Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
DEX
Rome is still shaking with barely restrained rage as he takes my hand and tugs me through the crowd. I can’t tell who he’s angry with. Obviously, the vendor. Maybe the security guard?
Maybe me?
He says absolutely nothing until we’re in the parking lot, and before I can think to lift my hands and ask, he shoves me against the car door and kisses the breath out of my lungs.
When he rips himself away and takes several steps back, I feel dazed and a little dizzy. My tongue darts out to lick my lips, and the only reason I’m even aware I’m doing that is Rome’s eyes track the motion.
‘Are you okay?’ I finally manage to ask.
He gives his head an almost violent shake, and then he laughs. The sound is high and tight—half-hysterical. He passes a single hand down his face with a chest-deep groan I’m not even sure he’s making on purpose.
He breathes out, then locks eyes with me again. It’s the same intensity that he had the first night when he climbed into the Uber with me and followed me home.
Oh god, is he going to do the same thing here? In this parking lot? He’s worth risking a lot of things, but I’m not sure an indecent exposure and public sex charge is one of them. Though with the way he stalks forward, like a fucking starving tiger, I rethink that.
Whatever he wants to do might totally be worth it.
‘You keep doing everything right!’ his hands finally say—they’re flying in front of me, full of accusation.
I stare, then lift my fist. ‘I’m…sorry?’
He huffs and slaps my hand away. ‘No!’
I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to say.
He meets my gaze. ‘I keep waiting for you to get it wrong, but you keep getting it right!’ This time, I don’t answer. I wait. ‘You never ask me to voice. You’re patient with me. You don’t get angry when I point out your mistakes.’
Are these meant to be character flaws? I don’t understand his anger.
‘You saved me by not trying to save me.’
I frown. ‘I don’t understand.’
His scoff carries across the parking lot. ‘Of course you don’t.’
He lifts a hand, closes the distance between us, and for a second, I think he’s going to take me by the throat, which I seriously wouldn’t mind, but instead, he cards his fingers through my hair, shoving a collection of locks off my forehead.
His fingers trail over my cheek, my jawline, gently coasting over my Adam’s apple, where they stop. ‘Say my name.’
‘Rome.’ His name sign was one Robbie showed me. An R in a wavy pattern by his temple. Something to do with his hair.
He shakes his head, then taps one finger on my throat. ‘Say.’
Oh.
I swallow heavily. I’ve tried not to use my voice with him at all, and this feels…almost wrong. “Rome.” The R catches in the back of my throat, the M stuttering on my lips. The whole sound rumbles against my throat, and he presses his fingers harder against it, right where my pulse is hammering.
His eyes are all pupil.
He glances behind him, then lets out another long, heavy breath. ‘Home.’
‘Yours or mine?’ I ask. Unless he wants us to go to separate ones. I’ll comply, but I’ll be fucking shattered.
He waits a beat, then signs, ‘Mine. I don’t want to risk getting interrupted by a cat chewing on my ankles.’
I laugh. The sound is shaky, but Rome’s free hand is still touching my throat, and he’s obviously feeling it. ‘Okay.’
He pauses, then asks, ‘Do I get a grade today?’
I shake my head, and when he looks outraged, I explain. ‘Today doesn’t count. Not after that.’ I gesture weakly toward the shitty T-shirt vendor. ‘Not fair. Start new date next time. New grade.’
He bows his head and nods before looking back up at me. ‘Okay. We can go to your house after.’
After. After. There is so much promise in that single sign. After what, I want to ask. But I don’t. I want him to surprise me.
‘I know you have to take care of your cat,’ he adds.
It’s as I turn and reach for the door handle that I realize he’s including himself in the after. We can go to your house after. Him and me.
This feels like it means something big. Like he’s saying something without saying it. I’m afraid to ask. I’m afraid it’ll shatter this spell. But I’m not sure how much longer I can go without knowing how he really feels about me.
I’ll ask him as soon as I grow the courage. Right now, I just want to get us to his place. I want to help him forget what just happened.
‘Okay, come on. I’ll drive.’
He nods, and this time, I open the door for him, letting him slide into the passenger-side seat before jogging around the front of the car and slipping behind the wheel.
I start it up, feeling the rumble beneath my feet, and then hold out my hand.
He twines his fingers around mine, lays his head back against the headrest, and sighs.
