Page 23 of Romeo

I feel so precious at this moment. Surrounded by his strength as my limp body melts into the mattress, making me feel so thoroughly loved and protected.

Romeo gently rolls us over, draping me across his body. “Tell me what’s on your mind,bella.” He trails his hand down my spine, tenderly caressing my skin and lulling me into a fuzzy, post-climax haze.

Maybe that’s why I decide to confess my fears and why they snowball into a near meltdown. “What happens next?” I ask softly. “With me, I mean. Or, I guess, with… us?” I glance at Romeo before looking away again. “I’m not expecting to stay here forever, I know that. You’ll get tired of me at some point, and I’ll outstay my welcome. I just… I don’t think I can go back to that apartment. And my crocheting business is doing well, but it’s not going to pay the rent for a while until I can grow it more, and–”

Romeo presses a finger to my lips, silencing me. “You never have to worry about money again,” he says firmly. I try protesting, but he raises his scarred eyebrow, giving me a dark look. “As for getting tired of you…” Romeo shakes his head, his dark eyes searching mine for something. “How could you even think that? Have I not made it clear that I’m obsessed with you? I didn’t want to scare you off with my intensity, and truthfully, I hardly understand it myself.”

I blink at him, my runaway thoughts coming to an abrupt halt. How did he know exactly what I needed to hear? It’s like he reached into my soul, found my deepest heartache, and spoke healing words directly into my pain. Tears sting my eyes as they rush to the surface.

Romeo starts to panic. “Shit, I’m screwing this up,” he mutters. “I’m not good with words, Thalia, but–”

This time, it’s me who stops his rambling with a finger on his lips.“You didn’t screw anything up,” I promise. I try looking away from his dark gaze, but he cups my chin and draws my face back toward his. “I just… I can’t believe you want me like that,” I finally whisper. “You sound like you want to keep me.”

Romeo flips our positions, pressing me into the mattress as he looms over me and cages me in with his arms. His black hair is wild, matching his deep brown eyes as they bore into mine. I feel safe and protected, yet completely exposed to this man. I’m sharing my body, opening up my fragile heart, and inviting him to either soothe me or break me apart completely.

“Iamkeeping you,” he vows, his voice both commanding and gentle. “You’remine, Thalia. Every part of you. I want your sweet smiles and sexy moans, your calming presence, and your kind heart. I want it all, including your secrets and pain, sweet girl.”

“Romeo…” I say with a sniffle as he brushes away a few tears with the pad of his thumb.

He presses a kiss to my cheeks and my lips, then settles next to me before pulling me into his arms once more. “Tell me who made you feel unworthy,” he murmurs. “Who made you think you were an inconvenience?”

I shrug, but my man isn’t going to let me get away with that. I sigh and snuggle closer, tracing his tattoos as I spill my heart out to the only man who has ever asked. “I was a late-in-life surprise for my parents, who thought they were done raising kids,” I start, my voice soft and unsteady. “My mom left when I was five. My dad made sure to remind me it was my fault.”

“Asshole,” Romeo grunts, tightening his hold on me.

I grin, kissing his chest right over his heart.“It is what it is,” I say, repeating the line I’ve been telling myself for years. “At least my dad stuck around for most of my childhood.”

“Most?”

“My brother, Thomas, is—was—almost two decades older than me. I guess my dad had enough of raising me, so when I was seventeen, he dropped me off at Thomas’s apartment. I’ve been there for a few years, trying to build my crochet business so I could move out. We didn’t have a perfect life, but we made ends meet, you know?”

Romeo nods, giving me space to say whatever I need to say.

“His drinking was getting a little out of hand, but it wasn’t horrible. Not like my dad’s addiction. I thought I could help him get better, but then…”

“Sweet girl,” Romeo murmurs, wrapping his arms around me and holding me close. “I hate that you’ve gone your whole life feeling forgotten and abandoned.”

I give an awkward shrug once again. “It is what it is.”

“Not anymore,” Romeo says firmly. “I’m going to spoil you like crazy until you believe you are worth every penny, every ounce of attention and care.”

I smile through my tears, reaching out to trace a line down Romeo’s nose and lips. “I don’t care about money or what it can buy. I just care about you, Romeo. I want you in my life, whatever the cost.”

He furrows his brow, studying me intently before capturing my lips in a slow, sensual kiss. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you,” he whispers into the shell of my ear. “But I’m keeping you. You’re mine now, Thalia.”

“Yours,” I repeat, finally resting my head on his chest.

Romeo cradles me in his arms, soothing every broken piece of my past.

CHAPTERTEN

ROMEO

Iwoke up over an hour ago, but I’ve been content to lie here and count each one of Thalia’s freckles in the early morning light. The sun kisses her cheeks and tangles in her auburn hair, making her glow like the angel she is.

Gently combing a hand through her hair, I let the silky strands fall through my fingers as I inhale her sweet, peppermint scent. She’s the most precious thing in the world, and she somehow ended up right here in my bed.

“Are you being a creeper?” Thalia sasses, her lips curling into a grin even though her eyes are still closed.

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