Hate Thy Neighbor

by S. M. Soto

  Till now.

  Putting my grievances aside, I follow Travis’s orders, and with everyone in the room, we work together like a well-oiled machine. The procedure for Daisy, the dog in question, goes a little over our time estimation, and by the time we clean up and have her in recovery, everyone is bone-tired. I’m gathering my stuff from my locker when I hear Travis’s voice. I release a pent-up sigh, feeling deflated. I was so sure I’d get out of here today, without having to deal with him.

  Across the break room, I meet Kassandra’s gaze. She looks just as unhappy about this as I do. Sucking it up, I head into his office, keeping my expression blank. I refuse to let him know how much he’s bothering me. I’m sure he’d get nothing but satisfaction out of that fact.

  “You wanted to speak to me?”

  “I did. Shut my door, will you?”

  Biting the inside of my cheek to keep from snapping back a smart remark, I move to close the door, but pause, when Kassandra pops her head inside, stopping me in my tracks.

  “Someone’s here to see you, Liv.”

  There’s a glint in her eye that makes me wary. My brows pull down in confusion. I glance back at Travis, who looks just as confused and put off by this information, if not more so. He rises from his desk, following Kassandra, obviously wanting to see what the issue is and what’s keeping me from having a discussion with him.

  I jerk to a halt in the waiting room, my eyes growing wide, when I see who is standing there. At his sprawling six feet four inches of muscle and leather is Roman. He has on those faded jeans that I love and a white T-shirt. His biker boots are so out of place in a clinic like this, it’s almost comical.

  When my gaze collides with Rome’s, awareness slithers down my spine and desire pools in my belly, at the look he’s casting my way. Jesus, this man is going to be the death of me. His eyes roll over me, toward the man behind me, and I see the tension slowly climb into Rome’s shoulders.

  Well, this isn’t good.

  I share a look with Kassandra and Atticus, who are both staring at Roman with raised brows. Yeah, I know. He’s an exceptional specimen to look at.

  Proving that the surprises are going to keep coming, Roman closes the distance between us and pulls me into his arms, his hand spanning my back, lifting me off my feet, as he leans down. His mouth takes mine in a kiss that I feel all the way down to my toes. For a second, I forget where we are and who’s around us. When we pull away, I’m out of breath, trying to blink away the stars that are still blurring my vision.

  “You ready to go, babe?” he asks, tugging me into his side. Heat rises to my cheeks, at the way he’s staking his claim over me. I can feel Travis’s gaze on me, but I choose to ignore it.

  “You didn’t have to come here to get me, Rome. I told you Kassandra would’ve driven me home.”

  He glances in the general direction of Travis. “Yeah, I did.”

  Okaaaay.

  “Let the man pick you up, Olivia. It’s not every day we get eye candy like him around here,” Kassandra offers, making me laugh. I hear someone’s disgruntled huff, and I can just imagine who it is.

  “Let me grab my stuff and I’ll be right out.” I hurry back to grab my purse, not wanting to leave them alone out there for too long.

  “The fact that you’re banging that hot piece of ass makes me want to jump straight off a cliff,” Kassandra whisper-hisses under her breath, her gaze still glued to Roman’s ass in those jeans. I trap my bottom lip between my teeth to stifle my grin. I still can’t believe it myself.

  “Stop eye-fucking my boyfriend.”

  Her brows rise. “Boyfriend? My, my, you guys don’t waste any time, do you?”

  “Shut up.” I laugh, nudging her with my arm.

  My feet falter as we make our way back into the waiting area. Travis’s and Roman’s voices are rising in tenor. My pace quickens, my heart lurching in my chest. I knew I couldn’t leave those two alone together. Pausing just over the threshold, I swallow at the violence that’s painted across Travis’s face. Meanwhile, Rome looks bored. As calm as a cucumber. Sensing my presence, he looks over Travis’s head at me.

  “You ready to go?”

  I nod, my gaze darting to Travis quickly. His lips are thin, eyes burning with an unrestrained rage. Roman clasps my hand in his, and just as we’re leaving, he directs his next words over his shoulder at my boss.

