She seemed to be having a great time, though. She rolled down the window and sang along with the classic rock station he’d set the radio to, and he was entranced by her. The shy girl he’d first met who had been terrified to speak in front of him was nearly gone, replaced by this gorgeous smiling creature who let the wind ripple in her hair and kept flashing him excited looks as if he were the best thing on earth.
Damn, he loved this girl.
As soon as the thought flew thorough his head, Rome squashed it. It didn’t matter if he loved her or not, because she was too good for him. Once she found out the truth about who he was, she’d look at him like he was dirt and that’d be the end of it. Best to hold any sort of emotion inside and take it with him when he left.
The air changed as they got closer to the ocean, the scent of salt water filling the night breeze. The land had flattened out, too, though it wasn’t as easy to see that in the dark.
“Should we find a hotel to make sure we can get a room?” she asked him, finger-combing her hair. “I’m starving.”
“Hotel coming up,” he told her. “And then dinner.”
He passed a large, expensive hotel and hesitated. Should he take her someplace like that? It’d wipe out his account in no time, and he hated the thought of having to cut their weekend short simply because he ran out of cash. But still, it was her weekend. “You want big hotel or want to see if we can find something more cozy?”
“Oh, cozy,” she said, smiling. “My family always stays in the big hotels, and something different would be fun.”
Thank god for that. He drove through the Galveston Strand and stopped at what looked like a quaint bed-and-breakfast. It was winter, so hopefully they wouldn’t be too busy thanks to the off-season.
Sure enough, he was able to procure a room for the weekend, and he grabbed Elise’s hand and they headed up to their room.
It was a girly room, clearly designed with honeymooners in mind. The tub was enormous, a triangle-shaped jacuzzi in the corner of the room with mirrors on both sides of it. The room was decorated in a Victorian style, and the large bed in the center of the room was a four-poster covered with an ornate purple quilt.
“Cute,” Rome said. Elise was silent, so he looked over at her and was surprised to see her expression, her face bright red. He squeezed her hand. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s just . . . one bed.” She brushed her hand against her cheek, almost automatically.
“One bed,” he agreed. “And one shower.” He touched her cheek. “And one guy that is perfectly fine with waiting on sex if you’re not ready. This weekend is about you.”
He could practically see her cheeks getting redder. She gave him another shy look, and then reached up and brushed her mouth against his. “I brought condoms in my purse,” she murmured, and then licked his lip ring.
Rome groaned. “If you’re not ready, we don’t have to—”
“I’m ready,” she told him, and she gave him a shaky smile. “Just a bit shy about admitting it.”
He kissed her back, letting his mouth show all the appreciation and desire he had for her bravery. Then he pulled away and brushed her hair off of her face, touching the curve of her cheek with his fingers. “First, dinner, I think. Ravishment later.”
She laughed at that, the tension on her face easing. “Ravishment later,” she agreed. “Dinner first. Which is good, because I’m starving.” She glanced over at the clock on the bed. It was ten thirty at night. “Don’t you think it’s a bit late, though?”
“Not for a Friday night,” he told her. “Come on.”
They walked the Strand, looking for a place to dine. At one point, they stopped outside of a nightclub; the place was hopping with music and thriving bodies. He looked over at Elise. “You want to go in?”
The look she gave him was blankly terrified, and she shook her head. “I don’t like dancing.”
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and hugged her closer as they walked. “Then we don’t go.” That was fine with him. Elise already felt edgy and tense—he could tell from her body language—and he guessed she was thinking about heading to bed with him later that night. No sense in putting her more on edge.
They found a restaurant that was open late, and got a table. Elise immediately ordered a longneck, and he did the same, but leaned in to whisper to her. “Just one tonight. I don’t want you drunk.”
Her blushing nod made his cock hard in his pants, and for a moment, he wished that they were getting food to go. But she was clearly enjoying being out with him, so he resolved to enjoy it, too.
