She hugged Kristen and Kristen hugged her back, taken aback. “Have a good time,” Cameron said as she pulled away. Her eyes swept over Kristen. “You’re very pretty. And you’re such a sweet and nice girl. If that doesn’t make him feel good at least for a moment…”
She hopelessly shook her head, turned, and walked away, slowly swinging her arms back and forth.
Kristen just stood there, feeling torn and desolate. She turned back to Roman and timidly walked over to him, her sandals crunching in the thin gravel.
Roman looked up at her as she approached. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he studied her face. Kristen put her arm around her back and scratched an imaginary itch. Why was he looking at her like that? And why was it turning her on so much? Why couldn’t she stop sniffing the air like a dog, her body responding and tightening with lust at the scent of his cologne? Fuck he smelled good.
“Sorry,” he dryly said to her.
Kristen curiously looked at him.
“Hate you heard all of that. I’m sure it was uncomfortable for you.”
“Oh that? No. That’s nothing. I mean, I-I wasn’t paying attention really.”
Roman doubtfully looked at her but didn’t call her out on his bullshit. He stood up straight and looked around the yard. “Is there anything in particular you wanted to do today? I mean, I know it was supposed to be tomorrow but it is what it is.”
Kristen twisted her hands in front of her. “No. Whatever you want to do.”
He continued talking as if he didn’t hear her. “’Cause I don’t have a lot of time so whatever we do we need to do it quickly. And it can’t be too far out of the city so I can get you back in time and everything.”
“Okay. Sure.”
Roman looked at her for a moment; then abruptly turned and walked over to the driver’s side of the Hummer. He opened the door, got in and closed the door, sitting there. She stood still stupidly looking at him as he blandly looked back at her through the window.
Well, he may be fine but he wasn’t a gentleman. He wasn’t going to help her in the car? Kristen sighed and disbelievably chuckled to herself. She walked over to the passenger door and pulled it open. Grunting, she hoisted herself up and into the seat, slamming the door behind her. She looked over at him in alarm as he cranked the engine and put the Hummer in reverse, barely waiting before she was inside and seated. Kristen grasped the dashboard with her hands; then haphazardly grabbed the seatbelt, fastening it quickly. She cut her eyes at him.
Roman kept his head over his shoulder as he backed down and then out the driveway. He looked forward and yanked the gear in drive, speeding down the road. Kristen said her Hail Mary’s and clutched her seat, praying they wouldn’t crash.
Kristen watched trees and fancy houses zip by her at an alarming pace and looked ahead, thinking that would make her less fearful of his driving. It didn’t.
They rode in uncomfortable silence for minutes. Kristen fidgeted in the car, feeling ill at ease. Her dress kept riding up her thighs and she kept trying in vain to pull it down and keep it down. Part of her wanted to leave it up so he could look at her smooth, hairless legs. Maybe if he saw how pretty they were it would calm him down. He might even jump on her and start humping her legs in lust. That would be nice. She giggled out loud at the thought.
Roman glanced over at her. “What’s so funny?”
“Oh. Nothing.” She rubbed her lips together and suppressed a smile.
More silence.
“I like your sister Cameron a lot. She’s nice.”
“And you’ve formed that opinion about her based on knowing her for only what? Five minutes?”
Kristen pressed herself against the passenger door, wishing she could disappear through it. This nut was going to be hard to crack.
She subtlety looked over at him. “She’s very pretty too.”
More gritting of his teeth and silence. Kristen held in a sigh and looked back out the windshield.
Roman turned the radio on, keeping the volume low. It was on a hip-hop station. Kristen hoped for something a little more romantic. “What are you in the mood for?” he questioned her.
“Sorry?”
“To eat. Would you like to eat.” It came out more like a statement than a question.
“That’s fine.”
“Seafood, Italian, Chinese, Buffet, American…”
She shrugged. “It-It doesn’t matter. I don’t really have a taste for anything.”
“We could eat here in Andover or go into the city.”
“Okay.”
