Chapter 4
Chapter four
NOELLE
I don’t remember when I fell asleep, but being wrapped in these warm soft blankets and the fluffy pillow, I don’t want to wake up.
But Roman had other plans. The bed shakes like I am experiencing an earthquake.
“Wake up, you are about to be late.” It sounds like a low command.
I groan into the pillow. “Five more minutes.”
“Fuck it,” he murmurs.
I smile onto the pillow because he gives up on me. But I’m wrong. The sheet, the blanket, the pillows, and I all tumble down to the carpeted floor.
I sit up, surrounded by pillows, a blanket, and a beige sheet over my head. I begin to fight with the sheet, and for some reason, I can’t get from under it. My fingers scrape against the soft material as I’m trying to get out. Panic begins to set in.
“Roman, get me out.” I become frantic; my lungs tighten. “GET ME OUT.”
The walls of the sheet feel like they’re closing in. Suppose I am stuck in here forever and I die.
“GET ME OUT NOW!”
The sheet is lifted from my head and thrown to the side.
“Hey, hey.” Roman sits beside me, pulling me by my shoulder. “I’m sorry. Hey.”
I push him away and stand. “There is no reason to be a jerk. I was about to get up.”
I don’t bother listening to him. Turning, I head into the bathroom.
It doesn’t take me long to get ready. I tighten my ponytail and look into the mirror. My face is bare.
“Shit, I have to put on makeup. I can’t take pics with a bare face.” I grab my makeup bag and phone.
It doesn’t take me long to find music, and I begin to put on my makeup.
A little contour here, some lashes there, Fenty lip gloss here. When I take a final look, I look gorgeous.
I blink when I see the time. 6:10.
Damn it. Pictures started at 6:00 sharp. I dash out of the room and hurry down the stairs.
As I expect, the whole family is already gathered downstairs near the Christmas tree. What I didn’t expect was the production around it. Lights, soft boxes, someone holding a reflector.
Elizabeth smiles and extends her hand to me. I take it. “I am so sorry for being late.”
She taps my hand and places it under her arm. “Roman told his father you weren’t feeling too well. How are you feeling now?”
I smile. “Better, thank you.”
“I love this cashmere sweater and the white shirt. I love a woman with style,” she says.
“Thank you.” I look down at my dark green cable crew neck sweater. I tug at the cuff of the shirt.
Elizabeth lets me go and claps. “Now that everyone is here, let’s begin.”
“I don’t need to be in the pictures,” I comment. Not forgetting why I am here in the first place. There was no reason really for me to be in the pictures.
Elizabeth throws her head back as she laughs. “You’re the first girl in years that Roman has brought here since his breakup. You are getting in these pictures, honey.”
“The breakup” squints as she watches me from across the room.
Roman comes to my side and holds my hand. “I am sorry about earlier. I didn’t know; I wasn’t thinking. I was wrong.”
“I am claustrophobic, so I freaked out.”
“Honestly, I was trying to pull the sheet off you. My aim wasn’t to make you stumble.” His eyes search my face.
“Apology accepted.”
“Are you both done being in love?” Elizabeth asks.
Roman doesn’t reply to her; he just tugs me gently in the direction of the tree.
As directed, I walk to the front of the Christmas tree. Two chairs were placed in front of us.
Roman stands at my side, Tessa stands next to me, and Liam is at her side. Elizabeth and Cliff sit in front of us.
Another forty-five-minutes pass, and finally, family portraits are finished.
“How about a picture with immediate family?” The photographer says. I move behind the photographer.
I watch as the boys stand around Cliff. Roman is the spitting image of Cliff; he just has salt and pepper in his hair and his goatee.
“They’re practically twins, right?” Tessa stands beside me. I look around to make sure it’s me she is talking to.
“Yes. Well, he is his son after all,” I reply, watching as Roman folds his arms. His face is serious, while Liam is beaming like sunshine.
“Like father, like son. So, it makes me wonder, why you?” Tessa says, her eyes staring straight ahead at the men taking the picture.
I tilt my head to the side. “Because he didn’t want you.”
Her head instantly turns toward me. I shrug and continue watching the shoot.
If she starts it, I want her to understand that I will finish it.
“Fantastic.” The photographer looks down at his camera and nods.
Roman walks straight to me. Liam stops to look at the laptop to see the pictures.
“You okay?” he asks.
“Yes, I am great.” I smile up at him. His hands rest gently on my hip. My body presses softly against his side. Right, we have to look like a new couple in love. I place my arm around his waist.
The photographer looks back at Roman. “How about a picture with your mom?”
I feel Roman stiffen and look to Elizabeth. I see the small panic on her face. “Actually, I want one with the boys and their fiancées.”
