Page 64 of The Arrangement
A giggle rose from Rome. “Here. Let me hang up your coat, and then I can give you restorative cuddles.”
I released him and stepped back. “Restorative cuddles? I thought you’d offer whiskey.”
Rome shrugged as he placed the coat on a hanger and hung it in the closet off the foyer. “I mean, I can if that’s what you want, but I thought I’d at least try cuddles first.”
“Nah. Let’s try cuddles first. We might have to try the whiskey later.”
With a smirk, Rome caught my hand and pulled me into the living room, where he pulled me down with him onto this enormous, soft, cushioned chair. It easily fit two people, especially with Rome pulling me over so that I was half lying on him.
I kicked off my sneakers and propped my socked feet up on the matching gigantic footrest. With my head on his shoulder and my arm across his waist, the world felt easier to deal with.
“You wanna talk about it?” Rome murmured into my hair.
“Do you mind if we don’t? At least, not yet. I want to stew on it a little more.”
Rome was silent, but I could feel a new tightness in my arms. He wasn’t happy with that answer.
“Would it help if what’s on my mind has nothing to do with being gay or bisexual or being with you or sex or anything of the hundred different things you’d expect me to be worrying about right now?”
“Seriously?” Rome jerked to the side so he could more clearly see my face. Open shock was scrawled across his face, and it made me want to kiss him.
“Yes, seriously. It’s a work thing.”
Rome released an enormous sigh of relief, making me cackle. “Oh my God, that’s so good to hear. Well, not really. I don’t want you stressed about work, but I’m glad you’re not stressing about us and your sexual orientation.” He settled back in the chair, and I returned my head to his shoulder.
“I probably should stress about that, and I do some, but honestly? Fuck it. I’m thirty-three. Been married and divorced. Moved to a new city. Lost my best friend. Found him again. Let him suck my dick and discovered that I liked it.” Rome laughed like a lunatic, and I smiled at his wicked joy. “The point is that I’m too tired to fucking care anymore. Maybe if my family was here to shout about how I was going to hell, I’d care more, but I’m happy right now, and I’m fine with staying in my bubble of happiness for as long as I can.”
“I promise to protect your bubble for as long as I can.”
That was sweet. We knew bubbles didn’t last. Eventually, this one would burst, and I’d have to deal with shit, but preferablynot before I had a handle on my identity. And maybe after I’d found the right words to tell my homophobic family to fuck off.
“Is there anything I can do to help with the work stress?”
Rome’s question was so damn innocent, but I had to bite my tongue to stop myself from blurting out that he needed to make a donation. Yes, it would make things easier, and yes, we’d agreed upon that a long time ago, but it wouldn’t fix anything long term. It might make things worse. If my boss—no, myformerboss—thought she could snap her fingers and get money out of Rome through me, my hell would just be starting.
“Kiss me,” I murmured, even as I captured his lips in a slow, deep kiss that curled my toes.
Rome didn’t hesitate. He licked into my mouth as if it were his personal property, and I loved it. Each time we were together, whether it was simply talking and playing video games or exploring our relationship on a physical level, I was falling more for him. He made me happy in ways that I’d never felt with anyone else. And I didn’t want it to ever end.
The kissing went on and on until Rome hooked a hand behind one of my knees and pulled it across his body. A yelp broke from my lips as I gripped the back of the chair and pushed upright to find that I was now straddling his waist, his hands settled comfortably on my hips. My heart flipped over, and I might have giggled. I’d never straddled a man like this, which was a stupid thought because nearly everything I did with Rome was a first time.
After the stunned surprise wore off, I became aware of the hardness of Rome’s dick pressing against my own through our pants. My heart sped up, and I was torn between jumping off him and complaining that we were wearing too much clothing.
“Too much?” Rome asked after the silence had stretched for too long.
I shifted, trying to make sure that I wasn’t putting too much weight on him, but I only succeeded in rubbing our dicks together. A moan tore from my throat, and Rome echoed it. Dear God, it should not feel that good.
“More,” I panted, tossing aside all my earlier reservations. “Gonna need more.”
Rome—the evil bastard—tightened his grip on my ass and rolled his hips, sending a fresh wave of pleasure and desire through me. “How much more?”
“No clothes more. Now.”
We fell out of the chair and stumbled along the hall, knocking into walls as we kissed and fondled each other on our way to the bedroom. Something crashed to the floor, but Rome wouldn’t let me return for it.
“Replaceable. Doesn’t matter,” he claimed between kisses.
I laughed, and he ended up kissing my teeth. “You can slow down. I won’t change my mind.”