  “Remember what I said, Travis. I’d hate to come back here and pay you another visit.”

  Roman takes his time helping me onto the bike, and the entire time, I can’t keep my gaze off him.

  “What happened in there with Travis?”

  “Nothing you need to worry about.”

  I sigh. “Rome. This is my job. If I’m going to find myself fired because of something you said, I’d like to know.”

  “You won’t be fired.”

  “So, what did you tell him?” I ask, securing my arms around his waist.

  “I told him that you’re mine. And I don’t share what’s mine. If he knows what’s good for him, he’ll back down.”

  I dig my fingers into his abs. “Roman!” I admonish.

  He shrugs, revving his bike to life.

  “Told you you’re mine, Olivia. And I don’t fucking share.”

  An odd thrill shoots through my core at his words. I tighten my grip around him, relishing in the feel of the wind whipping through my hair. With my cheek resting against his broad back, I fall for Roman Banks, my asshole neighbor, a little more than I had the day before.

  Back home, Roman helps me off the bike, and something in his expression gives me pause. I hand the helmet back to him, a questioning gleam in my eyes.

  “What is it?”

  “Got a call today.”

  I’m just about to ask what kind of call, when it suddenly dawns on me. My eyes widen, and a massive smile breaks out across my face. “You’re joking.”

  For the first time, a genuine smile, dimples and all, spreads across his face. It makes him look handsome. If that’s even possible. Broody Roman is a vision, but the playful one, that’s a whole other man. One that my heart skips beats over.

  “I got the news today. My probation is over. He’s finally coming home.”

  I squeal, jumping into Roman’s arms. He catches me effortlessly. With my arms wrapped around his neck, I squeeze him to me, barely giving him room to breathe.

  “I’m so happy for you, Rome. You guys deserve this.”

  He sets me on the car in the garage, swiping his thumb across my cheek. “I actually have you to thank.”

  “Me?”

  He nods. “His social worker gave me the name of a woman who begged her to give me a second chance.”

  Heat rises to my cheeks. It slipped my mind that I did that for him. The way he’s staring down at me has my stomach flipping and my heart pounding so hard, I’m having trouble pulling in a single breath.

  “Thank you,” he breathes across my lips, sending tingles shooting straight to my core. The blue in his eyes is molten, like the heat from a blue flame.

  “You don’t need to thank me.”

  Reaching down, he circles my wrist with his fingers and lifts my hand to press my palm against his chest. My breath leaves me in a rush, at the feel of his pounding heart and the sincerity in his eyes.

  “I do, Sunshine. It’s all because of you I get to keep my promise to him.”

  My bottom lip trembles. “No, it’s because of you. I’ve never met a man like you, Roman. One with so many sides, so much love to give. This was all you.”

  Keeping my hand pasted to his chest, he levels our gazes. “See what you do to me, Liv? You make me forget about the past and how far I’ve come. You make me want things I never thought I’d want,” he murmurs, almost to himself, his gaze heavy-lidded. Just that quickly he went from playful to downright seductive.

  I swallow thickly. My mouth opens to say something, but I snap it shut. I don’t know what to say. All I know is how I feel about this man. He drive
s me crazy in the best of ways. I hate him and what he does to me, almost as much as I love it.

  Taking his free hand, I press it to my heart. With my hand on his chest, and his on mine, we stand there like this in his garage, staring deeply into each other’s eyes, saying all the things we’re too afraid to say out loud.

  “This is what you do to me, Roman. You make it so I can only see and feel you.”

  His nostrils flare, and my gaze, with a mind of its own, dips to his mouth. Need courses through my veins, making me hot and bothered. My breasts feel heavy. My sex swells and slicks. I press my legs together to alleviate the pressure.

  “Kiss me. Please.”

  And he does just that. Kissing me until I’m breathless and Mad Max is howling at us. When we pull away from each other, both of us panting for much-needed air, I spot Josie across the street, watching us with that same disgruntled expression that’s always there on her face.