I can’t believe what that man put him through. It makes me want to run back there and punch him right in the throat. But being part of this community for a little over three years, I’ve seen the discrimination they face. I’ve witnessed it more times than I can count.
I hate it each and every time.
My stomach roils and twists, and I feel my entire body heat with rage the longer I think about it.
Maybe I need Rome just as much as he needs me. We need to help each other forget what just happened.
Yes, this is a good plan.
As soon as I pull into his parking spot, I turn off the car and hop out, opening the passenger-side door before he can even begin to move, and I haul him out.
My hands are curled into the front of his shirt, and I shove him lightly against the car, a grunt leaving his lips just as my mouth slams onto his.
He moans loudly, and I swallow it down, tasting him, just a sip before wrenching my lips away and grabbing onto his hand.
‘Hurry,’ I say as I pull him forward. I vaguely remember where he’s staying for the time being but end up going the wrong way. He grunts and pulls me in the opposite direction, his lips curled up as he tries not to laugh.
‘You horny?’ he asks, and I roll my eyes. ‘You can’t see straight?’
I drag him close to me and curl my fingers into his hair, tilting his head back slightly and licking up his neck.
His breath leaves his lungs, and I feel his hard cock against my thigh. I grind against it, just once, not wanting to give any of the neighbors a show.
I pull my head back and meet his gaze. His Adam’s apple bobs, and then he’s rushing, turning around and pulling me toward his place. His fingers fumble with the keys, but he manages to open the door, and as soon as it’s shut behind us, we’re on each other.
Clothes are ripped off, littering the ground as our lips meet, our bodies grinding against each other.
“More,” he moans as I tear his boxers down his thighs. His cock appears, glistening and red.
I want to fall to my knees and suck him down my throat. And I will, just not yet.
I need to get inside of him.
I lift him up and walk us toward the couch, his legs curling around my back, his cock brushing against my abdomen. When we fall, we go down together, my body against his, our hips arching against each other.
I want to fuck him on every surface in this place and then move to mine and do the same thing.
‘Lube,’ Rome signs.
‘You think I’m going to fuck you?’
His cheeks are flushed, his hips arching up against my own.
‘Yes, you have to. I need it.’ His hand moves between our bodies and brushes over my sensitive tip. ‘And you do too.’
‘I do.’ I bite down on his neck, and he gives me the most beautiful groan. I do it again and then decide I need to taste him. Just once, before I fuck him.
My lips trail down his heaving chest, licking the rings in his nipples, biting my way down his abs. And when I finally make it to his cock, I lick up the underside of it, twisting my tongue around the piercing.
He leans up on his elbows to watch me, and I make sure to meet his gaze as I bring him into my mouth.
The sight of his eyes on me makes my cock leak against the cushions.
He sits heavily on my tongue as I bring him into the back of my throat.
My cheeks hollow out, and I taste him for a long second before moving.
My head bobs, my free hand massaging his balls as I work him toward the edge.
I can hear the sounds he’s making, rumbles in the back of his throat as he tries to hold back. But I won’t let him. I want him loose and ready for me when I fuck into that tight hole, and then I want him to come again.
I want our first time in three years to be something memorable.
I need him to think of only me.
“Fuck,” he says, using his voice. “Dex.”
The sweet way he says that has me moaning around his thick length. It sets him off, the vibrations moving down his dick and to his balls. I feel them draw up, tightening, one of his hands moving into my hair and thrusting me onto him roughly.
He comes with a shout, and I swallow him down, drinking from his cock until he’s completely spent. And then I lick my way up his body until our lips meet once more, tongues slashing against each other as I drag my still-hard dick against his skin.
‘Fuck me,’ he says, pulling my head back from his swollen lips so I can see him.
I don’t even hesitate. I stand up and grab onto the base of my dick, the sight of him lying on the couch almost too erotic.
‘Lube?’
‘Bathroom.’
I stalk toward it, grabbing it with a swipe of my hand and moving back to where Rome is.
He’s shifted and is now on his hands and knees, ass up, face pressed into the couch.
His eyes follow my movement as I uncap the bottle and squirt some on my fingers.
He reaches a hand back and peels his cheeks apart for me.
God, this guy.
‘Safe no condom?’ I ask him, and he nods.
‘Yes.’
‘Same.’