Roman: Book 2 (The Hunter Brothers Series)

by L. J. Dee

  “So is a smack in the face,” I interrupted as he laughed.

  “Yeah, but it’s short lived and you know your place in the pack again.”

  “That’s a pretty simplistic breakdown of the genders, not to mention highly inaccurate. I can think of lots of examples where that just isn’t true. If it were, Roman, the streets would be awash with people beating the crap out of each other and that isn’t the case.”

  He rolled his eyes. “No it isn’t, because we’ve developed a more complex system of dealing with one another. Believe me, most blokes would rather just fight their battles and get it over with. We’re very simple creatures. Take tonight for example. Charlie and I are snarling at one another, knowing that things are going to get heated between us. Then Brad Johnson shows up and insults you, pissing us both off. In that instant we had a common enemy, so we joined forces to protect you, baby.”

  “I don’t need protecting from Brad Johnson,” I said, rolling my eyes.

  “Maybe not, but taking a pop at our woman was a blow to Charlie’s ego and mine. So as men, we needed to take a stand. Then Brad’s pack joined in, so Tyler and Lucas moved in to even the score. Don’t be fooled by the expensive suits, platinum cufflinks and handmade Italian shoes. Underneath, sweetheart, we’re all like dogs.”

  “That’s a crazy theory,” I said as he laughed, shaking his head.

  “It isn’t and I’ve been in the army with thousands of men. Believe me, this is true. Brad backed down from the fight, which is him accepting we’re the alpha pack. I had no desire to compound his misery. Now it’s all over and forgotten and we’re shaking hands again.”

  “Well, I’ll bear it in mind, but I’m still mad,” I sighed as he laughed.

  “Of course you are because you’re a woman. You won’t be happy until me and Charlie are crawling on our knees, and you’ve spoken to Jess about it. Then you’ll tell the tale to every woman whose number exists in your cell phone that has ten minutes to listen and share their opinion on it. Our way is much less hassle,” he said as I bit my lip and I tried to stifle my smile. At least part of what he’d just said was true.

  “In truth, baby, it’s you that are the complicated species, not us. There are a few basic things that drive a man,” he said, flashing his eyebrows. From the look on his face I could guess the first.

  “Go on then, Hunter, feel free to impart your spectacular knowledge and wisdom on me,” I jeered as he laughed.

  “Respect, food, sex, and lots of all of it,” he said and I felt sure the key to universal happiness was not that simple. “The dog in us likes the thrill of the kill as well,” he smirked as I shook my head.

  “Not everyone’s a psycho like you,” I frowned as he threw me a chastising glance that dried my mouth up instantaneously. It was easy to forget just how dangerous he was, and my treacherous body was struggling to conceal just how sexy it found that aspect of his nature as I shuddered under his gaze.

  “I’m not a psychopath, Chas, far from it. The thrill of the kill is the most basic satisfying animal instinct, largely because it’s linked with food. In humans it is more complicated and diverse than that. For me, it’s the adrenaline rush I get when I’ve negotiated a deal at gunpoint and everyone comes out alive, or when I’ve rescued a hostage under close range fire. For Lucas and Charlie it’s the rush of winning in the boardroom, extending their empire and the power and respect that commands. For Tyler, it’s the buzz of the crowd and the adulation, of being the one person in a room full of others that everyone is looking at and calling out to. However it comes, it’s about power, respect and authority. Those things thrill us because they make us able to do the things we need to do, namely protect the ones we care about, provide food and comfort and get ourselves laid. Honestly, babe, it’s really simple.”

  “So based on your theory – tonight you’ve proved your alpha prowess with Brad and your brother and already protected me, so I have only two options if I’m to make you happy?”

  “Feed me or fuck me?” he laughed and I couldn’t help the small giggle that burst from my mouth as he moved on top of me, nuzzling my neck. “Oh, I forgot to mention the other thing that helps to calm a woman down, that doesn’t involve coffee shops, your sister, or endless hours on your cell phone,” he grinned wickedly as I tried and failed to hold my haughty gaze.

