#Heart (Hashtag #6) (13 page)

Romeo

My best friend just announced he was a murderer.

And my girl was cuddled up in his lap. She was upset with me. I failed to see how that made any kind of sense.

Honestly, though, that was the least of my worries right now. I’d make whatever it was with Rim right. And if she needed comfort from Braeden, then she could have it. Besides, I think he needed it just as badly.

“You said the car was on fire when you went back for Zach,” Trent said.

“So?” Braeden replied.

“So even if you tried to pull him out, it could have blown up and then both of you would be dead,” Ivy surmised.

Braeden started shaking his head like they were making excuses for him.

“You’re not a murderer, man,” I said.

He looked at me sharply. “You were pissed off. You hated Zach. Fuck, we all hated him. So you stood there until it was too late to pull him out.”

“It was a conscious decision.” Braeden cut in.

“Who the fuck cares?” I said.

Rimmel’s body tightened. Ah. That was the problem. She didn’t like this cold, immoral side of mine.

“Seriously, man,” Drew said. “I’m glad you let him burn. After what he did to my sister?” He shook his head. “I’d have done the same thing.”

“Me, too,” Trent echoed.

“I just remember feeling so relieved when I knew he was gone,” Ivy admitted. She wasn’t as bold as us guys with her truth, but I knew she meant it.

Braeden looked at her. “You knew this whole time?”

“Knew what?”

“That I left him there?”

Her eyes softened. “Yeah, I knew. I was out of it that night, like you said, but I heard Zach screaming, and I saw you walk away from the car.”

“You never said a word.” His voice held a note of awe.

“Because I never cared. It’s not like you killed him in cold blood, B. It was basically self-defense. And besides, as Robert was so quick to point out, I’m just as responsible as you.”

“Don’t you fucking say that.” His voice was vehement.

“It’s true, though.”

“He was going to shoot you.”

“He was going to shoot you, too,” she fired back. Ivy glanced at me. “Zach told me so. And he hated you, Romeo.” Her eyes filled with tears. “He probably would have come for you next.”

“It was him or us, B. You chose us. Your family,” I said.

“I’d do it again,” Braeden admitted. “I can’t say I’m proud of that, but it’s the truth.”

What a fucking nightmare of a position he’d been in. Would I have done the same? Probably, but I wasn’t sure. I hadn’t killed him the night he strung up Rimmel and broke my arm even though I’d been tempted. The truth was—

Braeden cut off my inner thoughts. “Not everyone can be as controlled as you, Rome. Some of us are human.”

How the fuck did he know what I was thinking? And where did he get off implying I wasn’t human?

I bolted up out of my chair, kinda offended. “I never passed judgment on you,” I growled.

“No. But I know you wouldn’t have done what I did. I’m not made like you. I got a dark side.”

This wasn’t a conversation I wanted to have in front of everyone. Especially Rimmel. I shook my head and looked up at the ceiling.

“Robert’s a good lawyer. He knows how to build a case. He’s gonna try and pin this on you, B.” I glanced at Ivy, and her mouth flattened. She knew Robert would come for her, too. I didn’t say it out loud. I was afraid it would push B over the edge.

“We gotta make sure it doesn’t stick,” Trent said.

“None of this goes beyond these walls,” Drew said. “As far as all of us know, there was no time for B to get Zach out.”

“There wasn’t,” Ivy spoke up. “Braeden would have died trying.”

Drew nodded. “Exactly. No one else needs to know anything else.”

Braeden made a sound. “None of you care?”

I rolled my eyes. “Did you think we would turn our backs on you?”

“No,” he said decisively. “But this isn’t like the time I broke the coffee pot and pretended it wasn’t me and no one said anything.”

“That was you!” Rimmel gasped and sat up to glare at him. “I thought I was the one who broke it!”

“Baby…” I was amused. “We all knew it was B. You didn’t?”

“No!” she declared. “I felt horrible about that for days!”

