Chapter Twenty-Seven
Romy
I wake with a start, a chill racing through me. It’s then I realize it’s because the room is cold. Nothing nefarious. Caius is not in bed.
Groaning, I roll over, feeling the bruising on my skull as soon as the back of my head hits the pillow. There’s a reason I slept on my stomach last night and it wasn’t so Caius could easily rail me from behind.
I mean, he did that too, but that wasn’t the reason.
My core tightens at the memories of last night. I’d told myself that sex with Caius wasn’t life-altering, but that’d been a lie. He proved that over and over again with each orgasm he gave me.
Normal people don’t have sex lives this good. There’s no way. Whatever me and Caius have is special. It’s like when our bodies connect, our souls tangle together as well. I can’t compare the sensation to anything I’ve experienced in my life.
He consumes me.
Someone knocks on the bedroom door. I’m yanking the sheet up over my bare chest as the person saunters in.
“Theo?”
His eyes tear from my now-covered chest to my face as he closes the door behind him. I’m pretty sure I just gave him an eyeful. Based on the bulge in his jeans, I’d say I’m right.
Great.
“Morning,” he says, plopping down on the edge of the bed. “Brought you your favorite.”
I sit up against the headboard, careful to keep the covers over me. It’s awkward to be fully naked with him here. I’m pretty sure the room smells like sex, too.
“Should we go to the other room?” I ask, voice hoarse.
“Nah,” he says as he sets the drink carrier down. “Kaitlyn is watching an annoying show. Plus, I wanted to talk to you about last night. She didn’t need to hear about all that drama.”
I agree, but I still feel uncomfortable with him here. “Let me at least get dressed first.”
He stares at me for a long beat, eyebrows pinched together like he might argue, but eventually nods. “Can’t promise I won’t peek.”
Though his words tease, he does close his eyes. I hurry off the bed, streak across the room to my suitcase, and snag some pajamas. When I pass him to make it to the bathroom, his eyes are still closed.
Thank goodness.
After a quick pee, brushing of my fuzzy teeth, and a swipe of a cold washcloth over some crusty places leftover from last night, I throw on my sleep shorts and T-shirt, and exit the bathroom. He’s sitting against the headboard, sipping away on his iced coffee. I mimic him on the other side of the bed, but on top of the covers this time. He hands me a drink that looks like his.
“Who’d you have to bribe this time?” I ask, pleased when I take a sip and it’s pumpkin-flavored despite Christmas looming on us.
“Same girl. I think she has the hots for me. Gave me a two-for-one.” He holds up his half-gone drink. “Pumpkin isn’t my favorite, but it was free.”
“I bet you tipped a lot more than what they both would’ve cost if you had to pay for yours too.”
He chuckles. “You know me well.”
I relax, thankful he brought me my favorite. “So last night sucked.”
“You think?” He shakes his head. “Dad filled me in on why Caius was beat all to hell. Seems like he did a worse number on your brother.”
“I need to call my father and check to see how he’s doing,” I say with reluctance. “Even though I am disgusted with Bastian right now.”
“I’ll save you the call,” he says. “Dad spoke to Gideon. They kept Bastian overnight. He was pretty concussed. Since he was having trouble staying coherent, they wanted to observe him. Gideon said he’ll be leaving later this morning.” He motions to my head. “How are you? Dad said you told them Bastian slammed you against the wall, which started all this with my brother.”
“Sore, but I’ll survive. Speaking of your brother. Where is he?”
“Not sure. Wasn’t here when I showed up. Kaitlyn hadn’t seen him either.”
I wait for him to bring up the reason for their hasty exit last night, but he doesn’t mention it. As I sip my drink, I ask a question that’s been plaguing me.
“What was Caius like? When you were a kid?”
Theo chuckles. “Just like now. But maybe not as effortlessly cool. Not like cool, but more like Ice Man. Back then, you could see the struggle within him. It’s why I said he has demons. Guess you saw them firsthand last night.”
I’ve seen them a couple of times.
He’d gone into a similar rage with Gareth and he’s dead now. That’s a secret I’ll take to my grave.