  “No one can be mad after a few mind bending orgasms, and you don’t have to take my word for that, it’s a scientific fact,” he laughed.

  “Oh yeah!” I smiled as he kissed his way across my breasts, freeing them from my negligee, continuing his delicious descent across my abdomen, until he parted my thighs.

  “Yeah” he said, licking his lips and plunging me into delirious pleasure as he nibbled and sucked at my centre.

  He might be right, or he may be talking absolute garbage. Perhaps I could forgive him enough to put his little theory to the test. Who was I kidding? There was no ‘perhaps’ about it.

  Chapter Fourteen

  I turned to curl into the hot, hard body of Roman before I’d even opened my eyes, but all my hands found were cool empty sheets as I forced my heavy eyelids open and glanced around the room. I listened for any sound, first from the bathroom and then from the rest of the house, glancing through the heavy curtains. From the low sun in the sky, I knew I hadn’t slept in late. “Roman,” I shouted. Nothing but silence filled the air in the room as I climbed out of bed. His clothes weren’t on the chair where he’d left them last night, and I crouched and scanned the floor for the green duffle bag that had left its imprint on my purple shin. All that greeted me was empty space and my heart sank. Roman was gone.

  I scoured the bedroom, the kitchen and the lounge, desperately searching for a note as my stomach churned. He couldn’t have left without saying goodbye, not after the weekend we’d just shared. I knew this wasn’t permanent and I knew our passion would be short lived, but it warranted more than being abandoned in the middle of the night when my body still smelt of him.

  I was livid, recalling the warnings that Charlie had given me, but all they did were make me even more incensed. I climbed into the shower, cursing the moment I ever laid eyes on Roman fucking Hunter. I scrubbed my skin, needing to get rid of that all pervading masculinity that had rocked my world and caused me to abandon my senses.

  There was a reason I had a list and this was it; to stop me from ever feeling like a used piece of trash. I had given my virginity to a man who had made me feel like a worthless slut and I vowed to myself I would never be treated that way again. I knew his type and only had myself to blame, and those feelings of abandonment were flooding through me now, as though it had only happened yesterday.

  I hadn’t expected it with Roman. I’d gone into it with my eyes wide open, fuelled by desire and the promise of physical bliss, and boy, had he delivered. A simple goodbye was not too much to ask. It wouldn’t have been awkward and I’d asked for nothing, still unable to believe he’d just ditch me without a word.

  Anger turned to humiliation as I climbed out of the comforting hot water and began to dress. This was going to make me look like a prize fucking idiot in front of Charlie, Tyler and Lucas; not to mention Jess. I had to hold it together, but it was impossible to deny how much I was hurting right now. Some things are special, and my fling with Roman had been, or at least I’d thought so; a snapshot in time of perfect physical lust with a man who fulfilled few of my essential criteria, but excelled in one. This had ruined everything and tainted my affection, tarnishing an otherwise incredible memory. I knew he was no gentleman, but I’d expected more than this.

  I still couldn’t believe he’d actually done it. Maybe he was waiting in the house. I doubted he was there. It was wishful thinking; my ego trying to salvage my self esteem from plummeting, and ignore the little voice in my head that was telling me I’d been had over. I could go and grab a quick coffee to check. I needed to rule out the possibility before I lambasted him completely.

  When I hit the kitchen I wished I
hadn’t bothered. Roman was nowhere to be seen, but Tyler was, covered in love bites and being shouted at by Lucas. “It’s all over the fucking internet, Ty. I warned you. People get paid a lot of money for filming you in compromising situations and this shit is only going to get worse.”

  “I don’t see what’s compromising. I woke up with three beautiful women and so what if they filmed me? If my dick had been limp I’d buy your point, Lucas, but I put on a great show,” he laughed as Charlie joined him.

  “Just see how great it is when your dick falls off. You weren’t even wearing a condom for fuck’s sake,” he said as I poured myself a coffee from the simmering pot and snuck out just as quickly and quietly as I’d snuck in. Charlie caught my gaze as I turned away. I could do without any more Hunter drama today. I had enough of my own to contend with.

