Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Romeo
My feet pump into the sand as I run along the beach.
It is early morning and few people are around yet. Still sleeping no doubt or getting ready for work.
As the morning sun beats down on my back, my skin slicks with sweat.
When I woke up this morning with Nell tucked against my chest, it set off fireworks of panic in me. I lay there for a few minutes, with her softly snoring beside me, her chest rising and falling, those amazing tits moving against my side.
Her skin was warm, supple to the touch, but my heart was racing; my body felt itchy with the need to move and run.
I needed time to think and gather my thoughts.
Never had I wanted to settle down with any woman after Daniella; she fucking tainted love and commitment for all other women.
Until now.
Nell makes these emotions bubble to the surface, and even though I like those feelings, a side of me is thinking that this is all too fucking good to be true.
I have dated in the past, yes, but none have raised these feelings in me before. Not even Daniella, and I was going to ask that bitch to marry me.
My heart just feels different when I am around Nell: my body is more relaxed, and she takes my mind off the clubs.
Last night when we fucked, it was more than I was expecting. When I got back to our room and found her upset, and learned the reason why, I was ready to march to my ex’s room and demand that she fucking leave the island, but Nell’s gaze kept me in place next to her.
It is crazy how, in the little time we have known each other, this thing building between us feels so right.
Seeing the hotel coming closer, my mind is still frantic over my feelings for Nell, but I nod to staff as I enter the grounds. More people are now around the pool, taking in the morning sun before it gets crazy with other guests.
“Romeo.” I hear Asher’s voice.
He walks toward me, his posture rigid, and he is frowning.
“Good run?” he asks.
“Yeah.” I take the bottle of water he offers me, downing the whole thing in one swig.
“Why didn’t you call? I would have gone with you.”
Shaking my head, I walk over to the poolside bar and pick up another bottle. I open it and gulp down half of it, while Asher stands next to me, waiting.
He can sense that something is up, but I also know that something has pissed him off with how his body language is.
“I needed to clear my head. Something happened last night that I wanted but wasn’t sure how it would play out. I woke up this morning in a mild panic and needed to run.”
“Nell.” I nod. “You slept with her.” It is not a question but an observation.
“Yes.”
“So why the freak-out? This is a weeklong deal, right? Once the wedding is over and we go back home, you two will find a way to break up and let the family know.” I look him in the eyes, leaning on the bar. He cocks a brow at me, a grin sliding across his face.
“You like her.”
He mirrors my pose, and I look over my shoulder, making sure that none of my family is around.
“I do. This was not supposed to happen, man. She was helping me out to keep my mother off my back, and I was helping her out, adding some excitement to her life after that fucker hurt her.”
“So why not date her for real when we get back? It seems that my warning about you hurting her may not be needed.” He shrugs like there is nothing to his statement.
I stay quiet and think over what he said, and Asher lets me think. He knows that I get into my head when I need to think and sometimes I am quiet for a while trying to work through everything.
A group of kids comes running at the pool, jumping in, and I turn to see them, smiling at how carefree they are.
“Before I forget, I heard Daniella tell Mia that she plans on breaking you and Nell up before the wedding. This is fucked up, man. I do not understand why she will not just let you go; she is the one who cheated.”
“Daniella needs people to want and desire her, for some reason. I think it stems from her daddy issues. Last I heard, she was fucking that NBA star.”
“Brother, she goes through men like a kid goes through diapers.”
I chuckle because he is not wrong. Daniella is known for sleeping with men for status, so it still surprises me that she is still hounding me after all these years. I am no one compared to some of the men she has publicly dated.
“True. She really fucking hurt Nell yesterday with the shit that she said. Uncle Mario said that he would deal with it. Telling Nell that she is whoring herself out to be here with me.”
“What the hell? She needs to be put in her place before she runs Nell off and now this new threat. Fuck knows what she will do next, Rome.”
I smile hearing him shorten my name, after Nell did it yesterday, and she was embarrassed about it, since she thought she has to have my permission to do so.
“Why the goofy look on your face?”
“Nell called me ‘Rome’ yesterday, and she was embarrassed because she thought she had to ask my permission to do so. It was cute as fuck.”
