Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
“Rome…”
“Cerebral aneurysm,” he continued. “He was twenty-six years old. No symptoms, no warning. And you know what? I saved him. I started CPR and the ambulance came. We got lucky. He didn’t die. Except he was already dead, Randi. Like your mother. We just didn’t realize it yet. And we had to stand in that room and watch while they turned him off.”
I swallowed, my mouth dry. How awful, and beyond sad. I reached out and touched the side of his face, wishing I could take away some of the pain in his eyes, and that’s when it hit me.
Rome understood exactly what this felt like. No wonder he’d seen through my anger.
“I’m sorry, Rome.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry too,” he replied. “And I’m sorry about your mother. Sometimes people just…die. And you think life isn’t going to go on, but it does. That’s why I want you to get some rest, babe. Because you’ve got two kids who need you, and it’s already tomorrow morning.”
He was right, but my brain was still spinning. I couldn’t go to bed like this. I couldn’t do anything like this.
“Rome, can I sleep with you tonight?”
“Sleep or fuck?” he asked bluntly.
I opened my mouth to say sleep, but the word wouldn’t come out. Maybe sex would help. Maybe it would make me feel less…empty.
“Sex.”
I don’t know what I expected. Maybe that he’d sweep me off my feet and into his bedroom like Rhett Butler. Instead he gave a low laugh and shook his head.
“What the hell?”
“There is no way we’re fucking tonight,” Rome said. “Not when you’re going through this. I’ll admit it—I stole your car. I needed to get home. And it’s true I can be an asshole. But even I have lines I won’t cross. I’m not gonna be the guy who used your mother’s death to get laid.”
I snorted, biting back a laugh. Rome gave me a wary look, but the man was so far off target about this situation that I hardly knew where to start.
“I know you’re not trying to use me,” I finally said, leaning in closer. I raised a hand to his chest, pressing against his heart before letting it slowly slide down toward the front of his pants. “I’m trying to use you, dumbass. I don’t want to be alone, because you’re right about all this stuff. I’m tired, and tomorrow I have to figure out how to handle everything. Lexi and Kayden need somewhere to live. Oh, and we have to plan a funeral but I don’t have any money for a funeral.”
My hand reached his cock, and I gave it a squeeze. Rome swallowed and for the first time that night, I felt a sense of power. Control. Swinging one of my legs over his, I settled onto his lap, then leaned forward to give him a soft kiss. His arms came around my waist, strong and secure.
For long seconds, I savored the comfort of his mouth under mine. Then I pulled back, catching his gaze.
“You know what the weirdest thing is?” I asked, pressing my pelvis forward into his. I felt him stir between my legs, and then an answering sensation deep within my own body. “I still haven’t cried for my mom, Rome. So far, I’m mostly just scared and angry. I feel sad for my brothers and sister, of course. Telling them was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I felt like I was ripping their hearts out with my bare hands, and that hurt.”
I paused, closing my eyes and leaning my forehead against his. One of his hands started rubbing up and down my back, and I rolled my hips. His dick was getting harder, pushing up at me through the fabric of his jeans. It felt good. Reassuring. Everything else in my world might be falling apart, but at least this one thing was still working right.
“A couple of hours ago I kissed my mom’s dead body goodbye. Lexi cried, but not me. I held her hand, Rome. I felt her fingers getting cold. But I’m still not crying. That’s not normal. I think there might be something wrong with me.”
I ground myself into his center. He groaned, his other hand catching my ass, squeezing it tight. I thought he might be trying to stop me, but I was tired of his chivalrous bullshit. Less than twenty-four hours ago, he’d fucked me senseless in that barn. The whole world might’ve changed since then, but I was pretty sure one thing was still the same—Rome McGuire had the ability to take me away from reality, even if it was only for a few minutes.
“I need to stop thinking, because otherwise I’m going to go crazy,” I whispered. “And I need to sleep, but my brain is spinning way too hard. So if you really care about me, I’d like you to quit being such a good guy and let me borrow your penis for a few minutes, okay?”