  I checked my phone, just in case. There was a message from Patrick, telling me he was missing me and asking when I was due back. It should have cheered me up, but it only made me worse, thinking he cared about me and I’d never even kissed him. As much as I tried to push the feelings back, Roman had hurt me deeply. ‘Fuck him’ I thought, as my inner voice mocked me again, telling me that was what had gotten me into this trouble in the first place. I made my way down to the lake.

  I’d leave them to it. Tyler being caught screwing numerous women would probably get him some great publicity and turn him into a bit of a legend. That’s what rock stars did, and he was practising for the role. Lucas was right, that shit would get worse and if he wasn’t careful he could spiral out of control quickly. Silus would probably have brought him back in line from what I’d heard, but he was gone. So was Roman and the thought stung.

  The water would soothe me. It was calm and serene and a haven for wildlife. I watched the dragonflies hovering and the birds who skimmed the ripples of the lake, resting on top as they bobbed along peacefully. I wasn’t certain how long I’d been sitting there when I heard the rustle of grass behind me, turning to see Jess who was smiling, with two steaming hot mugs in her hand.

  She passed me the tea, sitting beside me on the grass, a kind smile on her face and I wondered for a second if she knew. “You’ve been out here for ages. I’ve been watching you from the house. Where’s Roman?” she asked, swigging on her brew as I turned to face her.

  “He’s gone. He did a bunk in the middle of the night. The fucking bastard didn’t even tell me, or say goodbye. He just split,” I said as she stared me aghast.

  “Oh my God, Chas, are you okay?” she asked, her pretty face awash with concern as I blew out a deep sigh, shaking my head.

  “I’ve been better, Sis. I knew it was only a weekend fling, but I’m shocked and I feel pretty stupid,” I said, staring out on the deep, dark lake as she shook her head.

  “I’m really surprised. He seemed so into you and spent most of last night defending your honour with Brad Johnson. I can’t believe he’d do this,” she said, almost as incensed as I was.

  “Well he has. He didn’t even leave a note. What sort of person spends three days solid screwing someone, then just disappears in the middle of the night?” I asked as she gazed at the floor.

  “I don’t know what to say, Chas. I guess the only advice I can give is to put it into perspective. You slept with him a few times and you knew it wasn’t going to last,” she said, putting her hand on my arm. She was right, but it wasn’t that simple.

  “I know, Sis, but we crammed a lot into three days. I did things with Roman that I’ve never done with anyone before. It moved quickly, probably because I knew we had so little time. It feels like more than a weekend. We got close.” I was playing it down. My gut was clenching with nausea and I didn’t dare admit how badly I was taking this, even to my sister. He’d done what I swore to myself I would never let him do. He’d got in. I knew it wasn’t forever, but this weekend, Roman Hunter had stolen a piece of my heart that I would never get back.

  She was eyeing me intently, smiling slightly. “What kind of things did you do?” she asked as I took a deep breath. She shared intimate details of her BDSM with me; I had to give her something.

  “Well my body feels like I’ve been fucked a thousand times. He had me up against a wall, two minutes after he came to the lodge on Friday night. I’ve been fucked by the fire, fucked in a field, fucked in a nightclub and he popped my anal cherry. We’ve played Daddy and the naughty daughter, screwing the maid, and engaged in every kind of oral action imaginable. In addition, we screwed several times in the bed like normal people, showered together, bathed together and he’s fed me ice cream.” She was staring at me in mute shook.

  “Oh my God, Chas, I’m not surprised you’re upset. That is like a six month relationship for you,” she gasped as I nodded.

  “It was pretty intense,” I said as she smiled supportively, giving me a hug. The funny thing was; they weren’t the moments that tugged at my heart the most. It was the other things, the ones I wouldn’t share; times that had filled me with so much warmth that I could have fallen happily under his spell forever. They were the things that would seem strange or insignificant to someone else. When he’d washed me with the soft cloth in the nightclub, when I’d read his father’s letter by the fire and when he’d wrapped his legs around me on the bed and I watched him in the mirror as he brushed my hair. For me, they were the moments that had changed this from a three night stand into something more. Tears pricked at my eyes as I tried to push them back.

