“It has been disturbingly quiet. Rain is concerned.”
Parking in the small parking lot across from the deli, near the salon. I stop here often on my way to the salon because the food is good and it’s never too busy.
Ailee and I wait for the traffic light to change so we can cross the street. She looks different today. She’s in flats and a flowing dress, not her normal skin-tight jeans and heels. She looks grown up.
We are only a few months apart in age, but suddenly she seems like she’s ten years my senior. Rain probably picked her clothes so that no one would look at her. My brother is borderline insane with his possessiveness of her.
We order lunch and sit at a small table on the sidewalk.
“Can I ask you something, Ailee?” My mind is still racing around like a child that forgot their ADD meds.
“Sure.” She picks all the meat off her sandwich and eats just the salad.
“How well do you know Romi?”
She shrugs. “He’s been at the salon since before me. I honestly never knew he had anything to do with the family until Rain came in that first time. He keeps to himself, really. Why do you ask?”
“Just wondering.”
“That just wondering sounds like so much more. I know your brother says he’s not, but I still think he is gay.”
“He is definitely not gay. Like one hundred percent hetro.” She eyeballs me over her sandwich. Shit, I have said too much. “Don’t tell my brother, Ailee.” I preempt whatever she was about to say.
“I don’t need my manager to show up dead, Viv. Are you serious! Don’t tell me this stuff, I can’t lie to your brother.”
“It just ... happened.”
“Men don’t just sort of happen to fall into your vagina. That’s not how it works. Oh God, now isn’t the time. Your brother has enough pent up rage to murder right now. Romi is his friend, also he is old!”
“Um, you cannot pull the age card on me. Neither can Rain, not with thirteen years between you two.”
“That’s different.”
“No, no it’s not. And someday I am going to fall in love and marry someone. I am not letting Rain pick my husband. He’ll make me become a nun.” She laughs at me, but we both know it’s true. “I could do worse than Romeo.”
“That’s true, but somehow I don’t see your brother approving of it.” She raises her brows and puts half her sandwich down. “Viv, be careful. And I don’t mean with your brother, I mean your heart. I was silly once and let myself fall in love with a charming school teacher. It didn’t end well.”
“Well that was because you were already married to Rain, and he has issues sharing.” We both laugh. It feels good after the heaviness of the past few weeks.
I have missed this. My secrets have kept me away from everyone. My chest tightens just thinking about it and my appetite is ruined. I know I am going to have to find a way to fix my mess.
“Just be careful, it’s not a good time to be making waves, Viv.” She’s right. “Are you done? I’m done.”
She shoves her food away; she took maybe three bites. I clear our table, throwing the wrappers and leftover food in the trash.
When we arrive at the salon I hesitate about going up – or just leaving. I don’t know what to do. It was weird when he left this morning.
“You coming up?” Ailee ask, as I am lost in space a little bit, looking out the window up to where I know he is.
“I don’t know.” I shake my head. “No, I think I’m just going to go to the office and see Rain.”
Ailee smiles and hops out of the car.
Seventeen
Honey Brown
ROMEO:
The minute she turned on the shower I texted the Rat. It was a stupid plan, but it was better than no plan at all.
I did her hair and sent her off to work, when all I wanted to do was slam her onto the bed and sink into her. It took every ounce of the self-control I have not to. I won’t. As long as that skinny, long haired piece of shit is around, I can’t be with her.
And more so, not now with her father not even buried. No, for once in my damn life I am going to make the right choices for the right reasons. I don’t want to wake up one day and have regrets. I have a tug in my gut telling me this is the one, that Viv is my one.
All day I wonder how she is; what she is doing? I’m busy and don’t have chance to text or call her, but she’s on my mind every second. The fact that she so easily confessed her feelings to me makes both my heart and dick swell. I just can’t say it yet, not until I know I can have her.
It’s not just the video guy, her brother isn’t simply going to let me have her either. He hasn’t exactly supported my life choices over the years. Being my friend wasn’t good for his image. I doubt being my brother-in-law would be on cards.
“Romeo, when you’re done.” Ailee motions to her office on her way in. I’m busy with a client and feel my blood pressure rising.
There is no way she could know. Rat is the only one who knows, and technically he’s not even here. I’m being paranoid. Shaking it off by finishing the cute pixie style that I have been wanting to give this woman since she came in here a year ago.
Her thin hair wasn’t suited to being long, but she didn’t have the confidence to cut it all off. It’s been a slow process to get to this point and I know she will love it. Gina said that’s what made me good, because I see them as women. Other women see them as competition, it’s ingrained in them, men are more likely to style a woman in a way that he finds attractive.
“So? What do we think?” I ask holding up a mirror, so she can see the back as well.
“I think I should have listened to you ages ago,” she admits with a shy smile. “Thank you, Romi.”
“You are so welcome. Alistair will ring you up, the boss lady wants to see me.” Winking at her in the mirror makes her blush a violent shade of red. “I’ll see you in about six weeks, let him put it in the book.”
I leave her to go see what the boss lady wants from me.
“Shut the door,” she says as I step inside. Instantly my stomach knots and my palms sweat. She doesn’t look happy.