Braeden laughed. “Sorry, tutor girl.”

“Why would you think you broke it?” I tried to hide my grin. Goddamn, she was so innocent.

“Because I’m clumsy! And because you gave me money to go buy a new one. I thought you were just trying to make me feel better.”

Everyone laughed. Rimmel scowled. “I just wanted some coffee,” I said.

Braeden patted her shoulder. “Sorry, sis. Next time I’ll come clean when I break something.”

Rimmel growled under her breath, and I wanted to snatch her out of B’s lap and kiss her. I was starting to get irritated she was still sitting there. B had a girl.

Maybe I’d just give him a taste of his own medicine.

“Look. Point is. Breaking a coffee pot and not pulling a guy out of a burning car is a lot different,” Braeden said, his voice a lot more normal. Like the weight of that night wasn’t so heavy anymore.

“We’re with you,” Ivy said and glanced at everyone.

We all nodded.

Braeden looked down at Rim. She nodded as well.

He blew out a shaky breath. “Yeah, okay.” His eyes found mine. “So what do I do?”

“Robert isn’t going to go away.” Trent spoke up. “I’ll see what else I can find out about him at the frat. Zach’s old buddies still talk about him and the drama. We can use all the upheaval in his life to discredit his accusations.”

I nodded. “Yeah. That’s good.”

“But what if he finds some kind of proof?” B wondered.

“He’s not going to,” Ivy said. “There isn’t any.”

“I’ll call my dad. He’ll know how to handle Robert,” I added.

Everyone nodded.

“Everyone keep your mouth shut. Trent, do some digging on campus,” I ordered. “Meeting adjourned.”

I went over to the couch and grinned down at Ivy. “I’m suddenly in the mood for a drink. Care to share your juice, princess?”

“Hit me.” She held up her glass.

I pulled her off the couch, and she swayed on her feet. “Whoa.” I anchored my arm around her, and she leaned in to me.

“Okay?”

She nodded swiftly.

Braeden’s eyes were narrowed and watching us. I wasn’t sure if it was concern ‘cause she was unsteady or jealousy because I was touching his girl.

I smiled and decided to find out.

“Come on, princess. Your chariot awaits.” I bent down and gave her my back.

She looked at me like I had three heads.

“Not getting any younger here,” I intoned.

She leapt on my back, and I straightened, hooking my arms beneath her legs to give her a piggyback ride into the kitchen.

“What the fuck is this shit?” Braeden growled, setting Rim aside.

I gave him a smug, toothy grin and started off with Ivy.

“I know what you’re doing!” he yelled after us.

“Getting juice?” I called back.

Ivy giggled. “Pissed you off, did he?”

I grunted. “Just a little payback.”

In the kitchen, I turned so my back was against the island, and I lowered Ivy a bit so she could sit on the counter. Once I had the juice, I poured her some and then took a large gulp out of the container.

“Roman Anderson!” Rimmel said, and I lowered the jug and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.

“Future Mrs. Anderson?”

She forgot about me drinking out of the carton and smiled. “I’m going to take a shower.”

“Want some company?” I asked.

“Dude, you’re an ass,” B said, coming into the kitchen.

I handed him the OJ carton. “Peace offering?”

He shrugged and took a drink.

“I give up,” Rimmel muttered and turned to leave.

“Now I need a new a new juice,” Ivy complained.

Braeden lowered the half-gallon and belched. Loudly.

I high-fived him. “Way to make it quake.”

Drew and Trent shuffled in the room to the coffee. “That was a ten-point-O on the Richter scale!” Trent called out, then went back to talking about car parts with Drew.

“I have to go,” Ivy groaned and held out her arms. “I need down.”

Feeling devious, I stepped forward to help her, and B slapped his hand on my chest. “Don’t push me,” he uttered.

I chuckled.

Braeden lifted Ivy off the counter and set her on her feet, tugging on the end of her ponytail. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“I have a doctor appointment.”