“There’s a Legal Sea Foods… Amrheins in South Boston is nice… China Pearl in Chinatown… Novara in Milton is pretty good too. That’s about 45 minutes from here but we’re headed that way anyway, so- ”
“Any places around here or in the city with some good soul food?”
He nodded. “I know just where to go.”
Things got quiet again. Kristen attempted to make small talk but he wasn’t really engaging her. Sometimes it was like he didn’t even hear her.
“What’d you say your name was again?” he asked her.
“Kristen.”
“That’s right. Okay.”
Kristen couldn’t stop staring at him. She tried to be discreet about it but it was hard. The man’s body was in tip top shape. Each time he moved, the muscles in his arms would bulge. She thought the veins in his hands were hella sexy. The thin beard and mustache that hugged his lips and cheeks gave his youthful face a masculine appeal. Speaking of that mouth… She wanted to bite his fucking lip. Sink her teeth into his bearded jaw; lick his dimple… Would he think she was weird if she leaned over and bit him on the mouth?
Kristen blushed and cringed as she felt her core tighten. Moisture gathered between her thighs. She was going to need a new pair of panties soon if she didn’t stop. Her eyes perused his black tousled hair and she couldn’t help but think about pulling and yanking on it as he tasted her between her never before touched innocent thighs or thrusted in and out of her in-tact cherry, stealing her virginity.
She rubbed the sweat on her forehead and bit her nails. Stop. Stop before you cum all over yourself.
Kristen suppressed another wild giggle and slyly looked over at him. She couldn’t help but note the detached look in his eyes. They were narrowed slightly and he was mindlessly rubbing his arm like he was deep in thought. He looked so sad. He wasn’t present. She wished she knew what was going on with him. She wished she could make it better.
“Happy Birthday.”
Roman looked over at her. He blinked a few times. “Thanks.” He looked back at the road and hit the brakes hard. He’d almost run a red light. He looked over at Kristen to make sure she was okay. “Sorry.”
Kristen rubbed her neck. “It’s okay.”
She looked at him to ask another question; then almost moaned out loud when she saw him staring at her legs. She was so glad she hadn’t pulled her dress back down. It was sitting up around her upper thighs, exposing part of her pantied hipbone. His eyes held for a moment before he looked away, loudly clearing his throat.
The light turned green and he took off, driving slower this time. Kristen’s thighs tightly rubbed together, trying in vain to suppress the heat gathered there.
Roman’s hands nervously tapped the steering wheel to the beat of a song that was playing on the radio. “How old are you?”
“18.”
For some reason that made him cough loud and long. “18?” He looked over at her like she’d just told him she liked to boil baby kittens alive for sport. “You still in high-school?”
“No. I graduated two weeks ago.”
He paused. “Oh.”
“I went to a private school. We get out a month earlier than everyone else.”
“Oh.”
Kristen’s hands subconsciously rubbed her legs. She imagined they were Roman’s hands.
He surreptitiously looked over at her again. “You seeing someone?”
Hope danc
ed and turned cartwheels in Kristen’s chest. “I was. We broke up. He moved away.”
“Oh. That’s too bad.”
She couldn’t tell if he sounded relieved or didn’t give a shit one way or another. His tone had been mostly flat since she’d met him.
“You mind if we make a stop first?’
“No.”
“I have to stop at the studio. I was supposed to have a session today and I forgot. It won’t take long.”
“No problem.”
They rode in silence the rest of the way. When they finally pulled up to the simple, one-story brick building, Kristen’s heart jumped in her throat and she sat straight up. Shit. Shit, shit, shit.
Three immediately recognizable motorcycles were sitting in the driveway. Nick’s. Alex’s. And Diego’s.
Chapter 6
Roman cut the truck off and got out of the car. He walked towards the studio and looked back over his shoulder at Kristen. His face scrunched up in annoyance. “Umm…. What’s your name?”
Kristen’s fists clenched at her seat. “Kristen!” she yelled through the thick windshield glass.
“Right. You getting out or what?”
Kristen raised her eyebrow at him. Well, shit. He hadn’t helped her in the car; he wasn’t helping her out the car. Chivalry was most certainly dead.