“I just had lunch with Viviana. Imagine that.” She raises her brows and purses her lips. Fuck. “Romi, are you messing with her head? Because seriously if you like guys then don’t do this. She’s not all together at the moment. Her father just died for fuck’s sake.”
“First off, Ailee, I’m not into my own gender. I’m a hairdresser and it’s easier to do this job when you act a certain way. Secondly, I am not doing anything. I know she’s not okay because her father just died. I’m trying real hard to just be her friend. But, you know what…” I start getting defensive and angry. “Who I do, or don’t fuck, really isn’t your business unless I’m doing it at work, is it?” I know I have overstepped.
I see the vicious look in her eyes when she stands up behind her desk and glares at me. “You’re right, it’s none of my business — yet. Just do your job and help out like we agreed. I know Chels opened this morning, let’s not start shirking our responsibilities shall we. For the record I don’t care who you screw, Romi. But, I do care about her, and you separately, so don’t put me in place where I have to choose this family over his family.”
She isn’t angry anymore. In fact, she looks like she wants to cry, which from her is just uncomfortable and odd. “Ailee, go home and be with your husband. I’ll take care of things here. And I promise you, Viv and me isn’t even close to being something you need to worry about.”
She sits down again, crossing her arms over her chest. “I have some things to do, but I’m going to leave at around three.”
Oh, thank fuck. I wait to see if she wants anything else.
“The guys will drop off around six, will you count it and lock up for me?” she says.
“Sure, no problem. I have only got one client left today and it’s a quick one.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry if I overreacted. Everything is a little r
aw right now.”
“It’s all good, I’m a big boy Ailee. I can take care of myself.” She smiles at me. “I promise.”
“I know.” She digs in her top drawer and tosses the keys to the safe at me. “But, she’s my little sister by marriage and I have to look after her.”
Ailee left at three-thirty, and the last customers were gone just after five. At five-thirty I was left alone. Just me, my stupid plan, and a thousand thoughts of her.
I wait for the nightly drop off. The back door is open, and I stand outside having a smoke. My hands shake and my body coats itself in a sheath of nervous sweat. I have never stolen anything in my life. I worked for everything I have and now I am going to steal from a man I know will kill me in a heartbeat. But, if it means I get to save her, then it’s worth it.
I keep telling myself she is worth it, over and over again. If I’m lucky I will get away with it.
Rat says that they don’t count the money before it gets here, so I have four days to take enough to help her. A little each day shouldn’t be missed. When I told him the plan he said it might work, but I might also die a slow and horrible death.
He promised that if I got caught he would tell Rain why I did it, and help Viv. In return I promised he could live in my home. I feel like I may be the one losing on all fronts.
The car pulls into the parking bay and they get out with the bags. I reach inside and grab yesterday’s empties. Two armed men climb the steps and greet me. We see each other often, nothing is different — to them. But to me; my whole body shakes with the violent need to throw up. I swap the empty bags for full ones inside the door, out of sight, and then lock the door behind them. Same as every other time.
The bags are heavy as I lug them to Ailee’s office. Secretly I say a little thank you prayer to God that there is so much tonight. It takes ages to count it all without Chelsey’s help, and my nerves standing on end don’t help much either.
At the end of it I record it in the book, but not all of it. There’s a little over half a million in the take tonight, so I take seventy thousand. Stuffing it into my gym bag I leave my sweats and sneakers in the staffroom, which is in such a state no one will notice. I make a mental note that tomorrow I will shit on the staff to clean it up.
Guilt turns the bile in my stomach and my throat hurts when I swallow. I hate myself for doing this. I am afraid someone has seen me and I am nervous as I lock the door and make a dash for my car. Inside it I try to catch my breath and calm myself down.
The blood drains from my face and I become pale and cold. My eyes dart my focus around, looking to see who might be watching me; but I am all alone. Starting my car, I drive home quickly. I don’t usually drive to work and I'm hoping no one notices the change in my routine.
Rat is in my kitchen drinking his dinner. I forgot about him for a while. This sharing of my space is going to get old really fast. The bag of money is like lead hanging over my shoulder. He takes another glass from the cabinet behind him and fills it with whiskey —neat. Handing it to, me he looks at the bag.
“You did it then?”
Downing the liquid courage I wish I’d had hours ago, I answer, “Yes, I got about seventy.”
“With the funeral coming no one is going to notice anything for at least a few weeks. Rain won’t have a handle on everything just yet. And no one else has reason to look.” He tries to reassure me. “Just don’t take the same amount every time and spread it out. You have a few days, right?”
“Until Friday, yeah.” I bang my empty glass down, suddenly overcome with the need to shower.
“You sure you don’t want me to just have someone whack the guy?”
“And have Rain’s sister show up naked in his inbox?” I ask him. “Sounds like a great plan.”
“How do you know that’s not going to happen anyway?”
“Because if it does we will have him whacked.” Rubbing my face, I say, “I have to shower.”
“Yeah, I’m going out tonight, so I’ll see you in the morning.” His voice sounds tired just saying the words.
“Where are you going?” He looks wrecked.