They ate and chatted, the conversation full of flirty notes. He rubbed his foot along her calf idly as they waited for food, and enjoyed seeing her squirm in her chair . . . and the fact that she rubbed his leg with her own foot.
It was the longest damn dinner of his life. He couldn’t wait to get back to their room so he could peel her clothes off and take his time fucking her. Tonight was going to be amazing.
But after they paid for the meal, Elise didn’t look tired at all—she looked keyed up. Her hand automatically slipped into his and she gave him a teasing look. “Want to do a midnight walk on the beach?”
He wanted to go back to their room and make her scream out his name. But a walk on the beach would be fun, too. “I’m game if you are.”
“Great,” she said, and tugged his hand, dragging him in the direction of the beach.
It was a few blocks away from where they were, but the weather was mild for winter, and the night breeze was a light one. The dull roar of the waves was a soothing sound in the distance, and eventually they hiked over the sand dunes toward the beach.
Elise continued to drag him forward, like an excited puppy. “Let’s go walk in the waves.”
Rome chuckled, surprised by her enthusiasm. “All right. I hope we don’t run into any nighttime jellyfish, though.”
She looked back at him, a grin on her face. “I’ll kiss all your boo-boos for you.”
Damn. Just like that, his dick was hard all over again. “What if I get the boo-boos in some rather unfortunate places?”
“They’ll get extra kissing,” she teased.
“I’ve never wanted to be wounded so much,” he murmured.
Elise laughed, the sound joyous to hear, and her long, dark hair whipped around her head in the night wind. She headed to the edge of the water, Rome’s hand firmly locked in hers, and then leaned on him to take her shoes off. She grabbed them in her hand and stepped into the water, then shivered. “It’s cold!”
“Of course it’s cold,” he said, amused.
“You going to take your shoes off?”
He glanced down at his heavy combat boots. They were his only shoes, and he didn’t want to get them fucked-up with water. “Guess so. Give me a sec.” He released her hand and knelt to undo his laces. When his shoes were off, she grabbed his hand again, and she dragged him into the water.
It was cold. It was also getting his jeans soaked, but he didn’t complain. The sheer joy in Elise’s face was lovely to see. She was gorgeous in the moonlight, letting the water run over her toes and gazing out at the open ocean. “This is beautiful,” she murmured, then looked over at him and smiled.
“You’re beautiful,” he said, and it was the truth. He couldn’t look away from her. She was so gorgeous and alive that it made his chest ache with want. She was better than he deserved. For a brief moment, he resented that he’d have to give her up after this weekend, but he pushed the thought away. At least he’d have her for this long.
Her face softened and she gave him another shy smile, then glanced out at the water. “It really hurt me, you know. When you didn’t call me all week.”
“I’m an asshole,” he told her. It was the truth. “I never wanted you to think it was your fault, though. It’s all me.” Me, and your brother warning me away. But he wouldn’t ruin her relationship with her brother. He was just doing what he thought was best for his sister. Rome couldn’t
hate that.
“Of course I thought it was me,” she said, giving him a wounded look that let him realize just how deeply she’d been hurt. “What was I supposed to think? You said you’d call me and then you just started ignoring me. And since I don’t have a lot of experience . . .” Her words trailed off.
He knew what she meant, though. Since I’m the one no one’s wanted up until now, of course I thought it was me. Rome’s heart ached. He hated that he’d caused her one minute of pain. “It wasn’t you,” he repeated again. “I wish I could make you understand it. I just had some stuff I had to sort through, and I wasn’t sure I could bring you into it.”
She gave him a soft, sympathetic look and squeezed his hand. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Your brother figured out that I’m trash and warned me off. “I can’t. At least, not yet.”
“Is that why we’re running away this weekend?” She looked over at him, her hair whipping about her face. “You needed to get away?”