She warily eyed the motorcycles again and inwardly groaned. This was going to be fun. Unfastening her seatbelt, Kristen opened the door and carefully got out. Roman chirped the alarm and went on inside, leaving her outside. He didn’t even hold the door open for her.
“Asshole,” she grumbled as she stomped to the door, yanking it open.
She was immediately in a simply decorated lobby. Two couches, two chairs, a wooden table. No one was there. She looked around, wondering where the fuck Roman had gone. She gradually looked over at the receptionist’s desk and found it vacant. She crossed her arms and frowned, irritated. What was she supposed to do? Just stand there? Sit down and wait?
Refusing to do either, Kristen set off in search of Roman. She walked to her left and found a long, dark hallway. She could make out music coming from a room in the back and walked towards the sound. The door was closed when she reached it. She turned the knob and peeked inside. There was another lobby on the other side, this one decorated more richly with gold and platinum records on the earth-toned walls, spotless rustic-colored carpet, and over-stuffed leather chairs and sofas.
Ahead of her was another room, separated from the lobby with see-through glass. On the other side of it was Diego, sitting studiously at a fancy-looking control station as he touched several buttons. Kristen guessed it was the engineering or mixing room. In the medium-sized cubby behind him was what she presumed was the vocal booth. It was covered with foam and had a see-through window as well. Nick was inside, singing passionately with his eyes closed. Kristen’s heart beat fast in anticipation of seeing both of them.
She turned to her side and looked in surprise when she saw Alex lying on one of the sofas. He was lying on his back asleep with his mouth open, a Playboy magazine opened face down on his chest. Kristen chuckled to herself and looked back over to the engineering booth. Roman was now standing beside Diego talking to him.
Kristen was shocked to see him standing there. Where had he come from that fast? Her immediate response was to be pissed off at him for deserting her outside but she couldn’t help feeling that mad, hungry desire for him as she looked at him. What was it about this man that had her emotions so schizophrenic? He was a complete, inexcusable, intolerable asshole.
Just then, Nick looked up and saw Kristen standing in the lobby. His face brightened and his voice grew stronger. He smiled and stared at her as he continued to sing. Kristen widely grinned back at him, waving. Diego and Roman’s eyes followed Nick’s and looked in her direction. She saw Diego inhale and exhale, his broad chest expanding, his eyes lighting up at her presence. Roman looked back and forth between her and Diego, his eyes scrupulously narrowed as he watched them. Then he looked over at Nick and watched him watching Kristen. A look of acknowledgment crossed over his face. He looked back over at her and her eyes immediately met his, abandoning Diego’s. Kristen detected a hard defiance in them and it made her nervous. She avoided eye contact with him and ran her hand down her hair, biting her lip.
“You said to be here at a quarter ‘til 3, I’m here. Why is he still in the fucking booth? I have shit to do and I don’t have long. Nick, can you come out of there for a minute so I can record this shit? We don’t have a lot of time left.”
Kristen astoundingly looked over at Roman. Diego clenched and worked his jaw as he stared at him. He cut the song, still looking at Roman with hard eyes. Nick stopped mid-song and opened his hands in a “what gives” gesture.
“Is there a problem?” Roman bitingly continued. “If there is I can come back. Or I don’t have to come back at all and I can just skip this song altogether. I don’t like this shit anyway. I told you guys the other song sounded better but majority rules so whatever…“ He knocked his knuckles against the control panel and roughly ran his fingers over his beard.
Diego glanced over at Kristen and worked his mouth. Kristen could tell he was trying to be professional and remain calm. He looked like he wanted to knock the shit out of Roman. She couldn’t blame him.
“I can come out of here so they can leave Braxton,” Nick said, taking his earphones off. “It’s no damn problem. Ro, the booth is yours.”
Diego looked back at Roman and shrugged his shoulders. Roman turned on his heel and stalked to the booth, bumping into Nick as he went. He didn’t offer an excuse me. Nick looked at him in annoyance and shook his head. He held his finger up to Diego and mouthed, “One more time.” Then he left the engineering room and walked over to Kristen.