  “Will you come up to the house?”

  “No. I can’t stomach the ‘I told you so’ brigade, and I’m not ready to see Charlie yet. I’m still furious with him. He was right though.”

  “How do you mean?” she asked and I thought Charlie might have told them about last night, but he clearly hadn’t. She had enough to contend with. I needed to sort this out with Charlie privately. She didn’t need to know and I had enough humiliation to deal with.

  “He warned me what Roman was like. I guess I just didn’t want to believe he was as bad as they said. I might take off, Jess,” I sighed.

  “You don’t want to be alone tonight. We all care about you, even if Roman doesn’t,” and I knew she was right. “Screw him. I just want a bit longer out here and then I’ll get my act together and come and show my face,” I smiled, but it wasn’t convincing.

  “Have you considered that he might not actually be gone? Maybe he just popped into town or something. Lucas or one of the others might know,” she said in a desperate attempt to make me feel better as I shook my head.

  “Don’t bother, Sis, I doubt he’ll have told them. Apparently he never does, and unless he’s walking around the shops with half a dozen firearms, then he isn’t in town.”

  She stared at me for a moment, absolutely horrified. “He had guns in the house when Dex was here?” she shouted.

  “Not in the house, but he had them in lodge,” I replied as she stared at me aghast, suddenly furious.

  “And you didn’t say anything?” she snapped as guilt crept through me. I hadn’t even thought about that, but it was pretty irresponsible.

  “Dex didn’t go into the lodge.” It was the only excuse I had and it was pitiful.

  “For God’s sake, Chas,” she said, abandoning any sympathy she might have had, picking up the mugs and storming back up to the house. It had been the last thing I needed and left me feeling even worse.

  It was another twenty minutes before the grass behind me was rustling again and this time I didn’t even bother looking up. Another bloody lecture was the last thing I needed.

  This was even worse, and as the long legs stretched out on the soft green lawn in front of me, I sighed deeply, staring straight ahead at the lake and hoping I could hold back the tears.

  “If you came to say I told you so, don’t bother,” I snapped icily as I felt a strong arm weave its way around my waist.

  “Actually I came to say I’m sorry. I had no right to say what I did, Chas, and I feel terrible about it.”

  “Good. So
you should.”

  “Come on, babe, let me have a look at you,” Charlie said, holding my chin and turning my face to meet his gaze and that was all it took for my eyes to glaze over, tears stinging mercilessly as I tried to force them back.

  “Oh, Chas, you have to know I didn’t mean it. I could never think those things about you.”

  “So why say them, Charlie?” I asked as he glanced at the lake and then back at me.

  “Honestly?”

  I nodded. I’d had enough duplicity from Roman to take any more today. “Because you deserve better. I love my brother, but I fucking hated the way you let him treat you. You’ve always said you want to be treated like a princess; want to be loved and cherished. You told me that you had your eye on the prize and wouldn’t settle for less than a solid relationship, yet there you are, the minute Roman turns up, doing the exact opposite.”

  There was little I could say in my defence, but I wasn’t about to justify my actions to Charlie. I wasn’t the only one here who’d gone back on what they’d said. “And you told me you didn’t want a relationship. You told me Scarlett had fucked with your head way too much for you to get involved again and casual hook-ups and no strings fun were all you wanted,” I said, raising my eyebrows as he laughed gently.

  “I guess you’re right. That was how I felt though, when I thought that Scarlett had slept with Roman. Screwing my brother is a fucking no-go and it tore me apart, Chas,” he said softly as my stomach lurched. I knew in that instant that there was no way forward for Charlie and I as anything other than friends and the thought was entirely depressing. Whatever I was telling myself; a small part of me had always hoped that one day maybe we could be something more. It was an empty dream now, and there was little point in dwelling on it. He was with Scarlett and I’d been shafted.