Chapter 10
“You came!” Kate exclaimedas she opened the door for Violet. “I didn’t think you would make it.”
“Well, you know how it is.” Violet walked inside.
She knew Roman had arrived a few minutes earlier and was already milling around somewhere outside. They didn’t want their friends to find out about their relationship until the Fourth of July party Kate insisted on throwing. It had been three weeks since her and Roman’s wild weekend in Key West, and although they both worked their asses off, they’d made several date nights. Most of which ended up with him staying at her place overnight.
Though she still worried about the what-ifs of what could happen between them, she’d started to let herself believe they had hope. Roman was nothing like Taylor. Never would be either. Her misgivings in the beginning had been assuaged a little at a time. However, she did worry sometimes, especially when that hussy Cassandra called his cell while she and Roman were out together. She’d have to put a stop to that shit soon.
“You look amazing.” Kate took her hand and twirled her in a slow circle. “This isn’t one of the dresses I bought you. Where did you get this?”
“Key West,” Violet answered. White with speckles of vibrant colors created a stunning tropical vista on the bodice and skirt of the dress. “I saw it the morning we were leaving, so Roman bought it for me.” What she didn’t tell her friend was that they’d had sex in the changing room of the quaint boutique after she’d tried it on.
“It’s absolutely stunning.” Hooking her arm through Violet’s, they strolled outside. “Speaking of Roman, how did your date go? Did you two have fun?”
“Yeah.” Violet nodded. “We did.”
“What did you do?”
She and Kate stopped by the drink table. The small get-together was already in full effect. People mingled and laughed as music played in the background. In the distance, the sun dipped below the horizon, giving the sky a twilight glow.
“Oh, you know, nothing spectacular.”
Violet felt the heat of Roman’s stare and raised her gaze to meet his. He stood with his buddies on the opposite side of the pool from her, a beer in his hand while they talked about something. The corner of his lips kicked upward in a smirk.
“Bullshit. You were never a good liar,” Kate said, dragging Violet’s attention back to their conversation. “Don’t forget you called me pissed off and wanting to go home.”
Violet winced. “About that, it was a weak moment. He hit a nerve.”
“I bet. So, what happened?”
“He apologized. Then, the next morning, he had this whole trip planned out. We didn’t stay in Miami. We went to Key West.” She told Kate all about the trip, and when it came to the more intimate details, she brushed over them. “He treated me really well. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Do you think you’ll see him again?” Kate asked, handing her a glass of red wine.
“Not sure,” she answered, then she took a sip of her drink.
She glanced over at the group of men standing near the pool. Roman laughed at something Chris said. As if Roman knew she sought him out, he looked at her. Desire flared in his eyes. Heat crept into her cheeks. She didn’t think she’d ever get used to how he stared at her.
“Well, hasn’t he called you, or have you called him?” Kate asked.
Kate and Violet mingled, strolling past their friends and acquaintances. They stopped by Melody and Sara, who were sitting by the pool engrossed in a conversation about who’d they’d like to fuck more, Chris or Dave. So far Chris was winning out.
“I’ve been busy with work,” Violet said. “You know Mrs. Michaels retired this week, so I’m looking to hire a part-time employee. I think Roman has been busy too.”
“What the hell?” Kate asked. “Don’t you want to go on a date with him again?”
Melody and Sara’s conversation abruptly came to a halt. Kate turned her attention to their friends.
“Go on a date with whom?” Melody asked.
“Roman,” Kate answered before Violet could. “She went out with him once, and she hasn’t called him again.”
“What I wouldn’t give to ride that man,” Sara mumbled.
“Sara,” Melody cried. “Don’t be vulgar.”
“It’s the truth. He is sex personified.”
Yeah, he was. Violet knew exactly how it felt to be ridden by that man. Several times. “Look, it’s not like I don’t want to. Our schedules haven’t meshed. It’s no biggie.”
“What’s no biggie?” The soft rumble of Roman’s voice caressed her, leaving goose bumps in its wake.
“Violet was just saying—” Kate started.
“How much I enjoyed our date,” Violet supplied, finishing Kate’s statement.
A slow sensual grin tugged at his lips. “You’ve been teasing her, haven’t you?” He wrapped his arm around Violet and leaned in for a kiss.
Her toes curled. Her body melted into his embrace. “Maybe a little,” she said when he pulled back. “I didn’t want to give up the goods on us too soon.”
“I should kick both of your asses,” Kate snapped. “How long have you been canoodling together?”
“Since the date,” Roman answered. “We wanted to keep you guys guessing.”
“Congratulations! You did it. I’m so happy for you guys. I can’t wait to tell Jesse.”
* * * *
Roman’s friends hadspent the better part of twenty minutes giving him shit when all he wanted was his girl. Between the heated glances and the dress, she wore, he was ready to drag her to a dark corner or spare bedroom and fuck her until they both couldn’t walk right.