All eyes shifted to her.

Braeden frowned. “What’s the matter?” I watched him reach for her wrist, and his eyes widened. So he knew about the bruises. I figured she couldn’t hide them forever.

“Is your wrist bothering you? Hasn’t been that long since you got the cast off. Was it—”

“No!” Ivy hurried to say before he could finish. “I’m fine. It’s just my last follow-up from all the appointments I had after the accident.”

“I thought you were done with those,” Drew said, a frown in his voice.

“After today I will be,” she chirped.

“I was gonna workout, but I’ll drive you. Workout later,” B said.

“No, I can drive myself. I have to go to class afterward.”

“Sure?” he asked.

“Mm-hmm.” She agreed. “I gotta go get my boots.”

Braeden watched her go, and I slapped him on the shoulder. “I’ll workout with ya, B.”

He nodded.

“You guys wanna hit the gym?” I asked Trent and Drew.

“Can’t. Gotta get to the day job.” He sounded so un-thrilled I laughed.

“I have class.” Trent sounded equally as horrified.

“How’s the driving going?” I asked Drew.

He shrugged. “It’s a tough crowd. The indie circle is pretty tight. But I’m holding my own.”

“Never any doubt,” I said.

Trent shifted, and I thought I sensed a little tension there. I wondered what that was about. I didn’t ask, though. All my focus was on B right now.

“I’m gonna go change, bug Rim, and then we’ll go.”

“You drive. My truck’s running like shit.”

Another byproduct of Zach,
I thought.

Even dead, the guy was causing everyone problems.

Rimmel

He was standing against the bathroom counter. Hip aligned with the edge of the granite, foot propped up over the other, arms crossed over his chest.

He still wasn’t wearing a shirt, and at this point, I was convinced he did it on purpose. He knew the effect he had on me, and he was totally using it to his advantage.

Blue eyes watched me like I was the main attraction at some in-demand show. They watched me with azure fire, like the hottest part of a flame.

I opened the glass shower door and stepped out, clutching the white towel around my body and holding it closed at my chest. My hair was wet and dripping. I had to condition it twice just to be sure I could comb it. I’d already towel-dried the ends before I stepped out of the shower, but they still dripped down my back.

I wasn’t wearing my glasses, so the room was slightly blurry. But I didn’t mind. It gave me an excuse not to focus on the man watching me.

Instead, I grabbed my wet-to-dry brush and started at the ends of my hair. It was difficult to brush it out and hold the towel around me at the same time. Normally, I’d just drop the fabric, but I couldn’t just then.

It wasn’t that I was uncomfortable. Romeo had seen me naked so many times it was almost normal by now. He knew my body almost as well as I did. After all, he spent a lot of time exploring it.

It was the intimacy, the vulnerability.

I didn’t feel like I could handle that right this second. I was still feeling a little raw and kinda confused.

Romeo didn’t say a word, and neither did I.

For long seconds, he watched me awkwardly hold on to the towel and the brush until a grunt forced its way out the back of his throat. He unfolded his arms and pushed off the counter. His body was warm when he moved behind me and gently took the brush from my grasp.

I gave it to him and clutched at the towel around me with both hands.

He started at the bottom. Wet, it reached a little farther than halfway down my back. I probably should have gotten it cut—it was way too much to deal with—but I hadn’t wanted to bother.

And now with the wedding coming up, I thought the length might be nice.

He was a lot kinder to my hair than I was. Either that or the long, tangled strands were just as affected by the sight of him without a shirt. The brush slid through easily, gliding through the length like it wouldn’t dare give Romeo a hard time.

Traitor.

I watched him through the mirror. I studied the way his large, muscular body looked just behind mine. I was so much smaller, so much paler, and so much… less.

Romeo was everything.

