Page 126 of Dance of Defiance
The predictable panicked look that spreads over his features is almost funny.
Almost.
“Relax,” I smile. “I’m just fucking with you. I know you’d never stay for a meal, or, God forbid,sleep over.”
Roman scowls at me as he dries off. “I just?—”
Can’t bring yourself to spend the night with a guy even if you just moaned like a porn star while you bent over and begged him to fuck your ass. Got it.
“No stress,” I say tightly as I turn and leave the bathroom.
In my room, I'm pulling on baggy sweats and a t-shirt when I hear Roman step into the room behind me.
“It’s not that I don’twantto stay,” he says quietly. “I just…”
I turn as he's lifting his shoulders.
“It’s complicated.”
“Yeah, closets can be like that.”
He glares at me. “C’mon. I just…” he shrugs. “I mean, I’m not…”
Yeah, hit me with that “I’m not gay” line again, fucker. It’s a tough sell when you’ve been over here begging for my cock almost every night.
No. If I say that out loud, it’ll push him past the breaking point of whatever thread is keeping him close to me, and tothis…whatever “this” is.
Roman starts making the rounds of my room, picking up the various articles of his clothing that were tossed earlier. He pulls on jeans and a hoodie, scrupulously avoiding my gaze.
“So,” I drawl, opening the window and leaning against the sill as I stick a cigarette in my mouth. I flick my lighter, which draws his attention. His brow furrows as he looks at the cigarette.
“Same time tomorrow? You can skip the groceries excuse. You’ve already brought me five gallons of milk.” I drag on the cigarette as I look up at him. “I’m lactose intolerant, by the way.”
Roman’s brows knit as he stares at my smoke. “You should really quit.”
“I’ll take that under advisement. Is that a yes for tomorrow?”
He looks away. “I—I don’t know.”
“Guess we’ll just have to see how horny for my cock you are tomorrow, then.”
Roman’s eyes snap to mine, blazing. “Is there a reason you’re being a dickhead?”
“Just trying to plan my schedule,” I say dryly. “It’d be nice to know if the closet door is open or shut ahead of time.”
His mouth tightens. “Val, I’m…” He takes a slow breath. “I’m?—”
“Drowning in your toxic views of what it means tobe a man?” I say coldly. “Yeah—I know.”
His eyes darken. “I don’thaveto come here, you know,” he growls.
“I don’t get the impression that anyone’s twisting your arm,” I snap back.
Roman scowls, his jaw tightening in that sexy, broody way that always makes my pulse surge.
“I should go.”
I follow him out of my bedroom into the main living area. My hand wraps around his arm, pulling him around to face me.
