Page 50 of After the Storm

“So there is nothing the police will do to prevent you from being hurt? They’ll justmaybehandle it if he does?” Roman pipes up, anger evident in his voice. All I can do is nod. Anyone who’s been in a similar situation knows how screwed up the laws are surrounding protecting women. They won’t protect you until something has happened and I guess you just have to hope that when it does, it isn’t fatal.

“Let me take you back to my place,” Roman suggests.

“I don’t know. What about Ares?” I counter. Next to us Beck’s eyes go big and he looks quickly from Roman, to me, then back to Roman.

“Oh shit!” he yells out. “You guys are sneaking around behind Ares’ back?” he asks. My knee jerk reaction is to tell him we’re not. That isn’t what’s going on. But it kinda is.

“We were waiting to see how things went between us before we went telling anyone who it might affect,” Roman says, taking some of the heat off of me.

“You totally got the girl, bro. Congrats,” Beck says, putting out a fist to fist bump but Roman just stares at it. My cheeks turn red hot.

“She’s right here, dip shit. Want to have this conversationanyother time?” Roman says through gritted teeth. It brings a laugh out of me. When he looks at me and sees me laughing his face softens, like he can’t stay annoyed. So, I do him a favor and put him out of his misery.

“Yeah. He got the girl,” I say, nudging his arm with mine. He gives me a fake eye roll in return. “Anyway, what about Ares being there?” I ask again, considering we got sidetracked with Beck last time.

“He isn’t home. He’s on campus for something.”

“What about my car?”

“I’ll bring you by tomorrow before work to grab it,” he assures me.

“Okay. I’ll spend the night then. We should stop and get me clothes though,” I suggest. Roman laughs like I said something funny.

“Please, and miss you in my clothes? In your dreams.” He laughs again. Beck joins him in laughter.

“Not together my fucking ass,” he says under his breath and we all laugh.

* * *

The dim lightof the lamp on Roman’s nightstand is the only light in the room. I’m lying on his chest, and he’s playing with my hair. I have the time now to get swept up in the what-ifs of it all. How many times Tyler had been watching me or following me that I didn’t notice. What his plan was if Beck hadn’t been at the shop. It all hurts to think about.

“What do you think he was going to do if Beck wasn’t there?” I ask so quietly that I almost wonder if he even heard me.

“I don’t know. I wish I had a better answer.” I wish he did too. I wish someone could tell me that everything was going to be okay and know it to be true. I wish I knew what he wanted from me or what he was planning. I don’t know though, it’s all a big unknown, and the unknown is scary.

It’s stupid really how safe I feel after all that. It doesn’t change how scary the what-ifs can be. Still, being around Roman brings me a peace I don’t get anywhere else. No matter how bad things get or how scary. When I’m with Roman my brain goes quiet. Even if it’s only temporary, it’s pure fucking bliss when the constant chaos of thoughts goes to a serene silence.

“I wish it could be like this all the time,” I say, tipping my chin to look at him.

“Like what?” he asks.

“Simple. You and me, being together. I feel like all the noise in my head goes quiet when I’m with you,” I admit. A soft smile spreads across his lips.

“It will be. Just give it time.” Roman places a soft kiss to the top of my head and we drift off to sleep.

Chapter20

Roman

I wakeup in the best way possible. Audra straddling me and kissing all over my face. If you asked me to pick a way to wake up every morning for the rest of my life? It would look a whole lot like this.

“Good morning,” I say finally opening my eyes the rest of the way and kissing her. The sweetest fucking smile I’ve ever seen spreads across her lips which are slightly puffier first thing in the morning.

“I like waking up with you.” She sighs before planting another kiss on my cheek. Then another on my shoulder, and one more on my bare chest.

“I think you’re trouble,” I say, raising a brow at her. I don’t mention that I think trouble might be my new favorite thing. Of all the moments with Audra, I think this one takes the cake for feeling like a dream.

Even though having sex felt like a big moment. This feels domestic and permanent. Waking up together, all smiles, her in my clothes, and on top kissing me. I’m not really a guy who wishes but if you gave me three, this would be all three of them.

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