  “I’m pretty sure she hates me.”

  “Sunshine, I think half the neighborhood hates you.”

  I mock gasp, knocking him in the chest with my fist. “People love me.”

  He’s smirking, as he rolls his eyes, trying to get under my skin. “Oh, I bet they do.”

  Taking a seat on the open bucket he usually sits on while working, I watch him dote on Max. He brushes his fur, giving his head a good scratch, before he goes through the motions of wiping down his bike. He then moves on to the car and starts wiping that one down, too, even though it’s in the garage. Unused.

  An idea suddenly clicks in my head. “Can you teach me?”

  “Teach you what exactly?”

  I jerk my chin toward one of his pride and joys. “I’ve never driven a stick before, might be a good time to learn.”

  Rome pauses, blowing out a breath. “What the hell do you need to learn for?”

  I feign hurt. “You’re telling me you don’t want your girlfriend to know how to drive a stick? The audacity.”

  He shakes his head, but I still see the remnants of a smile on his face, and I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that I’ve won him over.

  Taking me by the hand, he drags me toward the car and pauses, turning to me with a stern look on his face that makes me grin even harder.

  “Listen to everything I say, and for God’s sake, don’t mess up my clutch.”

  I jump up and down and clap excitedly. “Can we try the bike next?”

  He stops in his tracks. “The bike is off-limits.”

  “Oh, c’mon, Rome, please.”

  “Shut up before I bend you over this car and fuck you instead of teaching you.”

  “Is that a viable option?” I waggle my brows, enjoying the way my core clenches with desire at his words. “What’s my reward for driving well?”

  He smirks, and I feel the effects of it shoot between my legs. He leans into me and whispers in my ear, “I’ll kiss your sweet pussy, until you come on my tongue. That work for you, Sunshine?”

  I swallow thickly, my panties now damp and ruined. “Y-yes.”

  Not even five minutes in, the car is all but forgotten, as Rome and I stumble into his house, shedding our clothes. It turns out, I didn’t even need to be rewarded to get this.

  The smile that’s on my face probably looks goofy, but I can’t seem to help it. The grin comes naturally, when I see the two of them together. It’s been two weeks since Ryder has been home, and I’ve seen a subtle change in Roman. He seems happier and a little more carefree about life. Those first few days after he got the news were tough. He was anxious and stressed, and because he was still an asshole by natural design, he took it out on everyone around him. Except me, surprisingly.

  He needed to figure out a ton of things. Did his little brother want to change schools? How did he feel about uprooting his whole life to live with Roman? It turns out, he didn’t mind too much because he all but jumped at the idea of being out of that place and back with his brother. I gave Roman as long as he needed to adjust to taking on this parental role in his life. I couldn’t just come over whenever I wanted anymore because he had a kid living in the house.

  A teenager.

  It was cute, watching Roman painstakingly set up Ryder’s room in the spare bedroom. He wanted everything to be perfect for his little brother.

  He’s adjusted a whole lot better than I thought he would. Because of the hours he’s working at the shop to accommodate Ryder’s school hours, he’s been taking on an extra day of work during the week, but the days he’s working and Ryder is stuck at home, I usually hang out with him in the yard, and he helps me. So far, we’ve made the front of the house look somewhat presentable. The only splash of color is from the flowers Rome planted for me.

  The weather is starting to cool, with it being September and all. Today, the two of them are bonding, putting up a new fence between our houses. The other one was old and leaning, so Roman took it upon himself to fix it and rebuild a whole new one with Ryder. How the guy knows how to do all this, without being a contractor, I’ll never know. They have been at it for a while already, so I can just imagine how hungry they are.

  “I’ll be back in a bit with some food, boys!”

  Ryder waves goodbye, focusing on whatever Roman is telling him. Rome spares a glance at me over his shoulder, and even from here, I can feel the heat of it. Life with a preteen isn’t easy, so sneaking in time for sex is a lot harder than you’d think. Sure, we could lock ourselves in his bedroom while Ryder is busy in his room, but I doubt his little brother wants to hear anything sexual coming from his older brother’s room.