“I want to see my little brother, so I am going to pull a Rain and spy on him and Chelsey later.” He says it like there’s nothing wrong with it, as if it’s no big deal.
“Okay then. You have a key now, so I’m not waiting up.” I leave him in the kitchen and go stuff the gym bag into my closet, taking out an empty one to take with in the morning.
Stripping myself of last night’s clothes I toss them into the hamper. The hot water steams up the bathroom and I move under the spray. It soothes my aching, tense muscles. My whole body has been twisted up in knots all day, and now I feel like I can breathe. Closing my eyes I just stand here washing my guilt away under the hot spray.
A loud pounding on the bathroom door gives me a fright. What the fuck does he want? This is going to drive me mental.
“Romeo.” It’s not him, it’s her. Shit. “Romeo, why the fuck is Rat in your house?”
Shit.
“You can’t tell a fucking soul, Viv,” I hear him yelling at her.
“Shut up, Salvi, I am not talking to you!” Bang. Bang. The pounding continues. “Romi, get out here. What the hell is going on?”
Fuck my life. I turn off the blissful hot water, open the glass shower door, and wrap a towel around myself. Unlocking the door to open it a crack I’m immediately met with her death glare. Opening it a little more I reach out, grab Viv, pull her inside, shut the door and lock us in.
“What the fuck is going on? Does my brother know he’s back? My gran is going to shit a fucking brick. Why is he here?”
She is shrieking at me and I don’t know how to make her stop. Rat is now thumping on the door, because he can’t have her telling anyone he is here either.
“What the fuck, Romi,” she says.
Instead of answering her incessant questions I grab her by the throat, but don’t choke her. I just kiss her so deeply that she forgets what she is yelling about, she forgets whose air she is breathing and just gives in to the chemistry between us.
“Fix this shit, Romeo!” I hear him yell, then the loud slam of his bedroom door.
I wait until I know he isn’t listening before I let her come up for air. And by then it’s too late to stop what’s already happening between us.
“Why is Rat in your living room, Romeo?” she asks the moment I stop kissing her.
I no longer care that she saw him, all I want is to undress and slowly devour her. We are locked in the bathroom so he won’t hear us.
“Shh, just don’t ruin this,” I say, unbuttoning her shirt. It’s soaked from where my body pressed hers against the wet wall.
The fabric clings to her body, outlining her hardened nipples. Her interrogation is replaced with a soft sigh. The warm, steamy air, molds to her smooth skin.
Opening her shirt to expose her perky breasts, I run my fingers softly over them before I grab them hard and kiss her again. Gradually I run my lips down her body, dropping to my knees. I help her out of her of her jeans and shoes.
Kissing her body, I slowly explore her with my mouth. The warm steam makes her skin shimmer and I can’t resist touching every part of her. Digging my fingers into her hips I move her body towards my face, biting the silky skin of her inner thigh, leaving teeth marks on her as I move my way up.
I’ve seen enough videos to know what Viv likes. My tongue runs along the seam of her pussy; she tastes like heaven and sin, mixed into a cocktail that no one should be allowed to drink.
“Fuck, you make me so hungry,” I growl into her, sliding a finger into her opening from behind. While I’m circling her clit with my tongue she starts to moan and grind against me, grabbing my head and clutching me against her.
When I look up she’s biting her lip, and as our eyes meet she seductively rolls her hips. Her fingernails graze my scalp and she tries to pull away, but I won’t allow it. I don’t plan to quit until she fucking feeds me
the orgasm I know she’s so close to. I can feel how wet and tight she is by the way she clenches around my finger. I know she’s waiting for my cock to be deep inside her, but I am not going to give it to her yet.
Holding her against my face I work her with my tongue until her body quakes and I can taste her climax; it comes in waves. Her body strains and she says my name mixed with cussing. Her hands gripping my head keep me positioned as I hit her sweet spot over and over again, making her give me everything she has.
“Jesus Christ, Romeo, stop!” she screams. Her body goes limp. I support her and pull her onto my lap.
My towel has long since fallen off and my aching cock rubs precum against her naked body. Pulling her down with me so that she is straddling my lap, I caress gently over her body, mouthing her rigid nipple and tugging at the nipple-stud. She shudders and squirms, absently grinding against me with the stimulation.
Her arms tighten around my neck, holding me close, sighing and melting against me. Our kisses turn from savage and desperate, to slow and sumptuous.
“I don’t want to stop, Viv. Something about you makes me want this to go on forever.”
She runs her hands down my chest, slowly, and she licks her pouty little lips, giving me a cheeky look. Wrapping her small hand around the base of my cock she squeezes it, gripping hard.
She looks coquettishly at me through her lashes and says, “Your turn to stand up.”
Fuck me.
Shuffling off me and into a kneel, she waits, challenging me with those soulful brown eyes. I don’t mind playing this game. I hadn’t intended to, but we need this. I want to show her, exactly, what she does to me every single time I look at her.
Standing over her, with her hair messy and her wide eyes looking at me, I don’t move. I don’t do anything, not yet. Without using her hands she licks from the base to the tip of my cock, making it twitch, then she covers me with the heat of her mouth.
Cut & Blow_Book Three Page 11