they walked down the OR’s. “Wonder how long Allende will be away.”

  She shrugged. “Until he gets his life sorted out.”

  “Does that include you?”

  Romy didn’t know how to answer him.

  Chapter 15

  Christmas Eve, and Romy finished late in the evening, wanting to catch up with her files before she took some time away for her mother’s wedding. If she was honest, she was delaying going home. Going home meant facing Blue for the first time since the Hilary incident, but there was no way out of it. In the morning, her mother would marry Stuart, and there was no way either she or Blue would let their parents down.

  Maybe we should just shake hands and live as step-siblings, she thought now. The thought depressed her, though, and she suddenly felt tearful. Distraction is what I need.

  She walked through the floor, checking on all her post-surgical patients, chatting to the few who were still awake, wishing them a Merry Christmas even if it was spent away from their families. The hospital always made sure that, if at all possible, they could have an enjoyable time. There was one patient who wouldn’t even know it was Christmas. Kelly Yang, a young woman who had been in a car accident a few weeks previously, lay in a coma. No family, no visitors, and so Romy had taken to sitting with her, holding her hand, and talking to her, trying to reach into the young woman’s locked-in mind.

  “Hey, Kels,” Romy said now, pulling a chair up to the side of her bed. “How you doing, kiddo?” She checked Kelly’s vital signs, flicked her light in the girl’s eyes, then sat down. “Merry Christmas, sweetheart. Wish you were awake to share it, but I promise, when you do wake up, I’ll make sure you have your Christmas.”

  She sat with Kelly nearly an hour, almost falling asleep, when she heard someone at the doorway. “How is she?”

  Romy turned to see one of the orderlies, a huge, hulking man, nodding at Kelly. He was bald-headed with a thick dark beard, multiple piercings and thick spectacles, but his smile was friendly. Romy wracked her brain for his name. Wally? Warren?

  “The same,” she replied, looking back at Kelly, “although I live in hope she’ll wake up.”

  “Fingers crossed. Sorry to bother you, doc, but we just needed to check in, see if you needed us anymore tonight.”

  Romy smiled at him. “No, thanks … Warren. Have a good Christmas.”

  “You too, Doc. Thanks.”

  Left alone again, Romy squeezed Kelly’s hand. “Do me a favor, kiddo. Give me the best Christmas gift by waking up, huh? Sweet dreams, sweetheart.”

  The hospital was so quiet, so still, that as Romy walked through the reception area out to the parking lot, her heels echoed on the polished floor. Outside, the temperature was dropping fast and thick, fluffy snow falling from the sky. A picture-perfect Christmas for us, Romy thought, pulling out of the lot and turning the car towards her mother’s house. The roads were almost empty as the snow began to thicken, and Romy drove with extra care, her heart thumping painfully all the way home.

  When she got home, she only saw one light on—Artemis’ old room. Breathing a sigh of relief that everyone else seemed to be in bed, she snuck through the house to her old room. Juno, back from New Orleans, was curled up in one side of the bed, fast asleep.

  Romy pulled her wet boots and jeans off, changing into her fluffy brushed cotton jammies and pulling her robe around her. Despite the time, she wasn’t tired, and so, instead of waking Juno up with her restlessness, Romy tugged a comforter from the closet and went back downstairs. The living room had been transformed into a winter wonderland by her mother, thousands of tiny white lights, white ribbons, and tasteful Christmas decorations everywhere.

  It really is going to be a fairytale wedding, Romy thought, with a pang of both sadness and joy. Her mother deserved every happiness and now Romy nodded to herself. She would not let this thing with Blue ruin her mom’s day. She would tell him they could talk—after the wedding. In the meantime, they would plaster smiles on their faces and be a family.

  She felt, rather than heard, the person behind her. Romy turned to see Blue, shirtless, barefoot, and in jeans, staring at her. In the blue light of the early hours, he looked like an apparition. His eyes were wide and sad. Romy gazed back at him for a long moment, then slowly pulled her top over her head, releasing the drawstring on her pants and stepping out of them.

  Wordlessly, he came to her, hesitant at first, then as his cold hands touched her skin, she shivered with desire and he crushed his lips against hers. Romy could not help but sink into the embrace, her longing for him almost debilitating. Her hands went to the fly of his jeans and soon he too was naked, his cock standing proud against his belly, quivering as she stroked it. There was a question in Blue’s eyes and Romy answered it with just a nod. She lay down on the couch and opened her arms to him.

  Blue went into them, hitching her legs around his waist and thrusting into her in one long, quick movement. Romy gasped as he filled her, her cunt contracting around his cock, moving with him as they made love. Romy did not think of anything else at that moment but of her own needs, her desire for the man in her arms.

  Blue held her gaze as he braced himself and moved quicker, harder, deeper, Romy tilting her hips up to take him in as deep as she could. Blue’s thrusts were almost violent now, making Romy’s hips burn as he slammed his cock into her. He was angry, Romy could tell, but right now, she wanted that anger, needed it to fuel her own. Blue came inside her, burying his face in her neck as he groaned, his cum pumping out of him, filling her belly. Romy dug her fingernails into his buttocks as she too reached her climax, gasping and moaning softly.

