Chapter 15
Billie
We didn’t have to wear our skates the first two nights of training, but we do on the third night and my feet are killing me.
Nita fronts the money for the skates—and takes twenty bucks out of each check until they’re paid for—but then we get to keep them.
They’re nice too. Honestly, a lot more comfy than the ones we rented in Venice, but I’m not used to them so after five hours, my feet are toast.
Other than that, working at the diner has been a blast so far.
I’ve met some nice people, Nita treats us well and despite being the owner, she’s very hands-on.
I get the feeling she’s a little friendlier with me because of Athena and Rome, but I plan to work hard so it never appears that she’s playing favorites or that I’m taking advantage of our friendship.
It’s nice to have some new friends, though.
Nita’s my boss so it’s a little different, but Athena and I talk almost every day, even if it’s just a few texts checking in.
It feels like the kind of friendship that could become important to me, and that worries me a little because I don’t want to lose it if things blow up with Rome.
I’ve made friends at work too. I stayed after training to have a drink with some of the others and it’s late when I get home.
I smell like fried food and stale beer, so I take a quick shower, change into my favorite sweats and T-shirt, and check my phone.
No messages from Rome yet tonight, but that’s probably a good thing because I have four chapters to read before class tomorrow, and I don’t want to get behind.
I’m taking a hefty class load because I want to take advantage of the scholarship and opportunity to double up on classes, but it’s starting to catch up to me.
And this thing with Rome is a distraction.
Honestly, I don’t know what we’re doing.
He’s too old for me.
He’s a professional athlete which, despite what I tell my brother, is a little intimidating.
He’s been married and divorced twice, something I have zero experience with.
And my gut tells me he’s really experienced in bed.
Not that I’m some simpering virgin from my grandma’s historical romance novels. I’ve been around the block a time or two, but not like what I imagine a professional athlete does. Hell, I know my brother is wild.
I used to tease him about it, but he’d just laugh and say, “This is exactly why I don’t want you involved with guys like me.”
I don’t believe Rome would treat me like that, but a tiny bit of insecurity is simmering in the back of my mind.
A reminder that I have goals, things I want to accomplish—both personally and professionally—before I settle down.
I want to find my footing in the business world and make my own money, so I don’t have to rely on a man to take care of me.
I also want to travel, which means not having kids for a while. Intellectually, I know you can still do those things with kids, but it’s a lot more complicated. I just want to have fun for a while.
And it seems like Rome has already done all of that.
All his talk about that cabin in New York makes me uncomfortable.
Even if I fall hopelessly in love with him, I don’t want to move to a remote part of New York and spend my days fishing and hiking.
Not that I wouldn’t enjoy those things in small doses, because I would, but that couldn’t be my life full-time.
Maybe it’s time to slow down and listen to my brother for once instead of jumping headfirst into things.
If only I didn’t like Rome so much.
In spite of my misgivings, he’s everything I want in a man.
Strong, handsome, and employed.
Kind, generous, and someone I can talk to about almost anything.
With a voice so deep it makes me shiver.
Someone who can kiss—and boy, can he kiss.
Maybe I’ve set the bar too low but I’m not looking for a rich man—just one who wants to work hard to build a solid life together. Someone that loves me and makes me happy.
There’s a lot going against us, but there’s also a lot going for us. I just wish I knew what to do about it.
My phone buzzes and I see a text from Athena.
ATHENA: Hey! I haven’t heard from you in a few days—how goes the new job?
BILLIE: It’s been amazing. I love everyone I work with, and Nita is just incredible. I want to be her when I grow up.
ATHENA: She’s really a force of nature. I want to be her too—and I’m already grown up.
BILLIE: Well, I hope the tips are as generous as everyone says. I followed a waitress named Trixie tonight, and she said she made almost seven hundred last Saturday! I mean, that’s insane unless you’re a stripper.
ATHENA: LOL Well, there are a lot of factors. First, L.A. is so expensive, you’re almost never going to have a table that spends less than $150. Twenty percent is thirty bucks. Then there’s the quantity of tables because there’s always a wait. I mean, how many did she turn over tonight?
BILLIE: Quite a few. One group spent $600 and left her a hundred bucks. I’m sure that’s the exception but still. She made a fuck-ton of money. And it’s not even Saturday.
ATHENA: Did Nita tell you about her plan to unveil a high-end but casual Sunday brunch?
BILLIE: She mentioned it. If I can work Friday and Saturday nights, and then Sunday brunch, I could have the whole week free to study and go to class.
ATHENA: Don’t overdo it, girlfriend. Working hard is admirable, I’m the last person to say otherwise, but you need to take time for yourself too.
BILLIE: When I’m done with school, I’m going to party like it’s 1999.
ATHENA: Wow. A Prince reference—I didn’t think your generation was into Prince.
BILLIE: Every generation should be into Prince. That’s like saying there’s a generation that isn’t into Led Zeppelin.
ATHENA: Touche.
BILLIE: Okay, I need to do some reading before I crash.
ATHENA: You want to come to the house for brunch on Sunday?