“Partially,” he admitted. It was the truth. He did need to get away from everything. Suddenly being in Bluebonnet was too stressful. Being around her, wanting her, and having to avoid her without telling her why he couldn’t talk to her anymore? It seemed too painful to fucking deal with anymore.
So he wouldn’t. If he was the thing that kept messing up this equation, he’d simply take himself out of it. No more Rome in Bluebonnet, no more problems.
“You still shouldn’t have shut me out,” she said softly, and her hand squeezed his again as she waded in the ankle-deep waves. “You can talk to me. I’m a good listener.”
She was a great listener, actually. He just couldn’t tell her what was bothering him without losing her. “I know.”
Elise paused. She looked at him patiently, clearly waiting for something.
Oh shit. She wanted an answer right now? Rome thought for a moment, scrambling to find something that wouldn’t ruin the weekend and would satisfy her. He stared down at the waves rushing over his feet, the cold denim of his pants legs making the evening seem chillier than it actually was. He cast about . . . and then decided to go with the truth.
“I worry that you think that I’m just using you,” he told her.
Elise’s face relaxed into a smile. “What? That’s ridiculous.”
“It’s not,” he told her, easing into the topic. This was safe territory for him. “It’s clear that you’re used to money. I’ve never had more than a couple of nickels to rub together. Combine that with the fact that you want to have sex, and how can you not think a guy like me is just out to get some and then leave?”
He choked on the words, because wasn’t that what this weekend was about? Showing Elise a good time in all ways, and then bailing out on Monday? Ah, fuck. He was a real asshole. But better him being the ass than her family.
Her face bloomed into a gorgeous smile and she moved forward until her hands clasped around the back of his neck, and she pressed her breasts up against his chest. “Do you really think that? When I’m the one that came on to you?”
Rome gave her a faint smile. “Well, yeah. If I was any kind of gentleman, I’d have turned you down.”
“Then I’m glad you’re not,” she said in a light voice. “Because I’m really glad you didn’t turn me down. And I think you’re a gentleman after all.”
She wouldn’t think that if she realized how hard he was at the moment. “Mm-hmm.”
“It’s true. You could have just pulled out a condom, thrown me on the bed, and had sex with me as soon as I brought it up.”
And if she’d been slightly more worldly? That wouldn’t have been a bad idea. But doing that to shy, skittish Elise without a care for her feelings and the woman underneath? The thought repulsed him.
“And you wouldn’t have had to go out with me. Or let me take your photo. You could have just nailed me and gone.” One finger traced his jaw, rasping along the stubble there. “But you didn’t. You’re different. And you’ve always seen me for me, and not a freak.”
He leaned into her touch, hypnotized by it. “That’s what I don’t get, Elise. You say you’re a freak, but I’ve seen your cheek. It’s not that bad—”
“It’s not, now,” she agreed. “But it was for a long, long time. And there were . . . other things. I’ve never had much confidence.” Her fingers brushed over his chin, and then crept across his lips. “But when I’m with you, I feel bold. And pretty. And wanted.”
“That’s because you are,” he told her. “You’re all of those things.”
The smile on her face was beautiful, even though she gave a little headshake. “I’ll show you what I mean, but later.”
“When we make love?” he guessed.
She nodded, ducking her head shyly again.
“Exactly how much later?” he asked in a low voice. His free hand went to her hips and he dragged her against his body, letting her feel his erection. “Because it’s getting hard for me to walk.”
Elise gave him a sultry look, and her hand went to the front of his pants. She glanced around at the beach, but it was empty. Then she gave him another wicked look. “Can I give you a hand job here on the beach?”
He groaned, prying her hand off his cock, even though it killed him to do so. “I would love to say yes, but tonight, we’re going to do things right. Me, you, a bed, and all the time in the world.”
She looked up at him, her eyes dark in the moonlight. Her fingers curled on his chest. “When do we get to do that?”
“As soon as we get off this damn beach.”
She glanced around, then peeked up at him. “Can we go now?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
They grabbed their shoes and headed back toward the hotel.