As soon as he’d arrived, the guys had cornered him and asked a million questions. He’d made a deal with Violet. He’d tell Jesse, but she would play it off—keep Kate wondering what had happened.
“Thanks for not telling Kate about Violet and me,” Roman said, pulling Jesse aside.
Jesse laughed, coming up behind Kate. “You’re welcome.”
“You are in so much trouble, mister.” Kate glared at Jesse. “You’re lucky I love you.”
“I know.” He kissed her, then, to Melody and Sara, he excused himself. “Come on, Roman. Kate needs to talk to you and Violet.”
Violet excused herself, taking Roman’s hand and following after Jesse. He didn’t know what Jesse and Kate wanted, but if they expected an apology for keeping them out of the loop, they were off their rockers. No way he’d apologize for not immediately telling them about his and Vi’s relationship.
“What did you want to talk to us about?” Roman asked when they walked into the house and sat at the dining table.
“We need your help,” Kate said, taking Jesse’s hand. “You were an experiment of sorts. We love each other and we...I wanted our friends to be just as happy as us. So, we set you up. But—”
“But what?” Violet asked.
Roman took her hand and squeezed. “Let Kate explain, mouse.”
“What she’s trying to say is, we want you to pick the next couple to send out on a date,” Jesse finished for his wife. “We think it’s only fair that you pick, especially since you guys know your friends as well as we do, and you know what the date entails.”
“Really?” Violet looked up at Roman. “Do you think this will work again?”
“I hope so,” Kate answered with a smile. “We’ll be paying for it as well. You pick the couple and the place, and we’ll make it happen.”
“How long do we have to choose?” Roman asked. The idea of setting up one of his friends intrigued him. It was about time they settled down too—especially Chris.
“Take a couple of weeks,” Jesse replied. “Make sure the people you pick like each other or at least have something in common. You guys were easy. Kate knew Violet liked you, so it was a no-brainer picking her. I had my doubts about you, Roman. I kind of knew you liked Violet, but...”
“My past?”
Jesse nodded. “You have to admit, man, you’re hard to gauge. You came to the Memorial Day party with that twit Cassandra. I almost told Kate it wouldn’t work.”
Violet flinched beside Roman. He knew they were still getting past the rocky points of their relationship. One of the big things was the girls he’d had sex with. Not to mention Cassandra wouldn’t stop blowing up his phone or coming to the shop. He was two seconds away from getting a restraining order against her. “Yeah, that’s a fucking mess. I can’t apologize enough to Violet for that mistake.”
“You don’t have to apologize.” Violet shrugged.
“Yeah, I do. Cassandra is a huge barrier between us. I know it and so do you. She’s caused you nothing but grief since we got back.” He kissed Vi’s hand. “I will fix this for us.”
“Sounds like she’s stalking you. Do we need to get Derrick involved?” Jesse asked.
Derrick worked for the Los Angeles Police Department and was a good friend to Jesse and Roman. In fact, the guy was due in for the finishing touches on his tattoo. “I’ll talk to him on Wednesday. He’s got an appointment to finish his back piece. I will tell him what’s going on.”
“Good. Let’s get back to business. Will you guys help us out?” Jesse glanced between Violet and Roman. “Of course, you only have to do this once. We’ll use the couple you pick to choose the next set.”
“Sure.” Violet nodded. “We’d love to help.” She took Kate’s hand and squeezed. “You gave me the best gift a friend could give, a new start. You gave me Roman.”
“Who knew the mouse over here had a sharp tongue and a dry sense of humor?” He grinned at his girl. “We’re both thankful for your help.”
“Then it’s settled.” Jesse stood. “We should get back to the party.”
“Let’s go. I want to show my girl off now that we’ve spilled the beans,” he teased, standing. Holding out his hand, he waited for Violet to take it. “Mouse, you ready to party?”
“Hell yeah, I am.”
* * * *
In the wee hours ofthe morning, Roman pulled up to Violet’s house. He turned off his bike and waited as she pulled in next to him. They were seriously going to have to talk about moving in together, preferably staying at her place. His residence, though nice, was a bachelor pad. They needed a home.
When she got out of her car, he approached and held his hand out to her. “Did you have fun showing me off tonight?”
She gifted him with a heart-melting smile. “I did. I had fun tonight with you, Roman.” She laid her hand on his chest. “Did you have fun showing me off?”
“Baby, you were the best-looking woman there.” He leaned in and kissed her. “I have something I want to ask you, but let’s go inside.”
“Okay.”
They walked into the house arm in arm. Once the door was closed behind them, Roman led her down the hall to her room. “I was thinking,” he stated, backing her up to the large bed.
“Uh-oh. That sounds ominous. You thinking,” she taunted, yanking his shirt over his head. “What were you thinking about?”
He pulled the zipper down on her dress and watched it pool around her feet. “Us. More specifically, making us more permanent.”
“Compared to what?” she asked, releasing his belt, then unbuttoning his pants. They fell to the floor, joining her dress after he kicked off his shoes.
