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)
Opening my eyes, I turn my head to look at her. “There is no one, Em. Not since that night, and hell, I might as well go for broke and put it all out there. Not since long before that night.”
“Why?” The word is whispered, but I hear it loud and clear.
“You know why.”
“Tell me anyway.”
Sitting forward, I turn sideways, giving her my full attention. Her long brown hair is pulled up in a messy knot on the top of her head. Loose tendrils hang down, and she looks so damn sexy. If I confess, that changes things. I can feel it deep in my bones. If I tell her that she’s all I can think about, all I dream about, that changes this. Whatever this is.
“You.”
She sucks in a sharp breath, and there’s nothing I want more than to pull her onto my lap and kiss her. But I can’t. We can’t.
“Rome.”
“You’re sexy as fuck,” I tell her. Now that I’ve started talking, I can’t seem to shut the hell up.
“That night—” She pauses, collecting her thoughts. “When you came into my room.”
“What about it?”
“Why did you?”
“Because I wanted you.”
“You didn’t even touch me.” If I’m not mistaken, there’s hurt in her tone.
“You’re my best friend’s little sister, Em. I’m ten years older than you. I’m not good for you.”
“Isn’t that my choice to make?”
“No.” I shake my head. “We can’t do this.”
“You don’t want me anymore?” The question tugs at something hidden inside my chest.
“I want you,” I rasp.
“You want me, but you don’t want me? I’m confused, Roman. You’re going to need to spell this out for me. You tell me that you don’t think of anyone but me, that there has been no one, but the next breath, you’re telling me that we can’t do this. Tell me why?”
“Because it’s wrong. Forrest is one of my best friends, and you’re ten years younger than me.”
Why can’t she see that? No matter how bright this flame is that burns between us, we can’t act on it.
“I’m not hearing anything that convinces me.”
“That night, I let my desire get the better of me. I never should have slipped into your room, but when I heard you—” I swallow hard. “I had to, baby girl.”
“So you used me?”
“No.” My voice is hard. “You were playing with your pussy, and you said my name, Em. My. Fucking. Name.” I pause, getting my emotions under control. “You were all I’d been thinking about, and then when I passed by your door and you called out for me, there was nothing and no one on this earth that could have kept me standing in that hallway.”
“Not even my brother?” she challenges.
“I— Fuck, Em, I don’t think so. I knew it was wrong, but I needed to see you.”
“You touched yourself.”
I nod. We were both there that night. There is no need to spell it out. Besides, I don’t need to. Every second plays on repeat in my mind like a damn commercial.
“I wanted to touch you.”
Fuck me. I should have left when the others did.
“I wanted you to touch me.”
I can feel my control slipping.
“I wanted that too.” My confession hangs between us. It’s heavy, like a muggy afternoon. I wanted to touch her. I wanted to fucking devour her.
I still want to touch her.
I still want to devour her.
“Show me.”
Slowly, I shake my head. “I can’t.”
Doesn’t she see how hard this is for me? Can she not see how twisted up inside I am over needing her? She’s right here, and I can’t do a single fucking thing about it.
“You can.”
“Dammit, Emerson. I fucking can’t.”
“Why?”
“Why?” I laugh humorlessly. Leaning over, I bring my face mere inches from hers. Unable to resist, I cradle her face in the palm of my hand. “Because once I start, I’ll never be able to stop.”
“Then don’t stop.”
“Fuck, you are a dangerous kind of temptation.”
“I don’t want to tempt you, Rome. I just want to be with you.” She leans into my hand, and I know I have to get up and walk away. If I don’t, I’m going to do something that will ruin my friendship with her brother. I should say that I’ll do something that I regret, but I know with everything that I am, that I would never, will never, regret any moment shared with her.
Knowing that it’s wrong but unable to resist, I lean in and press my lips to her forehead. “The fire’s burned out, and it’s cold out here. Let’s get you inside.” I stand and offer her my hand, which she takes. I lace our fingers together and lead her to the back door. “Lock up behind me.”
“Rome.”
This time it’s both of my hands that cup her cheeks. I tilt her head up so that she’s looking at me. “If there was ever someone that I would risk it all for, it would be you.” I kiss her forehead one more time before dropping my hands and stepping away. “Go on inside.”