TWELVE
If Elise’s hand was a little sweaty and her fingers trembling as they walked back to the hotel, Rome didn’t comment on it. She was anxious. Of course she was. Hell, he was nervous, too, and he’d had sex before. He just wanted to make it amazing for her. More than amazing. He wanted to leave her with such incredible memories that she’d get over her awful shyness and the next man she dated could benefit from her blossoming.
Then he thought about another man touching her and wanted to put his fist through a wall. Elise was fucking his. It wasn’t fair. He didn’t want her to look at anyone else but him the way she was right now.
They got back up to their room. Elise pulled her hand from his and wiggled her toes on the carpet. “My feet are a mess. They’re all sandy.”
She seemed nervous, too. He hated that. He didn’t want her to be nervous around him, but he knew it was just the fact that they were going to have sex. At least, he hoped it was just that, and she wasn’t scared of him for some reason. “You want to go clean off in the bathroom?”
“That’d be great,” she agreed quickly, and disappeared inside. He figured it’d give her a chance to compose herself for a few moments and relax.
Which meant he could clean off his own sandy feet. He dropped his boots next to the front door, and grabbed a towel from the closet, then headed over to the hot tub–slash-bathtub in the corner of the room. He stripped off his wet jeans and adjusted his cock in his boxers, already throbbing and aching with need. Just the knowledge that he was about to have sex with Elise meant he’d been walking around with a hard-on all night. She fired him up in every way.
With a wet towel, he cleaned off his feet, stripped off his shirt, and got under the covers to wait for her. He could hear the shower going, and pictures of Elise, naked and wet and rubbing herself with soap, flew through his mind. Rome groaned at the thought and reached under the blanket to stroke his cock. He was already rock-hard and throbbing, and he could feel pre-cum beading the head of his cock. He’d have to pace himself tonight, or he wouldn’t be showing her anything but a three-minute man. And that, he didn’t want to do. He needed this to be special for her. Memorable.
Earth-shattering.
So he adjusted himself and tried
to think of other things that would make his erection go away. Like prison. Yep, that always did it. Thoughts of the cells, and the beige uniforms, the endless days of lockup and monotony? The constant edge of worry that you were going to be jumped by someone with a grudge at chow line? He didn’t ever want to go back. Never again.
When his desire was under control, Rome glanced back at the bathroom door. It was silent in there, the water off, but Elise hadn’t emerged. He wondered if she was okay. Having second thoughts? Should he go in there and check on her? He started to get out of bed and then glanced down at his near naked body. Damn it. Should he get dressed first? Put on clothes so as not to make her think he was demanding sex?
He didn’t want her to feel obligated to do anything. If she was having second thoughts, he understood that. Hell, maybe it’d be better if she did, considering he was abandoning her on Monday. Just thinking about that made his gut clench. Rome got out of bed and dragged out his bag, looking for a new pair of pants to put on. He’d dress, and then sit down and talk with Elise and ease her worries. He’d even get a second hotel room if it would make her more comfortable.
The bathroom door opened. He stopped, and got to his feet, dressed only in his boxers, and waited for her.
Elise came out of the bathroom dressed in nothing but a tiny white towel. Her hair was dry and pulled up into a loose bun atop her head. The towel was tucked under her arms, straining over her breasts, the fold of the fabric revealing a slender, pale leg. She was naked under the towel.
She also seemed really, really nervous.
Her gaze flicked to him, taking in his near nudity, and then moved back to his face. Then she dropped her gaze to the floor. “I wanted to show you,” she murmured, her voice barely audible. “Why . . . why I’m shy.”
His throat grew dry. He knew Elise, and he knew the courage this had to take for her to do. The light was on, and she was standing here before him in a towel, ready to bare to him whatever secrets she thought she had.
And in that moment, he was so damn proud of her for being so brave.
The Virgin's Guide to Misbehaving Page 17