Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 98736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
He’s going to kiss me.
I lick my suddenly dry-as-the-Sahara lips in preparation. He leans in a little closer, so I close my eyes, but it’s not his lips I feel, but his forehead pressed to mine. “This is going to be by far the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my entire life.” His confession is murmured, but I hear every word loud and clear.
“Why?” I know why. He feels this magnetism between us, but he refuses to do anything about it.
“You know why, baby girl,” he husks.
I grind my hips against him, and he grunts, his fingers digging deeper into my bare thighs. “Stop fighting this.”
“I can’t. This is wrong, Em. You know he would never approve of us.”
“It’s not up to him. He’ll either have to get on board, or be pissed off and miserable the rest of his life.”
“He’s my business partner, one of my best friends, and your older brother. He knows me. They all do better than anyone, and they know I don’t date. Add in that I’m a decade older than you, and they’ll all be grabbing their pitchforks.”
I wish he would just listen. Just give this, give us a chance. “Not when they see how good we are together.”
“There are no guarantees in life, Em. We can’t predict the future. We don’t know how giving in to these desires will end.”
“You would never hurt me, Roman. I know that, you know that, and they will too.” My tone is soft, but I hope he can hear my need for him to give in to this thing between us in my voice.
“Not intentionally.” He lifts his head and his eyes find mine. “Never.” That single word is said with so much conviction, it brings tears to my eyes.
“It’s not fair, Rome. We both want this. Why are we letting everyone in our lives keep us from something that has the potential to change our lives?”
“It would change my life. You—” He shakes his head and takes a steadying breath. “They’re our family, baby girl. We can’t make them choose.”
“They don’t have to choose. You said it. They’re our family. They choose us. We can choose us too.”
“It’s not that easy.” He presses a kiss to my forehead, which takes me by surprise.
“Roman.” My voice is laced with a little bit of sadness, longing, and pleading, all wrapped up in one.
He slowly lowers me to my feet, and I don’t miss the feel of his hard cock as I slide down his body. He’s denying us both what we want, but maybe, just maybe, I can convince him to give us a shot. Baby steps and all that.
Each time we’re together, he gives me more. Today, he held me close and kissed my forehead. We’re slowly making forward progress, and as long as that happens, I’ll keep trying. I know what I want.
I want Roman.
I ignore the fact that he’s hard from our interaction. It’s difficult, but it’s for the best. I still need him to give me my tattoo, and it has to be him. That’s how I saw this going down in my head, and once I set my mind to something, it’s hard to change it.
“I’m going to run out and grab us some food while you get the transfer ready. I’ll be right back.” I turn on my heel and race out of the room. I stop to grab my purse and keys and push out the door. I know what all five of the guys like to eat, so it’s easy for me when I pull into Subway to get Roman his usual. Two subs, two bags of chips, and two large drinks later, I’m using my key to unlock the front door.
Roman rushes out of his room to help take the food and drinks from my hands, and waits for me to lock the door before leading us back to the small break room. “Did you take cash with you out of the drawer?” he asks, as he starts to unload our food.
“No. This is on me. I’m paying for my tattoo too.” I give him a pointed look, and he rolls his eyes.
He reaches into his pocket and hands me two twenties. “This is for dinner, and no way in hell are you paying for ink.”
“Dinner wasn’t nearly that much, Rome. I’ve got it. Let me do something nice for you.” I don’t debate over paying for the ink. I know he won’t give in. I’ll just have to think of something nice to do for him to make up for it.
“You have college expenses. You’re not paying.” He shoves both twenties into my purse and gives me a look that dares me to argue with him.
I sigh, because I know better too.
All five of them are like that when it comes to me. Can a girl not do something nice for her friends and her brother? I get it. They make more than me, but I’m not destitute. I work as a waitress back at college, against my brother's advice. He insisted I let him cover the cost of everything that I need, but no way could I do that. Forrest has helped me so much, bought me a car, and moved me in with him, and so much more. I needed to pull my weight, and I have, even though he continues to grumble about it.