  Afterward they gazed at each other. “I hate how much I love you,” she said, and he nodded.

  “I promise, Romy, I will make this right between us. We need to talk.”

  “I know,” Romy closed her eyes as he kissed her throat. “But after the wedding.”

  “Agreed. I love you, Romy,” he said, his voice trembling with emotion. “I’ve never loved anyone or anything as much as I love you, beautiful girl. Please don’t ever leave me.”

  Romy was moved beyond words and hot tears dripped from her eyes, splashing on her naked body. Blue stroked her face, wiped away her tears. “I promise, I’ll tell you everything. Everything. There will be no more secrets between us.”

  Blue lifted her into his arms and carried her upstairs to the guestroom. They entangled their limbs, in a bid to get as close as possible, lips on lips, belly to belly, her soft breasts pressed up against his hard chest, and fell asleep together.

  Romy’s last thought before she gave into sleep was that maybe, j
ust maybe, everything would be all right.

  Gaius had watched his step-brother and Romy make love, his hand down his own shorts, jerking off, as he gazed at Romy’s spectacular naked body. She was so beautiful that Gaius thought it would almost be a shame when Dacre Mortimer killed her. What a waste … then again, the thought of seeing her confused and in agony as Mortimer murdered her was also a turn-on. If Dacre could see them now, Gaius thought with a smile. Romy riding Blue, her large, pillowy breasts moving in rhythm, her flat belly soft and sensual. Gaius imagined putting a bullet into it as she rode Blue, watching the horror in his hated stepbrother’s face as she bled out on top of him.

  He muffled his grunt of release, wiping his hand on a bunch of tissues. God … he would love to fuck Romy before she died, but what would the insanely jealous Mortimer do if he did? End him? Probably. No, he would have to settle for voyeurism when it came to the middle Sasse sister. The more important thing was that Blue was destroyed … Gaius gritted is teeth. When he had seen that photograph of Blue throwing Gaius’ naked mother out of his apartment, the rage had been like nothing he’d ever known.

  Gaius had been so mad that he had ignored his mother’s phone calls, staying silent as she’d begged outside his door.

  How could you, Mom? With the man I have hated all my life … fucking whore.

  Gaius watched now as Blue swept Romy into his arms and gritted his teeth. You took the woman I loved, brother, and now I’m going to do the same to you. Romy is a dead woman, Blue, and you know what?

  It’s entirely your fault.

  Chapter 16

  Romy woke feeling more at peace that she’d expected to. Blue’s arms were around her and she stayed locked in them as she gazed up at him. Yes, she loved this man. Whatever he had done in the past was the past. He’d said he would tell her everything, and she believed him.

  Romy was amazed at herself. After Dacre, she had struggled with trust, and yet here she was risking her heart once again for this man.

  As they dressed for the wedding later, Romy smiled at him. “Damn, man, you wear a suit well.”

  He was wearing a dark gray, exquisitely tailored suit which brought out the green of his eyes. He was grinning at her. “Woman, you should see what I’m seeing.”

  The dark gold shift dress clung to her curves, simple in its design but perfectly matched to her olive skin tone. The lightest makeup and her dark hair falling in waves down her back completed her bridesmaid look. Blue couldn’t keep his hands off of her, kissing her tenderly.

  She stroked his face. “Blue, today is all about Mom and Stuart. That’s all I care about today, so let’s put everything else aside for after they’ve left for their honeymoon.”

  “I agree … but can I just say one thing?”

  “Go for it.”

  “I love you, Romy Sasse, and there are things in my past I’m ashamed of, but nothing, nothing means more to me than earning and deserving your love and your trust.”

  Downstairs, Artemis was arranging everything and everyone and Romy saw that some of the guests had started to arrive. She welcomed them in and made sure they had drinks before heading up to see how Magda was doing.

  Her mother was uncharacteristically calm. “Hello, darling. Could you help me with this hair comb?”

  Magda was dressed in a simple pale cream dress too, with only some ornate beading around the neck and sleeves. The hair comb was encrusted with rubies—a present from Romy’s grandmother when Magda had graduated from college.

  “You look breathtaking, Mom.” Romy hugged her gingerly and Magda beamed. She studied her daughter.

  “You look happier, darling. Did you and Blue talk?”

  Romy half-smiled. “A little. But today isn’t about us, it’s about you and Stuart. As the reckless middle daughter, I think it’s probably up to me to ask the awkward question. Are you sure, Mom?”

  Her mother met her gaze steadily. “I am, Romy. I truly am.”

  Romy smiled. “Then I wish you nothing but utter happiness and joy forever. I love Stuart; he really is a good man. Oh, here. Dad sent a message too.”

  “He did?” Magda read the card James Sasse had sent. “That’s sweet. Your daddy is a good man, Romy. In spite of everything”

  “I know, Mom. And now I have a stepdad too.”

  Magda laughed. “Not quite yet.” She glanced at her clock. “Wow, that came around quickly. Forty-five minutes and then the nerve-wracking stuff will be over with and we can party.”

