Chapter 23
Billie
It feels like an eternity before Rome’s mom and sister leave.
We eat, clean up the kitchen and then they want to spend time catching up with him.
I finally excused myself around eleven to go shower because I have a busy day tomorrow and need to get some sleep.
That seems to have been the catalyst to get them to go because I’ve just wrapped myself in a towel when there’s a soft knock on the door.
“Hey—can I come in?”
“Of course.” I smile as Rome leans against the doorway. “Are they gone?”
“Finally.” He reaches out and gently pulls me against his chest. “I’m sorry about Cat. There’s a lot of baggage there because of my ex.”
“They’re still friends, right?”
“Yeah. And instead of believing my version of events—you know, her own brother—she took Denise’s side. Mom has done her best to mitigate things, get us in the same room together, but I’m waiting for an apology. Until that happens, I don’t think there’s any way for us to rebuild the relationship.”
“I’m sorry. I probably should have kept my mouth shut but?—”
“Absolutely not. I loved you standing up to her. It was hot.”
I grin. “Yeah? Me being a bitch turns you on?”
“I don’t think that’s a universal theme, but when it comes to someone trying to make you feel bad? Fuck yeah.”
“Good to know.”
“I had a romantic evening planned for us,” he says after a moment. “A nice dinner. Expensive bottle of wine. A little conversation and flirting…”
“That sounds wonderful.”
“This is part of the reason I keep my family at arms’ length. They always do shit like showing up unannounced. Not to mention bringing along the sister who was partly responsible for my disaster of a second marriage.”
“I think your mom had good intentions. And your sister, well, I believe she’s trying to make it up to you but doesn’t know how. Your mom is caught in the middle. You’re both her children, so she wants you guys to get along.”
He grunts. “Cat and I were never close. She always struck me as a mean girl. Not to mention, she was still in grade school when I left for hockey.”
“How many years between all of you?”
“I’m the oldest, turned thirty-five in January. Athena is next, and she’s turning thirty in October. Cat’s the baby and she’s turning twenty-eight in December.”
“You mom waited a while and then had two back-to-back, huh?”
“I think she had trouble getting pregnant the second time, and then she just wanted to have a third right away while she still could. Personally, I would have stopped at two.”
“That’s mean,” I say, chuckling.
“Takes one to know one. And yes, I know I sound like I’m ten years old. But Cat, man, she gets under my skin.”
“You can’t let her. Just give it back to her. Bad relationship? Throw it in her face. A time she spent money and needed your parents to bail her out? A class she failed in college? Whatever it is, you throw it back at her. She’ll learn to stop once you embarrass her a few times.”
“My mom will hate that.”
“Your mom might be waiting for you to grow a pair when it comes to your sister.”
I pause thoughtfully. “You’re pretty smart, you know that?”
“I try.”
“I really am sorry our romantic evening was ruined. I thought I had a plan to surprise you.”
“A plan to think about trying to get me into bed?” I tease.
His tone when he responds is dead serious. “I think about that every minute of every day. Pretty much since we met.”
“Even that night at Blue Thunder?”
He hesitates. “Honestly? I was thinking more along the lines of not being another jerk after the one who was hitting on you at the bar. But in the back of my mind, yeah, I thought about being with you that night too. In fact, I’d like to take you to bed right now, Billie.
” His eyes gleam with intensity but there’s a question there that’s a little hard to decipher.
“Is that a question or a statement?” I ask curiously.
“I don’t know how much I’m capable of,” he admits gruffly. “With the groin. Most of the necessary movements are painful right now.”
“We can wait,” I say, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Really. I’m happy to suck that perfect cock of yours—it totally turns me on. And then if you do what you do with your mouth, I’m a very happy girl.”
“I hate that I can’t make love to you the way I want to.”
“Focus on healing. We can play the ‘everything but’ game. And when you’re physically ready, it’ll be that much more special.”
