Page 63 of Tell Me You Like It

Roman sucks in a breath, then releases it slowly. “Because I know where this is headed, and before shit starts getting real, I need you to understand what I am.”

I swallow, my heart rate kicking up to triple speed. “What do you mean ‘shit’s about to get real?’”

He just looks away and shakes his head.

“Roman,” I say, my voice cracking. Fear courses through my entire body. “Tell me. What are you talking about?”

Please just smile and cut the tension. Say something to soothe my fears, and convince me I’m overreacting.

“You’re going to find out things about me that you won’t like, and when that happens, just remember, I don’t back down. Ever.”

“Okay, um, you’re freaking me out,” I say. “That sounds like a threat.”

When he speaks his voice is calm, not threatening at all. “Nope.” He looks back out over the ocean and shakes his head casually. Too casually for the heaviness of the conversation, if you ask me. His words and his body language are completely at odds, which is totally fucking with me. “Just telling you what’s what, so you’re in the loop.”

So I’m in the loop.

Uh.

“Okay, then, tell me–you said there’s darkness in you. What do you mean by that?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. I’m not sure how clearer I can make it for you,” he says evenly.

“There are a thousand different shades ofdarkness,” I say. “It could mean you club baby seals in your spare time, or you…dip your fries in mayonnaise. It could meananything.”

He laughs. “Don’t worry, it’s ketchup all the way. I’m notthatmessed up.”

His laughter sets me at ease, a little. I inhale slowly, then let it out twice as slowly. “Okay, but that doesn’t explain anything. You tell me, ‘Hey, heads up, I have a scary dark streak,’ but then you don’t elaborate at all.”

“It’s not important. I just need you to know the fucked up world you’ve stumbled into.” He smirks at me. “Like Alice through the looking glass.”

My gaze flicks over his face, taking in his every micro-expression. “And what would that make you? The Mad Hatter?”

“Something like that.”

I straighten, and scootch away from him a little, facing him. “Well, if this is you warning me about your crazy side, then uh, maybe we should just cut our losses, and go our separate ways. I’ve had way too much crazy in the last couple of years. I don’t think I can take much more.”

His dark eyes flash with something–anger, or determination, maybe–then he lunges forward, his large body pressing me back against the sand. I’m lying now, with his huge body pressed against mine. “The second you stepped into my world, Little Rabbit, it was too late for you.”

I try to push him off me, but it’s like tryingto shove a ten-ton boulder off a twig. “If you’re not giving me a choice, then why tell me?” I ask, trying to plead with his logical side. If he even has one.

He smiles—but it lacks all amusement. It’s a smile that hints at the madness he mentioned earlier, and that sendsyet anothershockwave of fear rushing through me. “You’re not entitled to much, but you should know what you’re up against.” He brings his face close to mine. “Makes this more sporting.”

What the hell am I supposed to do with that? He’s not even making sense, for God’s sake. Sporting? So this is all a game to him? I’m so alarmed, and confused, and turned on…I don’t even know what to say.

My phone pings.

It’s in my back pocket, and impossible to reach while Roman is on top of me.

“I need to check my phone,” I say, and he must hear the urgency in my voice because he rolls off me without comment. I reach into my back pocket, and pull my phone out, glancing down at the lock screen. It’s a text from an unknown number, but the message preview sends my heart straight into my throat.

I rush to unlock my phone and read the full message.

Lux its Brie. lost my phone. im fine i just need space. and dont try looking for me. im afraid of what might happen to you if you do.

I blink down at the message, my mind struggling to comprehend what I just read. First of all, this isn’t Bree. Her name isn’t even spelled correctly. And second, why wouldshe tell menotto look for her? She’s afraidwhatmight happen?

“What is it?” Roman doesn’t wait for my response before taking the phone from my hand and reading the message himself. “Okay. So she’s fine.”

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