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)
“What can I do for you?” Roman asks the man, keeping his hold on me.
“I was just telling the lady here I’d like some ink.” The guy stands taller, not that he has any chance of going up against Roman.
“Ink, you say?” Roman asks.
“Yeah, looking to get my Harley on my bicep.” He points to his bare bicep thanks to his sleeveless T-shirt.
“I hear there’s a good shop across town.” Roman’s words are said casually, but I can feel the tension in his body.
“Heard this place was the best,” the man says. His eyes drop to my tits again. “Lots of… nice help.” He cackles but starts to cough. Looks like Mr. Asshole needs to lay off the cigarettes.
“You’re right,” Roman tells him. “We are the best.” The hand that’s not wrapped around me points to the wall with all the awards the guys have won over the years.
“That’s why I’m here,” the guy replies, his eyes again flashing to me.
“I didn’t catch your name.” I can tell by the tone of Roman’s voice and the way his body stiffens that he’s about to lose his patience.
“Name’s Jerry.” Asshole, I mean Jerry, thrusts his hand out toward Roman, who doesn’t move to shake his hand.
“Jerry, this is how this is going to go. You’re going to turn around and walk out of my shop. If I see you in here again, I’ll call the police and have you escorted. If I have to file a restraining order, I will.”
“The fuck?” Jerry replies, his voice rising. “Do you treat all of your customers like this?” he asks.
“No. We cater to our clients, but those clients respect our employees.”
“Come on, man. She’s a dime piece,” he says, his eyes again taking me in.
“She’s a beautiful woman, and she’s mine. If I see you looking at her, hell, if I hear you’re thinking about her, you and I are going to have problems.”
“It’s a free country. I can look.”
“You. Will. Not. Look. At. Her,” Roman grits out. His grip on my waist tightens.
I lean into him and place my hand over his arm that’s wrapped around me. Immediately, some of the tension eases in his hold. I don’t say a word, deciding to let him handle it on his own.
“She’s not worth it,” Jerry sneers as he turns and rushes out the door.
I remain standing, my body pressed tightly against his, and wait. I can feel the rapid rise and fall of Roman’s chest with each breath. My heart is racing, not because of the incident. Jerry isn’t the first asshole to hit on me, and I’m sure he won’t be the last. No, my heart feels like it could explode because of the way he’s holding me. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wished for this to happen. I just wish it was under different circumstances.
“Rome?” I ask hesitantly.
He buries his face in my neck, and I shiver at the contact as his hot breath hits my skin. My eyes drift closed as I take in the moment. I wish more than anything that this was us. That I really was his and that this embrace was out of the love that we share, not his anger at a man who was being rude.
Voices carry from Legend’s room, and Roman pulls away. “If he comes back, you tell me.” His green eyes bore into mine.
“I had it handled.” I should just say thank you, but I truly did have it handled. The guy was rude, but he wasn’t hurting me.
“Emerson.”
“Roman.”
He steps forward and moves my hair behind my shoulder. “If he comes back, you come and get me. If I’m not here, you get one of the guys. He’s not welcome here.”
“You can’t run off every customer. That’s rude.”
“He was being inappropriate with you. I won’t stand for that, and you know damn well that the rest of the guys would back me up on that.”
“Do you think that’s the first time I’ve had to deal with an inappropriate creep like that?”
His jaw clenches. “Not here.”
“Whatever.” I roll my eyes and turn away from him. It’s a mere few seconds before I feel the heat of his body pressed against me for the second time.
“Did you roll your eyes at me?” he asks. This time, instead of burying his face in my neck, he kisses me there. It’s brief and just a soft peck, but I felt it. Heat pools between my thighs. I tilt my head to give him access, but he takes it no further. I want to scream and yell and demand that he give in to this. That he gives into us, but I keep my thoughts to myself. The stubborn ass won’t listen, so there’s no point in holding my breath. I’m going to have to find new ways to tempt him.