BILLIE: I’m off until Wednesday. Nita’s starting me out slowly so I’m free.
ATHENA: Then come for brunch. I told Mom all about you.
I pause.
BILLIE: You didn’t tell her about me and Rome, did you?
ATHENA: Technically, I don’t KNOW anything.
BILLIE: I told you we went skating.
ATHENA: And?
BILLIE: There was a kiss.
ATHENA: A good kiss?
BILLIE: A very good kiss. But nothing else. We’re going slow.
ATHENA: That’s smart. So…you like him?
BILLIE: I do, but please be careful not to say anything. We’re keeping everything casual and on the down low until the season is over. There’s too much up in the air to risk Bodi getting wind of it and fucking things up. It could impact the team.
ATHENA: So… what does casual and on the down low mean? Are you dating? Like, dating-dating? Or just having sex?
BILLIE: We’ve gone on two dates. The first was me asking him to go with me to the diner to check it out. So it was like, dating-lite. The next day I asked him to go with me while I figured out if I remember how to skate. Neither one of those were date-dates.
ATHENA: I would call them date-dates. Of course, no one has ever taken me skating…
BILLIE: Maybe you’re dating the wrong guys.
ATHENA: Definitely. I keep hoping someone on the Phantoms will ask me out, but the only one who flirts with me is Connor Brooks. All twenty years old of him.
BILLIE: Come on, you can be a cougar.
ATHENA: Sure. But he has to be old enough to drink first.
BILLIE: Okay. I’ll give you that.
ATHENA: Anyway, will you come to brunch?
BILLIE: Sure. What time?
We firm up the details and then I open my book.
Ugh.
The last thing I want to do is read about finance. It’s after eleven and my feet are still protesting tonight’s exercise in skating.
I curl up in Bodi’s bed and try to focus on the words in front of me. I’m falling asleep when my phone rings.
My eyes pop open and I see Rome’s name.
“Hey.” I answer quietly.
“Did I wake you?” he asks in that baritone voice I love so much.
“No. I was studying. Falling asleep but trying to get through the chapter.”
“You want me to let you go?”
“No. I’d rather fall asleep to your sexy voice than words about financial bullshit.”
“You think my voice is sexy?”
“No one’s ever told you that before?”
“Nope.”
“Well, their loss is my gain.”
“So…what are you wearing?”
This time I’m the one who laughs. “Sweats and a T-shirt. It’s chilly.”
“What kind of panties?”
Now I smile. “None.”
“How often do you go without panties?”
“As often as possible. Not to school or work, but at home, I almost never wear them.”
“Good to know.” His voice drops another octave.
God fucking damn, that’s so hot.
“You’re going to get me off just talking to me,” I whisper.
There’s a beat of silence. “That what you want?”
“Hell yes.”
“Tell me about your nipple piercing.”
“I got it on my twenty-first birthday. I was drunk, but it was the place that did both my eyebrow and my belly button so they knew me. And drunk was better because it hurt like a bitch. Not as much as the most recent one, though.” I can’t help a seductive little purr at the end.
I hear his sharp intake of breath. “Baby, do you have a piercing on your…clit?”
“On the hood, yes.”
“Do you have any idea how hard I am right now?”
“I’m pretty turned on too.”
“Let me guess—you did that for your twenty-second birthday.”
“Yup. Bodi always gives me money and I spend it how I want.”
“And he has no idea.”
“No way.”
“Do you like it?”
Now I hesitate.
Should I admit I haven’t had sex since I got it?
“I, well…”
“Have you not…tried it out?”
“I’ve been single since I got it, and though I’ve had a couple of one-nighters, they’re not my favorite. Definitely not going to let an unknown be the first one to take my new piercing for its maiden voyage.”
He groans. “Are you touching yourself right now?”
“Yup.” I wasn’t, but I quickly slide my hand into my sweats, down between my legs. I’m drenched.
“What would you want me to do to you if I was there right now?”
“Everything.” My voice sounds a little breathy.
“Everything? You’d want me to lick that pretty little piercing… suck it between my lips and tug just until it starts to hurt?”
“Uh huh.” My eyes are squeezed shut and pleasure washes over me. “More…”
That damn voice.
“Would you suck my cock, Billie? Do you like sucking cock?”
“I…do. A lot.”
“On your knees or lying down?”
“Both.
“You want to wrap your lips around me and swallow me whole?”
Oh. My. God.
“Y-yes.” My fingers move a little faster, sliding around my clit.
“Can you deep throat, baby? Let me fuck your mouth until you choke on me?”
“Mm-hm.” I press a little harder, and a needy whimper escapes me.
“Then I’d shoot down your throat and make you swallow it all.”
“ Rome …I’m so close.”
“Then I’d turn you over, set you on all fours…grab your hair and slam right in. You’d be nice and slick, warm and ready for my cock. Wouldn’t you, baby?”
“Fuck yes.” I pinch my clit with just the right amount of pressure and my body explodes. “Oh God, Rome!”
“That’s a good girl…coming all over my cock, squeezing nice and tight.”
Sweet Jesus.
What have I gotten myself into?