I look up at Roman, hoping that he would say “no.”
Instead, I’m moving forward with my hand in Roman’s.
“We will go first,” he says. We stand in front of the tree side by side.
I lick my lips nervously.
“Um, would you two please touch each other? Maybe put your hand on her hip.” The photograph says as he is demonstrating the pose.
The camera clicks, and my heart is thumping in my ear.
“No, it’s not right.” The photographer walks up to us. “I know you love this girl. I see the way you look at her.”
He moves my arms to Roman’s chest, and my face is pressed against it.
“Yes, Roman. That’s it,” the photographer shouts.
I close my eyes and press my nose into Roman’s sweater. He smells expensive and delicious. What is that scent? Sandalwood?
“Ok, now how about a kiss?”
My eyes fly open. I don’t know who says it, but I hope their butt crack burns.
I told him we should have practiced. Now look at us looking awkward.
I chuckle, giving the audience the biggest smile. “You don’t want to see that.”
Elizabeth smiles. “We do. Practice now so it won’t be weird for the wedding.”
“The wedding…right.” I look back at Roman.
His face is stoic. God, this is about to be the flattest, most unseasoned kiss ever.
“Don’t be shy,” someone says.
Roman stares at me, and I feel like the room blurs. “You okay with this?” he asks.
Is that his thumb on my cheek?
“Are you?” I ask.
He shrugs. “Let’s give the people what they want.”
I look at his bottom lip, and I didn’t realize how juicy and red it was before.
I hold the top of his waist. Both of his hands are on my face. His green stare becomes lazy. He rubs his nose against mine. His lips graze mine, and like a starved woman, I open my mouth slightly for more.
My fingers dig into his waist. This is teasing.
“Roman,” I whisper. His mouth is hesitant, but he presses his lips to mine, and I almost moan out loud.
My stomach flutters as his tongue slips past my lips. He sighs, and I tiptoe, wanting—no, needing—more of him.
ROMAN
She is moaning into my mouth. I feel her nails digging into me.
She mewls in frustration from my hold. My thumb grazes against the side of her face.
Her lips are pillowy soft. But her kiss is like she is starving for me.
Her tongue touches mine, and I drop my hands from her face to her ass and pull her into me.
I need her to feel exactly what the hell she is doing to me. Fuck, I want more.
Someone clears their throat, and I hear clapping.
“Alright, Roman!” someone shouts.
I pull away slowly; Noelle’s eyes are closed, but they flutter open slowly. Her eyes go from sexy to shocked. She comes down from her toes. Her grip slackens. I laugh as my thumb wipes the side of her face.
She tries to talk, but nothing comes out.
“That was perfect. Pictures are amazing. That’s a wrap,” the photographer shouts.
I ignore him and watch Noelle trying to regain herself.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
She nods and looks away. “I just need to use the bathroom.”
“Down the hall behind the second stairway,” I reply.
Noelle nods. I watch as she walks away; there is a little wobble in her legs. She pauses and regains her balance.
I exhale, trying to center myself. A simple kiss shouldn’t make me rock hard. Maybe Cole was right; I need to get laid.
“I have so many questions to ask your ass.”
There is only one person who talks to me like this, and it’s my cousin Tillie.
I turn around to her standing with her arms folded, as is the norm. She is neat as a pin, not a hair out of place.
“Your hair was black last week; now it’s blonde.” I open my arms and pull her in for a hug.
She pulls me tight and whispers. “Who is the chick?”
“This is the first time you’ve seen me in months, and that’s the question you ask?”
Tillie laughs. “I speak to you almost every day.”
I look around to make sure no one is hearing our conversation. I take Tillie’s elbow and direct her to the furthest window.
“What are you up to, Roman?” Tillie whispers and pulls her elbow away.
“If I tell you, you have to play along.” I look around the room, making sure no one is near us.
“If you tell me, you also have to tell Ollie,” Tillie states. Of course I do, because the twins tell each other everything.
“Where is Ollie?” I ask.
Tillie shrugs. “I think he went to the washroom. Now spill.”
I sigh and begin to explain it all: Cole’s suggestion, Anushka’s absence, and then Noelle.
Tillie stares at me, blinking.
“Say something.”
Tillie chuckles. “I am speechless.”
“You’re speechless; never.”
I turn, facing the shoot.
“All of this because you didn’t want Tessa to think you are a lame-ass?”
“No, it’s not that.” I counter.
“Okay, but Cole? You listened to Cole?”
“In hindsight, Cole was not the best person to ask for relationship advice.”
“But I saw that kiss, and if you two are acting, you deserve a Grammy.” Tillie folds her arms over her chest.
“It’s an Oscar.”
“Oscar, Grammy, MTV Award—I don’t give a fuck.”