He laughs loudly. “Damn, brother, you are fucking gone for this girl.”
“Honestly, Ash, I am not fucking sure what the hell is going on in my head. One second, I can see something with her, then in a flash, I can’t help but think I am dragging her into a world that could hurt her.
Owning clubs, women throw themselves at me, and men threaten to take my business— you know how it has been. Do I want her in that life?”
“Nell is sweet and innocent but, man, I have seen a feisty side to her. I think she will handle your life just right,” he says. “Plus, I will be there right at your side to protect her, you know this.” His voice turns serious and I dip my chin at him.
“Appreciate it, brother.”
His gaze flickers over my shoulder and he straightens before looking back at me.
“Incoming.”
“Romeo.” I hear my ex calling me.
“What can I do for you, Daniella?” I sigh.
Stepping closer to me, I inch back, not wanting her to touch me. She winces, and I see sorrow in her eyes, but I know how good of an actress Daniella can be.
“I wanted to say that I am sorry for what I did to us.” Her voice is a little high-pitched, showing her lie. “It was all a mistake, and I have regretted it ever since. With the both of us being here, I thought maybe we could go for a drink or to get something to eat.”
My eyes widen at her words, then she moves to lean her arm on the bar, forcing me to give Asher my back. Her hand reaches out, touching my chest and I move again, but she follows me.
“I know that you and that girl are nothing special; what we had was, and I know that I messed that up, but, Romeo, I want us to try again.” There is a touch of haughty in her tone.
Her words piss me off, and I straighten to my full height, towering over her. She looks at me with wide eyes, fear flashing in them even though she knows that I would never lay a hand on a woman in anger.
“You do not get to say anything about Nell; she is not your concern. She is mine. You threw us away, and that is something that I cannot forgive or forget, and frankly I never want to. I see the type of woman that you are, Daniella, and I never want that in my life. Nell is something more, different, and she is fucking perfect for me.”
“I was perfect for you once.” Her voice is quieter, but I hear the undertone of spitefulness.
“No, Daniella, you were there and I was blinded.”
Her mouth pops open, her eyes widening in shock that I told her that she was not perfect for me. She hates people not wanting her.
“You are lying,” she scoffs, straightening her spine and showing her bravado once again.
“Nope.” I cross my arms, covering my chest, and stare her down.
I need her gone before she messes things up between me and Nell.
I see a flicker of mischief and defiance in her eyes before she lunges. Her arms go around my neck and she kisses me.
Shock radiates through me for a split second, before I pull my arms from between us and put them on her hips to push her away.
“What the fuck?” I snap, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.
“What the hell, Daniella?” Asher growls at her, pulling her away.
She smirks and looks behind me. “I knew she was not for this life and not for you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Rome, Nell just ran out here like a bat out of hell. She saw this bitch kiss you.”
My gaze swings back to my ex and I growl, my anger spiking to an all new level.
“You are fucking done.” I pull out my phone and hit the contact for my uncle.
“Romeo,” he answers.
“Uncle Mario.” Daniella’s eyes go wide with fear. “I need Daniella off the island as soon as possible. She just kissed me without my consent, in turn hurting my girl. Nell saw it and ran off. I am going to find her now, but I wanted you to know what has happened.”
“She is best friends with my daughter, nephew. I cannot have my daughter unhappy that her best friend is not at her wedding,” he tells me, and I sigh, hating that he sees it that way.
He has been warned about what Daniella has been doing, and reports said that he was not happy with her.
“I am sorry to do this, Uncle, but if Daniella is at the wedding, Nell and I will not be there.” I hate to make threats, but my ex needs to know that her actions have consequences.
We are locked in a stare; Daniella’s eyes are filled with tears, but they don’t bother me; in fact, they set off no fucking sympathy at all for her.
I hear him sigh and he calls for my auntie, but I do not hear what she has to say as it is muffled.
“It will be done. I will get her sent home.”
“Thank you, Uncle.” I end the call. “Pack your shit, you are gone.”
I look to Asher. “I need to find Nell. Deal with the trash, will you?”
“Will do, brother.”
With that, I leave them there and go in search of my girl to make it up to her. I just fucking pray that my feisty little one listens to me.