“So yesterday, while waiting for our Uber,” Theo says, body tensing, “Kaitlyn told me some stuff.”
“Oh yeah?”
“She said she already told you.” He sets his drink down on the bedside table and rubs at his temple. “Shit’s fucked up, babe.”
I barely refrain from recoiling at his pet name for me. At one time, I’d used his attraction toward me and even encouraged it because I thought it could help me. Now I wonder how I can backtrack. I think a hard conversation is in our near future. Rather than dealing with it now, I nod sadly.
“Horrible,” I agree. “Vivienne did the same with me, too.”
“I’m sorry. That’s…” He huffs in anger. “I don’t understand sick fucks like that.”
“I don’t either.”
“She also said…”
“What?” I ask, voice small. I know. I don’t know that I want to hear it again, though.
“Gareth. He, uh, fuck.” He buries his face in his hands. “What kind of perverted freak does that? I loved him, babe. I looked up to him. Now his death is tainted. I’m fucking glad he’s dead because if he wasn’t, I might’ve put a bullet hole in his dick before putting a matching one in his forehead.”
“She’s safe now,” I assure him, gently touching his arm. “All we can do now is support her going forward. She’s counting on us to keep her safe.”
“I know. I’m trying. I just get so pissed, you know?”
I do know. It’s horrible. My trauma from Vivienne isn’t as fresh as Kaitlyn’s, but it hurts nonetheless. I’ve been psyching myself up to read more of that awful woman’s journal, but I’m afraid. The little bit I read before was painful.
Think of something else.
Don’t think of her.
My mind is happy to oblige.
“Wake up, love,” a voice murmurs against the shell of my ear. “You’ve been humping my leg for the past thirty minutes in your sleep. I can’t ignore it anymore. Feel how hard you make me.”
Caius guides my hand to his cock. It’s hard as he said and the slit on the crown is slick with pre-cum. My insides are raw and sore. I don’t know if I can take him again.
“I’ll suck you off,” I say sleepily. “You can teach me how.”
He groans as if this idea is enticing. “Another day. Believe me, I’m going to hold you to it. Right now, I need inside of you. How else will I mark you as mine?”
My skin prickles and my core throbs with desire. “I’m sore.”
“I’ll get it nice and wet first, okay?”
“Mmm. Okay.”
I can’t see his face in the dark room, but I feel his lips as they kiss down my chest to my stomach. He lingers there, teasing my bellybutton with his tongue and then he goes to the place I really want him. No longer shy with this man, I crudely part my thighs, giving him all the access he needs.
His mouth is wickedly skilled. He doesn’t need to see in order to pleasure me. It’s as if he can do it on instinct. His breath is hot on my sore, tender lips, making me tremble. I groan when his tongue starts lapping all the sensitive skin there.
“Oooh,” I whimper. “That’s nice.”
He chuckles. “I’m going to make you beg for my cock. I’ll get you so worked up you won’t care if it hurts. You’re going to want my dick inside you.”
His words are a turn-on, but it’s the quick flicks of his tongue followed by the harsh sucking on my clit that has me losing it.
As my body ignites with fiery need, I know he’s right. The soreness doesn’t feel like a factor right now. All I want is to come.
“…didn’t use to always be that way.” Theo shakes my shoulder, rousing me. “Finish drinking your coffee. You’re falling asleep. My story isn’t that boring, babe.”
Warmth floods my cheeks. I did drift off but not to sleep. I’d been thinking about last night.
“Sorry,” I say with a fake yawn. “Last night was rough.”
It was at the event, but then it was rough because Caius made it his mission to wreck my body. After he licked me to oblivion, he was right. I begged for him. He didn’t disappoint and easily slid into my primed body. The kisses he gave me tasted like sex and desperation. I loved every second of it.
“You’re drifting again.” Theo shoots me an annoyed look. “Finish drinking. You stopped. You need your caffeine.”
I know he’s right. I pick up my cup that I’d rested on the bed beside me and chug until I get a brain freeze, which makes my already sore head throb furiously. Theo laughs when I make a face.
I smack at his arm. “Don’t be a dick.”