Diego and Roman watched as Nick and Kristen warmly greeted one another and hugged.
“Start the fuckin’ song please,” Roman grumbled.
Diego looked up at the ceiling and shook his head. He pressed a few buttons and the song started playing again. Roman immediately began singing, his voice clear and perfect, giving no indication to his intolerance and impatience moments before. Nick and Kristen watched him in joined silence. Kristen couldn’t take her eyes off of him. She was lost in the vision of his flawless beauty and strong voice. Roman looked over at her, his eyes holding unflinching contact with hers as he strongly sang the words to the song.
Kristen liked it. It was a song about love and lust and she thought the lyrics were perfect. The melody was catchy and nostalgic. She didn’t know what Roman’s problem was with it.
“So,” Nick started, disrupting her moment with Roman, “how’s the “date” going?”
Kristen broke eye contact with Roman and looked at Nick. “It’s… different. Not really what I expected.”
Nick’s eyes shone hopefulness. “Oh? Why’s that?”
“He’s not much of a talker.” She paused for effect. “He’s not much of a gentleman either, for that matter.”
“Yeah,” Nick sardonically replied. “No one can ever confuse him with a smooth talker.”
Kristen reflectively looked over at Roman. He wasn’t looking at her anymore. His eyes were closed. He was using his fist for effect to drive out the falsetto notes he was singing. Kristen hugged her arms. My God. He really did have one of the most beautiful voices in the world. But damn he was an asshole.
Thinking of that, Kristen looked over at Nick who was also watching Roman again. “Why do you guys let him get away with that?” she asked him. “I don’t get it. There are four of you to one of him. He shouldn’t be allowed to talk to you guys like that.”
Nick held his hands up to her. His voice was no-nonsense as he spoke. “Because we get it. We get it.” He looked at her. “None of us like it but we can’t blame him and we don’t. We’ve all mutually agreed to cut him some slack, at least for a while. It’s a mother-fucker what he’s going through. I mean, it happened a long time ago but with this
chick coming back around again it’s just stirring up all kinds of bullshit.”
Kristen’s eyes widened as she looked over at him. “Chick? What chick?”
Nick shook his head and turned away from her, watching Roman again. He was watching them like a hawk but still singing. “I’ve said too much already. I really can’t say anything else. Just be patient with him. I can’t believe I’m saying it, knowing how I feel about you, but-“
“And how do you feel about me Nick?” she teased, giving him a pretty smile.
He humorously cut his eyes at her and chuckled. “You already know boo. You already know.” He was quiet for a minute. “Umm… I know you’re with him today…” He gestured towards Roman. “And Diego says you and he are hanging out tonight… Do you think you can squeeze in some time for me maybe tomorrow or Sunday?
“We’re leaving Sunday.”
Disappoint dulled his blue eyes. “Oh.”
Kristen glanced over at the still sleeping Alex. She was thankful he was still asleep. Juggling three men was hard; four would be damn near impossible. “But not until late night. Before coming up here, Joy and I talked about staying an extra day if we can talk her mom into it. Away from her hopefully.”
Nick laughed joyfully. “Yeah she’s a trip.” He paused again. “I really want to spend some time with you. If you wouldn’t mind. If it’s okay.”
“I don’t mind. And it’s okay. Maybe tomorrow evening sometime?”
He pleasantly nodded. “Awesome.”
“Not that I’m complaining that I’ve only met four of you guys so far, but where’s Will? Is he around?”
Nick stretched his eyes dramatically. “Damn! Do I have to compete with Will too?” Kristen laughed loud and he chuckled, shaking his head. “He was actually here before you guys came but he had to leave. You’ll probably see him later at the party.”
“Okay cool.”
The session with Roman was over. He all but slammed the headphones back in place and walked out of the recording booth. He stopped to talk to Diego. They whispered conspiratorially with one another before Diego got up and left the room. He was headed to Kristen. Roman became distracted by his cell-phone ringing and looked at it, frowning deeply. He chewed on his lip; then answered it and turned away, speaking softly.
Eternal Flame (Eternal Flame #1) Page 5