  A half-hour later, Romy walked her mother down the wooden staircase and to the front of the aisle, Artemis serving as matron of honor, and a grinning Juno, resplendent in a man’s tuxedo, welcoming the guests to the wedding.

  Blue and Gaius stood at Stuart’s side as he married Magda, Blue’s eyes twinkling with happiness as he winked at Romy.

  God, I love you, she thought as she smiled back, and felt the weight of the last few weeks fall away from her. This was all that mattered, love, family, celebration. As Magda and Stuart said their vows, she wondered idly if she and Blue would ever get here. She didn’t even know if he regarded marriage as a goal. Romy never had—until she’d met Blue.

  Her mother looked so overwhelmingly happy that as Juno declared them husband and wife, Romy burst into tears, making everyone laugh.

  The reception was a laidback affair of chatting, casual speeches which made everyone laugh, soft music, and a buffet of such delicious food that it was soon gone and the caterers were thanked and sent on their way.

  Blue sat with Romy on his lap in one of the armchairs. Juno sprawled on the sofa, one of their guests’ toddler asleep in her arms. Artemis, Dan, and Octavia sat on the carpet, teasing each other.

  Romy watched her mother circulate the room, taking time to chat with every guest, introducing them to her new husband. Blue grinned at Romy. “Some of Dad’s friends are maybe a little too …”

  “Snooty?”

  Blue laughed. “I was going to say reserved, but snooty works. They can’t figure out what they’re supposed to do in such a relaxed gathering.”

  Romy shrugged and snuggled into his arms. Blue pressed his lips to her forehead. “Romy?”

  “Yes, baby?”

  “Will you come to Italy with me for New Year’s?”

  Romy looked up at him. “Blue, we need to resolve things between us first.”

  “I know, I’m just saying … we’ll talk today, tomorrow, maybe the next day. It’s going to be hard for me to talk about some of this stuff. So, I just thought, if, and I mean, if, no pressure, if we can reach a resolution—let’s have a few days of us, away from all of this.”

  Romy kissed his neck. “How soon do I have to confirm?”

  “A couple of days.”

  She nodded. “Then, once Stuart and Mom leave for honeymoon, let’s go back to your apartment and lock ourselves in and get through this. I want to go with you, baby, I really do, but not until everything is out in the open.”

  “That’s fair.” He pressed his lips to hers. “I love you.”

  Magda hugged her daughters, tears flooding down her face. “I love you, Arti, Romulus, and JunoBoo. So much. Thank you for making my day so perfect, so beautiful.”

  Stuart, himself moved deeply, also embraced them. “I will never replace your dad but just know—to me, you are already my daughters, and I think myself the luckiest man on Earth.”

  Even the stoic Artemis was crying as they waved them off.

  “God, Barbados for a month …” groaned a jealous Juno. Octavia giggled with her; the two of them already fast friends. “Come on, people, let’s ignore the tidying up and go drink the contents of Mom’s liquor cabinet.”

  Romy and Blue excused themselves and drove through the cold night back to the city, making it to Blue’s apartment just after midnight. Blue opened the door for her, and Romy couldn’t help but brace herself for another unwanted intrusion. This time though, they were totally alone.

  They sat down at his kitchen table, Blue finding a
bottle of scotch and some glasses and pouring a finger of the dark tan liquid into each.

  “So,” he began and Romy took his hand.

  “So.”

  Blue breathed in a deep lungful of oxygen. “Hilary Eames. Hilary Eames is a vindictive, manipulative piece of human excrement. We all know that. That’s not all she is. She …” His voice broke and he looked away from Romy’s gaze. “She likes young men, Romy. Very young men.”

  It took Romy a second to catch on, and her heart sank. “Oh, God.”

  “Yep. After Mom died, after I came to live with Stuart, at first, she wouldn’t even look at me. Then, one night, when I was fifteen, she came to my room late at night, just in her robe.”

  Romy didn’t say anything, swallowing over the lump in her throat. Blue gave her a humorless smile. “That night, she didn’t do anything but stroke my face, tell me what a handsome boy I was. How I looked like a carved statue in one of Italy’s great palaces. The next day, she went back to ignoring me. Then a couple of weeks later, she came to my room when I was asleep and got in beside me. I woke to find her … sucking my penis. I was fifteen.”

  “Oh, no …” Romy was horrified.

  Blue looked desolate. “Of course, she told me if I told anyone, she would deny it and I would be cast out with nothing and nobody. The next night, she put my hand on her genitals and told me to stroke her. I did, because I was so terrified of her.”

  Romy’s tears were flooding down her face. “Oh my God, Blue, I’m so sorry …”

  “She raped me for the first time three weeks shy of my sixteenth birthday. By then, she had threatened me so many times that I was a shadow of my former self. I was completely under her control. I still can’t smell her perfume without being taken back there. The last time was when I was eighteen, just before I went to Harvard. She knew she was losing control over me, and so was even more threatening. She would have me killed if I told anybody. I didn’t doubt she had both the means and the viciousness to do so.”