“We should go to breakfast. Drink up. When you finish, I’ll take you someplace good.”
Breakfast sounds good. It also sounds like a lot of effort. I yawn, this time a real one. Definitely need to drink more. When I polish off the rest of my drink, Theo claps as though he’s proud.
“Go shower, woman. I’m starving.”
Sleepily, I force myself out of bed. I grab real clothes this time—jeans, sweater, bra, and underwear—and head for the shower.
The shower does nothing to wake me up. In fact, I think it makes me more tired. I stand under the hot spray, letting it relax me far too much. I’m swaying when someone pounds on the bathroom door.
“You okay in there, babe?”
I jolt awake and turn off the faucet. “Yep. Drying off now.”
I’m sluggish, definitely dragging. Maybe that hit to the head was worse than I thought. I should have gone to the hospital and had it checked out like Dad wanted me to do.
I don’t feel well.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
I drag my eyes open and am confused to find myself lying on the bathroom floor. My ribs and side hurt. Did I pass out?
“Dammit, Romy, I’m coming in!”
The door splinters and then someone forces their way in. The chill that washes over me makes me shiver so hard my teeth chatter. He curses and kneels beside me.
“You’re hurt. I think something’s wrong with your head,” Theo says, panic in his voice. “Try not to move.”
I’m still soaking wet from my shower, but I never made it to my clothes. My bones hurt and my muscles feel useless.
He covers my nakedness with my towel I’d dropped. “Relax. I’m going to pick you up and put you in bed. I’ll call Caius to come back. We’ll get you some food, babe, and you’ll feel good as new.”
His caring nature makes tears burn my eyes. I want to thank him, but my mouth doesn’t work.
I black out again but wake when I’m laid out on the bed on my side. It’s cold and I shiver. My teeth start clattering again.
“I know,” Theo croons. “I’m going to make sure you’re warm.”
His hands brush over my ass, which must have been an accident as he pulls the covers over me. I relax now that I’m covered.
“How’s your head?” Theo asks, gently rolling me onto my back. “Tell me what’s going on.”
I try to focus on his face, but my eyes close. I’m jostled awake again, his hand on my chest as he shakes me. Concern flashes in his eyes. Does he know his hand is on my breast?
“Stay awake,” he murmurs, removing his hand from my breast to stroke my cheek. “Don’t die on me.”
This makes me smile. I want to tell him I’m not going to die. Words remain trapped in my mouth. I’ve almost closed my eyes when he dips his mouth near mine. This action makes my heart rate stutter.
He makes a sigh of happiness when his mouth presses to mine. With his fingers, he tugs on my chin to make my mouth part, then slides his tongue into my mouth.
A small moan escapes me.
No.
He moans too as though he thinks I’m turned on by this. I’m not. I want him to stop. “Fuck, I love you, babe. We’re going to figure this out.”
What is he talking about?
His kisses are desperate, frantic, starved. All I can do is breathe heavily as tears form. I focus on making my arm move. It tingles and feels so weak. He continues to eat me alive with his hungry kisses as I try to make my limbs work. My finger twitches. Then I’m able to curl my fingers. With all my might, I fling my arm up, relieved when it makes contact with his cheek.
It’s not a hard smack with my half-closed fist, but it causes him to stop. The heartbreak and realization in his eyes make me feel bad for him. He’s got it all wrong.
When he dips again to kiss me, I hit him again, this time with more force.
His eyebrows furl together and anger flashes across his face. “You strung me along in the beginning,” he says, tone bitter. “Now that you’re fucking Caius, I don’t matter. Don’t forget what he’s done to you, babe.”
He pulls away and I’m grateful. Now he needs to call an ambulance because something’s wrong with me. I need Caius.
“I really hoped it wouldn’t come to this,” Theo says, once again sitting down beside me. “You’re more resistant than the first time we met. Unfortunate.”
Wait.
The first time we met?
He drugged me.
He drugged me and it didn’t work like last time.
It’s then I see the needle. I don’t even feel the prick of its bite. The only reason I know it’s in my system is warmth flows through me like a river of bliss.
My eyes close a moment later.
What happens to me next?