Page 66 of Stick Fight

But as I walk, one word keeps echoing through my mind—one word that I once used to describe my relationship with Cass.

Convenient.

How would Theo know that?

19

Roman

The warm scent of cinnamon and… Gabby pulls me awake. I open one eye, and then another, and find her standing at the door, watching me. My heart leaps at the sight of her. I never minded being on the road, until… her.

“Creeper much,” I tease, rubbing the blur from my eyes, but as soon as she comes into full focus, I notice the unease in her eyes, the uncertainty. I push myself up, my pulse jumping. “Are you okay?”

That uncertainty lingers for a second and then a smile spills over her face. “Yes. I just wasn’t sure if it was too early for you to be up. Did I wake you?”

I hesitate for a second, sensing something is off. Is it Cass? She takes a step toward me, tucking her hair behind her ear. “I just got back from The Nook. I have a surprise for you.”

Her teasing eases my worries and I glance at the clock, groaning when I see it’s noon. “That surprise had better have something to do with you naked, and between these sheets with me.”

I hold my hand out for her. Christ, last night, when I crawled into the bed, found her all warm and soft, her body welcoming me even in sleep as I cocooned her in my arms, all I wanted to do was wake her, put my cock in her until she was screaming my name. But she had a long week taking care of Stella and needed her sleep.

This morning, however, is a different story.

She toys with the top button on her blouse. “But... cinnamon buns.”

“Get your buns over here, Gabby. Those are the only ones I’m currently interested in.”

Her cheeks flush, and any unease she might have felt earlier dissipates. She unbuttons her blouse as she slowly comes toward me, and the slow seduction makes me delirious. I push the blankets down to expose my hard cock, to show her exactly what she does to me.

She gasps, and there’s a teasing edge to her voice when she points to my cock. “I didn’t know anacondas were native to Boston.”

“Fuck, girl.” I shake my head. Jesus, I love this woman.

Whoa.

What the actual fuck.

There’s no “what the fuck” about this, Roman. You love this woman.

I can’t… that’s not?—

Ah, but you do, dude.

But what if she’s still in love with her ex? I hate the guy—yeah, I hate what he did to her—but what if, by some miracle, he figures his shit out? What if he becomes the man she used to dream about and gives her the life she always wanted?

Fuck me.

My heart leaps into my throat. But she must not notice my moment of absolute panic, because she’s stripping, and the next thing I know, she’s on the bed, crawling between my legs like a woman on a mission.

“I think someone missed me,” she teases, fingers trailing over my thigh like she knows every weak spot I’ve got.

Missed her?

Yeah, I fucking missed her, which is insane right? Roman Marinelli doesn’t do relationships. Doesn’t do missing…

Yet, here we are.

“Yeah,” I manage, my voice rough as I reach up and place my palm on her cheek, brushing my thumb over the soft heat of her skin. “Gabby…”

---