  It’s an adjustment, especially for a relationship as new as ours, but we’re making it work.

  After I pick up some food for us, I’m just about to get inside my car, when a steel grip encloses around my wrists. I let out a ragged gasp, pain tearing through my arm. My back is suddenly slammed up against my car, and when I see who it is, the words die on my lips.

  “What the—”

  “We need to talk,” Travis grits out, his hand still gripping my wrist like a vise.

  “Travis, what are you doing? You’re hurting me,” I hiss through the pain.

  “I’m trying to talk to you, Olivia, dammit. You’ve been avoiding me, and I want to know why.”

  “Because of this!” I snap, wrangling my wrist free. The skin is red and chafed, burning from his bruising grip. I can even see the imprints from his fingers. “We have nothing to discuss outside of work, Travis. This is beyond unprofessional.”

  “Unprofessional?” He scoffs, color rising to his cheeks, in his bout of anger. “Want to know what’s unprofessional? You being a cock tease.”

  My eyes widen, and I choke, as if the air has been knocked out of me. “A cock tease? Are you insane?”

  “You led me on. Then you left me, for him, leaving me high and dry.”

  “He’s my boyfriend! You and I have never even shared a kiss, Travis. You’re out of your mind!”

  His hand slams against the car behind me, stunning me silent. A ball of dread knots in my gut. I swallow thickly and press my back into the metal, wishing it would swallow me whole.

  “You wanted me!” he growls. “What changed?”

  The look in his eye turns my stomach. Gone is the sweet guy I met when I first started working at the clinic. He’s no longer put-together. His hair is in disarray, and he looks like he’s been drinking.

  “Nothing changed. You’re my boss.” My voice trembles, revealing just how frightened I am.

  “We both know I’m much more than that, Olivia. I want you. You’re so blinded by him that you can’t even see what’s right in front of you.” Travis leans into me, and I cringe, jerking my head to the side, trying to get away from him. Glancing around the parking lot, I search frantically, praying someone will walk by and put a stop to this.

  “I don’t want you, Travis. Please stop this. I don’t want to speak with your father, but I will.”

  I feel his body tense. My words have set something
off inside him. “Who do you think he’s going to believe, Olivia? You or me? You realize I could’ve had you already if I really wanted to.”

  Slowly, I glance up at him, letting his words sink in. That ball of dread in my stomach only gets bigger. My gaze narrows, and my lungs clench, restricting air.

  “Did you break into my house, Travis?”

  He leans into me, causing bile to rise in my throat. He invades my space, and when his hand grips my chin, jerking my face toward his, I react. With my heart in my throat, I swing my knee up, and though I don’t connect with his privates, I do hit his inner thigh. Travis lets out a grunt of pain, and I shove against his shoulder, causing him to stumble back.

  With my heart pounding in my chest, I throw myself into the car and shove the keys into the ignition, peeling out of the parking lot. My vision swims with tears, and the road blurs before my eyes. I have to coach myself on how to inhale deep breaths. I suddenly feel like the road is shaking. My head is pounding, and my heart is beating so irregularly, I know I need to take my medication.

  A sob rips from my chest, and I pull over, trying to get ahold of myself. I wish I could call Roman and tell him what happened, but I can’t. He’d lose it. He has more than himself and me to worry about now. He has Ryder. And not to mention, bringing up anything about my heart condition, is absolutely out of the question.

  By the time I get home, it’s already getting dark, and I’m sure the food is cold. Grabbing the bags, I hurry inside the house and head straight for the master bathroom. I throw open the cabinet, rifling through bottles, until I find the one I need. I swallow the pill down dry and slam my eyes shut, willing the pain that’s ebbing and flowing through my chest to ease.

  The sound of the front door opening and closing, then the hard thud of footsteps, catches me off guard. My heart jumps into my throat, and the calm that was just settling over me evaporates. The pill bottle slips from my hands and drops into the sink.