Deep down I knew he had an ulterior motive.
However, I let it go because I wanted to believe him.
He lied to me.
He fucking lied to me.
Roman was lying to me.
I clamped a fist over my mouth pressing so hard to not make a sound as I stared in shock. The image of him blurred as I fought to keep from crying. Why? Why was he doing this?
“Don’t threaten me. You will get what you want. She’s dependent on me, and I will have answers soon.” He paused and slammed his palm against the window trim. My heart toppled out of my chest as an odd coldness enveloped me. He growled, “I told you it’s my problem. Don’t you dare fuck up what I’ve built with her!” He clicked off the cell, and I had the mad urge to either attack him or run like a trapped animal.
I took a step back, while Roman twisted his head at the sound. His cheeks were flushed and brows v’eed menacingly. When it registered it was me, his eyes widened in surprise. For a pregnant pause there was silence as we stared in a stand-off.
“You lied to me,” I said quietly.
He rolled his lips together. “You were eavesdropping.”
“You lied to me,” I stressed disgust was written all over my face.
“You don’t understand,” he responded with a level voice and took a few steps toward me.
I shook my head. Numb. I felt numb and betrayed…and stupid. I was the biggest fool to ever think I could trust him. Even when I knew something didn’t seem right, I’d given him the benefit of the doubt. “I may be an idiot, but I think I’m finally catching on.”
“It’s not what it seems.”
“It never is, is it? Nothing is ever as it seems according to you. What is it then? What is it you want?” Strumming up a sense of bravery I didn’t really have, but I was fueled by adrenaline and betrayal. I sauntered up to him raising my lips in a fake smile. When I was inches away from him, I lightly touched his cheek. The stubble scraped against the pad of my fingers. His eyes, his beautiful, lying caramel eyes broke me into a million pieces. “Hmm? Do you want me? Do you want to fuck me?” I grabbed the hem of my shirt and raised it over my chest.
“Don’t, Theodora,” he warned extending a hand to stop me from taking it off.
But I danced out of his reach, pulling the fabric over my head, and dropped the shirt as it flittered to the floor. I stood topless, seething inside. Too angry to care if anyone else was around at the moment. “What is it you want?” I prodded. This time when I closed in, I allowed my hands to travel down his naked chest feeling his muscles twitch until I reached the hem of his athletic shorts. “Do you want me to get on my knees and take your cock in my mouth, so you can fuck all your revenge out? Would that make you feel better?” I raised my eyes innocently at him holding his gaze while I slowly, purposefully slid down to my knees. “You want to put me in my place? The poor hired help who needed the strong rich boy to protect me? You thrive on power and control. Is that what you want?”
Seconds ticked by as he peered down and mouthed out, “No.”
I ignored him seeing how was cock tented in his shorts. My fingers skimmed up his muscular thigh, and I peered at him innocently.
“Get up,” he whispered, and I felt his muscles tense beneath my touch. His grip tightened around my shoulders.
But I didn’t. Instead, my fingers trailed over the outline of his erection. “You really don’t mean that. You’re already so hard. So ready. I know you have needs you can’t control. I can feel you pulse beneath my fingers. I know what you need. Isn’t this want you want, Corazón? Is this what you need from me?” I leaned in and lapped the underside of his cock leaving a wet trail on the material. “You like to impose your will on me? You like the fact I’m so dependent on you, right? I’m just a poor girl who needs her knight in shining armor to save her. You want to own me, don’t you? Well, I’m here. I’m here to service you.” I closed my mouth over the tip protruding through the mesh fabric. “Use me and if you’re a good boy, if you fuck me so well, maybe you can get whatever information you think my mother has.”
“Goddammit stop!” He clenched my upper arms yanking me up against him. “You don’t even know what you’re talking about.” He ran his lips over my temple. “I don’t want to hurt you. I only want to protect you.” He held me to his chest. “Just fucking trust me.”
When I heard his words, something in me set off and I began to pound my fists against him. “Stop saying those words to me, Roman. You’re a liar. Your words mean nothing. They’re just words you throw out to get me in your bed. That’s all I am to you. Someone to use.”
“I’m trying to protect you from my father,” he hissed clamping my fists in his large hand.
“No you’re not.” I struggled against him, and hot tears burned down my cheeks. “My mother was right. Your family is trying to destroy us.” I kicked at him with wild abandonment, fighting like a caged tiger. He could’ve obliterated me, but I was so blinded by anger to care. I kept attacking until he cursed and released me. I fell back rubbing at my wrists, exhaling like I’d run a marathon.
“What are you talking about?”
I bent down retrieving my shirt and yanking it on. “Stop with the fucking act!” The words reverberated around us, and I brushed ruffled strands of hair off my face. “It doesn’t matter.” I backed away from him. “Nothing matters anymore. Leave me alone, Roman.”
I took off rushing past him to the foyer. He barked out my name, and I knew he was following me. Of course, he could stop me. He was bigger, faster, and stronger. You can run, Theodora, but I’ll always catch you. Before I reached the front door, it opened and Dmitri walked in shirtless with ear buds on and sweat dripping down his chest. I pulled up as he shifted his eyes in interest between Roman and me who I assumed was not too far behind. He tilted his head with a speculative look aimed at me, pulling out one of his ear buds. “Is everything good?”
Anyone could see it wasn’t. “Yes,” I answered calmly and glanced over my shoulder at Roman whose lips were crushed in a flat line and eyes slit at his Russian friend.
“The fuck’s going on?” Axle yawned as he stepped into the living room. “All this yelling woke my ass up.”
“Everything is fine,” Roman said tightly.
“I need a ride back to my dorm. I have to get ready for class,” I raised my eyes to Dmitri in a silent plea to offer me one. He parted his mouth as though he were about to speak.
“I’ll take you home,” Roman interjected with a barely leashed calmness. I didn’t want to be around him. This was the last time I would allow him to lie to me. But, they were his friends and as loyal to each other as they could be. Or at least they seemed to be. I guess Dmitri could see the hesitation in my face because he raised an eyebrow at Roman with mild interest.
“I’ll take her home,” Nick popped into the living room dressed in a tee and sweats with keys already in hand.
“The fuck you will,” Roman growled with chest bowed and ready for another confrontation.
“Look, man, you need to cool the fuck down.” Nick’s eyes were filled with concern as he came closer to me.