“ You’re special. You know that?” He dips his head and kisses me, long and deep, as if there’s nothing else in the world he’d rather do.
Somewhere along the way, my towel falls and I’m naked, pressed against him, reveling in his touch.
The way it feels as he runs his hands over my back, the curve of my hip, even over my ass.
He’s attentive and gentle, in a way that makes me feel cherished.
That’s the only way to describe the sensations that wash over me when he touches me.
“Under any other circumstances, I would have scooped you up in my arms right now,” he whispers against my mouth. “Carried you to my bed. Fucked you nice and slow. Watched as you came apart for me…”
“Soon,” I whisper, my body tingling with need. “Tonight, I’m happy to do anything you want.”
His response is to kiss me again, pushing me up against the wall and gathering both of my hands in his, holding them above my head. I’m essentially trapped by his much bigger body but it feels incredible. It feels even better when he uses his free hand to slip it between my legs and stroke me.
“You’re so wet,” he murmurs. “You like when you can’t get away…when I overpower you?”
“Yes.” I’m already breathless with need.
“You ever been tied up?”
I shake my head, no. “But I’d like to try. When you’re healed.”
He nods solemnly. “Definitely.” He pauses. “Lift your leg for me, baby. Wrap it around me as best you can.”
My right leg closes around his upper thigh and he runs a finger back and forth over my clit. He tugs the little hoop there and then slips farther back so he can press a finger inside me. When he pulls it out, he holds it up.
“Look how wet you are for me. Do you like how you taste?”
I nod, even though I’m not sure that’s true.
“Lick my finger clean, baby.”
I open my mouth and suck on his finger. The taste isn’t my favorite but it’s not bad, just a little tangy and salty. What I do like is the look in Rome’s eyes as he watches me do it. Like I’m the sexiest woman in the world. The only woman in the world.
And it’s a heady feeling.
“You gonna come for me, baby?” he murmurs, nibbling on my lower lip while thrusting two fingers inside me.
“Pretty soon,” I pant. I desperately want to angle my hips, take him deeper, increase the friction, but I’m completely at his mercy and he has me pinned so that I can’t move the way I want to.
“That’s my girl…” He finds the rhythm that has me moaning, scissoring his fingers until I cry out.
“Please!” I squirm against him but it’s like trying to move a mountain.
“You’ll come when I let you come.”
Oh, that voice.
My mouth finds his and our tongues swirl together greedily, my body aching for release—and right as I’m on the edge, he pulls back. A whine leaves my throat but he doesn’t give me what I want, slowing down and working me up again.
“You’re so sexy when you wiggle against me… squeeze that pretty little pussy around my fingers… just like that…”
I’m so close, and my eyes fall shut, allowing me to be completely focused on the pleasure between my legs. He picks up speed, fucking me with his fingers until everything spirals and I scream against his mouth.
“Rome!” My body jerks and a million convulsions shake me as he presses on a spot that has me gasping from the intensity. One orgasm rolls over the other, and every time he presses that spot, it’s like a whole new orgasm shakes me. Until it’s as painful as it is blissful.
“Oh, God, Rome…I can’t anymore.” My voice is shaky, my body still pulsing from yet another wave of pleasure.
“Ever had multiple orgasms before?” He slowly pulls his fingers out.
“N-no. I didn’t even…know they were real.”
“Oh, they’re real. It’s just a matter of finding your G spot. It’s easier from the back, but I guess we didn’t need to go that route.”
“Jesus.” I’m still trying to catch my breath, and when he releases my hands I immediately wrap my arms around him because I’m not sure I can stand on my own.
And he just holds me, pressing little kisses on my temple, my cheeks, even my eyes.
“You’re gorgeous when you come, Billie.”
“Mmm.” I can’t formulate words just yet.
He holds me until my heart rate goes back to normal and I manage to open my eyes. “That was…incredible.”
He smiles. “Now get on your knees and suck me.”