“Well, I was thinking we should move in together.” He gathered her up in his arms and laid her out on the bed, wrapping her legs around his waist.
“But we haven’t even told each other ‘I love you’ or anything?” Violet ran her hand up and down his chest. Her hips wiggled against his, turning him on more by the second.
“I love you, Violet.” He kissed her. His tongue lapped at her bottom lip before drawing it into his mouth to suck on. She moaned under him, her fingernails biting into his skin. “Fuck, baby.”
“Do you mean it, Roman?” Violet ran her hands down his sides and gripped the hem of his boxer briefs. Her fingers teased the band before yanking them off him. “Do you really love me after only being with me for three weeks?”
“Yes, I mean it.”
“I...well, I love you too.” Wrapping her hand around his dick, she stroked him. Her thumb rubbed the sensitive tissue right under the head of his cock. “And you’re sure you want to move in together? It’s not too soon?”
“Nope, I don’t think so.” He groaned. “Baby, you got me all worked up. Say yes so, we can get to the good stuff.”
“Yes.” She giggled, giving him a squeeze.
“Thank fuck.” He ripped her panties off, then her bra before settling between her legs. Whereas he’d wanted to take his time and love her when he’d arrived at her house, now he needed her. “Nothing between us anymore. You’re mine.” His mouth crushed hers as he eased her leg over his elbow, opening her up to him.
Her sweet, slick pussy tempted him. Destroyed any sense of control he might have had. Roman adjusted himself at her entrance and pressed forward. Tight, so damn tight and hot. Fuck. She strangled him in her wet heat, threatening to unman him with one stroke. He moaned into the kiss as he shifted his hips, filling her a bit at a time.
“Roman,” she whimpered. “Please.”
“I’ll never get enough of hearing you say please.” Bracing her arms over her head with his free hand, he pushed into her until he was balls deep. Her pussy rippled around him, tempting him. “Minx. You’re not getting it till I’m good and ready to fill you up.”
Roman bent his head and took her nipple into his mouth, sucking on the hard point while he thrust into her over and over again. She clamped down on him every time he tried to retreat. The sensitive tissues of her cunt drove him insane. How she’d ever thought he’d leave her, or this was beyond him.
She arched to him, her mouth falling open as her head thrashed back and forth. Oh yeah. He loved keeping her on edge. Loved watching her take her pleasure with him. The way her body responded to his. Fuck, everything about her drove him crazy. He shifted his hips, slipping deeper inside of her.
“Oh God,” she cried, shuddering below him.
“It’s Roman, baby, but I love it when you call me God.” He chuckled. Kissing her neck, he lowered her leg and fitted his hand between their bodies. He brushed his fingers over her clit. Her hips came off the bed. She pushed back against him, moving counterpoint to his thrusts. “Fuck. Keep doing that. Don’t stop.”
The pleasure was so great, so intense it rocked him to his core, throwing him off-kilter. His balls drew up, and his dick twitched. This was where he belonged. Fuck always had belonged. He knew that now. Understood what Jesse meant earlier. There was nothing better than a good woman by your side, loving you. His pace grew frantic. Their moans and cries filled her room as he let go of her hands and shifted their position, so she rode him.
Violet leaned back, opening herself to him, giving him access to her clit as she rolled her hips against his. With each swivel he lost a bit more of himself, until he grabbed her hips and guided her over him, ensuring both of them would reach a climactic ending. Her hands cupped her breasts, tweaking her nipples the way he had so many times for her, and her pussy went molten around him.
“I need to come,” she sobbed. “Please.”
“Nothing stopping you. Do it. Get my dick wet with your cream.” He grunted while manipulating her clit. “Eyes on me.”
Her gaze locked with his as he pressed down on her clit. The walls of her vagina locked around him, and her thighs trembled. She gasped. Her hands were braced behind her on his thighs, holding her upright as her nails dug into his flesh. He rubbed her clit one more time, and she came apart on him. Her cunt rippled and milked him for all she was worthwhile she screamed his name at the top of her lungs.
Roman gave over. His balls were drawn up close to his body. His dick jerked deep inside her. The knot of desire in his gut expanded as he slammed her down over him once more, and he let go. He came hard, with a grunt, then pulled her down to him, kissing her with everything he had. The intensity of his release left him breathless as he finally pulled away.
“I love you, Violet.”
“I love you too, Roman.” She snuggled against him, not moving away from him. Not that he cared. He loved the feel of her slight form covering him.
When her breathing evened out, he slipped out of her and arranged them, so they were comfortable. He watched her sleep for who knew how long, enjoying the sight of his sated woman. The idea of making this a permanent situation between them hit him square in the chest. Going back to the way things were in his life before his date with Violet made his stomach clench. He’d never be able to walk away from her, and he was grateful she’d agreed to moving in together.
“Thank you, baby.” Cuddling her, he closed his eyes. Damn, he was a lucky fucking man.