His blond hair was a shade you couldn’t get out of a bottle, the perfect tone, the perfect amount of gold and light. He’d been running his fingers through it all morning. I knew because of the way it stuck out in odd places, curling out and waving around the tops of his ears. A strand of it fell over his forehead, and it only served to make him look more attractive.

He hadn’t shaved in a couple days, so the scruffy stubble that covered his lower jaw was thick and soft. It was blond, too. I had a sudden longing to feel its prickly softness between my thighs.

Even though I stood in front of him, he was so broad I could see both his shoulders behind me. They were well defined, wide, and smooth.

He’d actually leaned up just slightly since starting with the NFL. All the training and constant travel had trimmed him down, but it only served to cut out the sharp contours of his body. I could count his abs individually.

And the way his hips narrowed down into a V below his waistband…

Yeah. Like I said, Romeo was my vice.

I never thought a girl like me would have one. But there was no denying the command he had over my heart.

“You’re staring,” he rasped, continuing his slow, methodic strokes.

I clutched the towel tighter against me. I had no idea why. There was nothing that could keep him out. Not when he was already permanently part of me.

He finished brushing and set aside the brush. He caught my stare and held it while picking up the shirt lying on the counter in front of me.

It was his shirt, one of the Knight ones. I’d brought it in here to wear as I dried my hair and got ready for class.

He didn’t say anything, just kept his gaze on mine as he pulled it over my head and gestured for me to put my arms through.

Once the shirt was on, he tugged the end of the towel and I let go. It fell to the floor, and he kicked it away.

I still stared at him. I couldn’t help it.

His large hands came to rest on the edge of the counter on either side of me. “I look different now?” he asked, holding my stare.

“Now?” I tilted my head.

“Now that you heard me tell B I approve of what he did.”

I sucked in a breath. So he did know that’s what was eating me.

His full lips tilted up. “Oh yes, I know, baby.”

“Romeo…” I began and turned to face him.

He made a sound and his hands caught my hips to stop me. “Stay there. Look.” He gestured with his chin to the mirror. “You know what I see?” he asked.

I shook my head.

“I see a #jock who fell in love with a #nerd. But I’m not really a #jock, and you definitely aren’t really a #nerd. Yeah, I play football and am sexy as hell.”

I snorted.

He grasped my chin and pulled my face back down so I could look at us once more.

“You like books and get perfect grades. But those are a quarter of the things that make up who we are. Your messy hair and sweatpants? My excessive use of the word fuck and bossy nature? That stuff makes up another quarter.”

He gathered my hair in his fist and pushed it to one side. Bending, keeping his eyes pinned on mine, he scraped his teeth across the side of my neck. I shivered.

“You know what’s one hundred percent me?”

“Hmm?” I hummed soft.

“My love for you.” He pressed a kiss to the exact spot his teeth had just been. My eyes drifted closed. He pulled back. “Look at me, Rimmel.”

I forced my eyes open, trying not to succumb to his words and lips. But it wasn’t those things that were the biggest threat. It was his eyes and the ability they had to make me feel like I was the only thing they ever saw.

“I love you with one hundred percent of who I am. That’s a lot of pieces of me. So yeah, I can understand why Braeden did what he did. That guy who walked away from Zach that night, that’s just a quarter of who B is. The one hundred percent of him that loves Ivy took over. The one hundred percent of his loyalty to this family won out.”

He paused.

“And honestly?”

I nodded.

“One quarter of me admires that piece of Braeden, because I don’t know if I would have been able to do what he did. Not because I hated Zach any less, but because I know exactly what it would do to you.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but he shook his head.

My word, he had a lot to say today.

“I’m sorry the things I said downstairs hurt you, baby. I know you know what it’s like to have someone taken from you. I’m sorry I made you doubt who I am deep down, because I won’t condemn Braeden for a split-second choice a part of him made. But there is one thing I’m not sorry for.”

“What?”

“I’m not sorry he’s dead.” His eyes flashed, like a lightning storm at the beach. “After what he did to you and to Ivy, there’s no way in hell I could ever mourn for someone as twisted as Zach.”

