“You.”
Theodora
“Where are we going?” Somehow, Roman convinced me to ride with him. Okay, maybe the beer had gone to my head. Nevertheless, I stood by the passenger door as he opened it for me.
“My house.” He held my hand as I climbed in, as though I couldn’t do it without his help.
“Why?”
“Does there have to be a reason? I thought we were going to relax and enjoy the day.” He lifted my hand to his mouth and kissed my palm, letting his lips linger on my skin with his eyes gazing at me intently. Heat shot up my arm and blossomed through the rest of my body. Ever since Roman had mentioned a truce, he’d been kind and gentle. Much how it was when I fell in love with him years ago. It woke up feelings I swore I’d never allow to resurface. It also made me skeptical. “Don’t overthink, Corazón, just live in the moment.” This time the endearment sounded, well, endearing.
He tucked my hand in my lap and closed the door while I exhaled a shaky breath. It was one thing to confront Roman when there were people around and have my guard up. It was another story entirely to be with him alone. However, I needed to remember how he could manipulate a situation to suit him.
Roman climbed in and a thought occurred. “Is Nick going to be there?” I didn’t want this to be another pissing contest between them if that was his reason for taking me to his place.
He clenched the steering wheel tight. The muscles in his biceps constricted, but he spoke calmly enough, “No.”
“Do Axel and Dmitri live at the house too, along with Nick?”
“Yes.” He started the Jeep and pulled out of the small parking lot in the back that was now crammed with cars as more people filed into the pub for happy hour. Roman had removed the top and the late afternoon sun shone in while the wind whipped through my hair as we picked up speed and took off down the main road leading off campus.
It wasn’t a long drive, but quiet as far as conversation went, although the music was blaring since Roman cranked up the volume when he pulled out of the parking lot. He sped down the two-lane road, shifting gears, and his hand landed on my mid-thigh. I tensed, and he side glanced me but said nothing. However, his fingers were tracing a slow pattern up and down my skin as though this was a daily occurrence. Soon, we were turning off the main road into his secluded neighborhood, and he released me to down-shift as we navigated through the curvy road.
We pulled into his driveway and the house appeared even more ginormous in daylight. It was gray and had a very modern feel surrounded with oak trees and ashe junipers spread about the property making it naturally secluded. Out in the distance beyond the home was a lake. I was fixated on the breathtaking scenery and heard the door open. “Come on.”
I stepped out, allowing him to guide me into his not-so-humble abode. When we were inside, I gazed around in awe as we passed through the expansive living area to the kitchen. I gawked since the last time I’d been here it was packed full of people and was only in this room briefly. Roman slid the strap of my backpack off my shoulder. “Relax. Stay awhile.”
“As if I have a choice,” I mumbled while he deposited my bag on the counter.
“You always have a choice.”
“Okay, then I choose to go home.”
He shook his head as his chest rumbled with chuckles. “You’re cute. A pain in the ass sometimes, but still cute.” He walked ahead of me to the hallway.
Me, a pain? How about him being a borderline stalker? “Where are you going?”
“Giving you a choice, but you have to follow me to find out.”
I stood eyeing him skeptically, not budging until he cursed under his breath and stalked toward me. “Now you’re giving me no choice.” Before I could reply, he ducked into my stomach and threw me over his shoulder, gripping the back of my thighs with one hand.
I dangled over his back. “What the hell are you doing?” I squirmed around, trying to get out of his grasp.
“Making sure you don’t break the deal we had.” He clamped my thigh tighter when I struggled. “Stop being so damn stubborn.”
We were heading down concrete stairs to the lair. He passed through the door and flipped on a light, carrying me across the room. “Put me down. I’m here, aren’t I?”
He tugged on my thighs, until I was slithering down his chest slowly and one hand slid up my back while I felt his other closing over my butt. He had a triumphant grin on his face. “How do I know you won’t bolt when I let you go?” he asked with fake concern as he walked me over to the pool table until my butt was on the edge. He released me and leaned in, caging me in with his arms.
“Now, are you ready to play?” Roman stared at me as his eyes darkened. His face was inches from mine and I broke eye contact, glancing at the tan skin that peeked out under the collar of his T-shirt, and the defined chest muscles outlined under the cotton material. The woodsy, spicy scent of his cologne filled my senses.
“What are we playing?” My voice sounded breathy, and why did I feel like he was toying with me? Maybe that was part of his ploy. Maybe that’s why I was contemplating running out the door earlier as soon as it sunk in we were alone. Yet, being this close, all I could think about was how I wanted to feel his lips on mine.
He leaned into me, and I heard the scraping of fingers over felt as he reached behind me and pulled back, holding the eight ball in his hand. “A game of pool. Do you think you’re up for it?” He was flicking the ball in his hand and brought it down on my thigh rolling it under his palm, moving up to the edge of my shorts. “You do remember I taught you how to play, in spite of your little show of not knowing what to do that night with Nick,” he said his name with irritation. I did know how to play. Nick just assumed I didn’t, and I let him because I did want to get under Roman’s skin that night if I were honest.
“Yes, I remember.” Roman and I used to play all the time at his parent’s home. He taught me everything. I’d even become so good we were evenly matched.
“Good.”
“So what’s my choice?”
“If you win, you make the rules. That simple.”
“And, if I don’t…”
“Do I even need to answer that? I already told you I wanted to spend more time with you.” He set the ball aside, tugging me to my feet and my legs felt like Jell-O. He winked before he sauntered away to the mini bar. Grabbing a bottle of beer and mixing a drink for me.
When he handed me the cup, I sniffed the clear drink that smelled like blueberries, which was my favorite fruit, something he obviously remembered. “What is this?” I asked after taking a sip as he gathered up the balls and put them in the triangular rack.
“Blueberry vodka and ginger ale.” He had the rack set. “You break first.” He handed me a stick.
I set my cup on a side table and chalked the tip. I broke the rack and one of the striped balls fell into a corner pocket. Roman watched with a lingering grin and his eyes were on me the whole time as I tried to make a show of studying the table, contemplating my next shot. I walked to the other end, and he followed, moving next to me as I leaned over. I peered up at him. “Are you trying to make me miss my shot?”