“I know who you are.” I silenced his apology with those five words.

“I might not know every single piece that makes up all of you. That’s one of the reasons I’m so excited to marry you. I want to know every single quarter. I want to spend the rest of my life learning every single thing. Even the things that might sometimes shock me. And it doesn’t matter what little pieces I have yet to discover. I know the most important ones. And the more I think about it, the more I realize one of the most important is what I learned this morning.”

“Rim.” His voice was gruff, regretful.

“You had your turn, Roman. Now it’s mine.”

He let out a nervous laugh.

“Look at me.” I reminded him. If he made me look, he made me see he meant every word. Then I was going to do the same to him.

“I always knew how important family was to you. It was obvious to me the day I saw you and Braeden together, even when I saw you with your parents. But I guess I never quite understood just how strong that bond was. Your loyalty amazes me. It inspires me. You’re so fearless.” He started to scoff, but I reached out and grabbed his hand, squeezing it. “Look.”

Azure eyes snapped back to mine.

“You’re so fearless in the way you support us. You don’t care if one of your own made a mistake or even made a choice they might not make again. In that regard, your life is black and white. Family or not family. Loyalty doesn’t have conditions with you. It’s why you’re an alpha, because you aren’t just strong for yourself, but for everyone you love.”

His front was pressed almost against my back, and I stretched my arm up, reached behind me, and cupped the back of his neck, pulling him fully against me.

He was hard. Rock solid. His length pressed into my back and was most distracting.

“I could never doubt who you are, Romeo.
Never.
”

“Smalls,” he murmured and nuzzled my neck.

Our eye contact broken, I let my lips slip closed. Goodness, the way he felt behind me.

“You still wanna marry me?” he whispered in my ear.

“I should ask you that question,” I breathed as chills raced along my arms.

His hips rocked into me, bringing my ass right up against his groin. “My answer would be hells yes.”

“Romeo,” I said with just enough command our eyes met in the mirror again. “I’m sorry. I know my reaction downstairs wasn’t good. It’s just my mother—”

“Shh, baby. I know.”

I shook my head, trying to find the words, but it was so hard. How do you describe something in words when it was already so hard to feel?

And how the hell did a girl string together any sentence when there was a man slowly grinding his swollen and needy cock against your backside?

“Stop that,” I said, reaching around to grab his hips. “I’m trying to apologize. I can’t think.”

I felt the laugh rumble his chest, and I leaned back more, wanting to feel it all.

“You don’t need to apologize. I understand.”

“I think I hurt Braeden’s feelings.”

“B’s fine.” He stopped rocking against me, but now his fingers were sliding up the backs of my thighs, dipping beneath the T-shirt and coming dangerously close to my bare bottom.

“T-there’s something I want you t-to know,” I stuttered, trying to concentrate.

His palm was cupping my ass cheek. His fingers were delving between my legs, seeking out my core.

“What’s that?” he asked, shifting, spreading his legs so he could sink a little lower, bring his fingers closer to my entrance.

Two fingers slipped into my folds. I was wet, aching.

Against my bare cheek, his cock jerked. Without thought, I pushed myself farther against him.

“Rim.”

“Hmm?” I replied, arching my back to give him better access.

“You wanted to tell me something?”

My head dropped down as his finger slid inside me. His free hand came around and lifted my chin so he could stare at me in the mirror.

“Tell me.”

“Tell you what?” I mumbled and rocked into his fingers.

His eyes deepened and he growled. “Watch,” he instructed and released my chin, lifting the shirt so it was right beneath my breasts.

I kept my eyes trained on his as he swiftly yanked down his shorts. His swollen, silky head pressed against me, and I moaned. Gently, he slid his finger out and palmed either side of my hips, adjusting me so my ass was on full display.

Poised at my entrance, he stopped, linked both our hands, and then put them on the counter.