Rimmel

Even after all the work was done and the entire shelter was clean, I wasn’t ready to go. The quiet, un-chaotic atmosphere was exactly what I needed tonight. Michelle was in the back, taking care of some paperwork, and the other girls had gone for the day.

I decided to hang out with Murphy for a while. It seemed like eternity since I’d seen him last. I still came here almost every day, so technically, it hadn’t been long at all, but I guess all the things happening lately made my days seem fuller.

I wasn’t sure what to feel anymore.

The last few weeks had changed things for me in ways I didn’t really understand. I used to be focused on school. On animals and just keeping my head down. I was still completely dedicated to becoming a vet, and school was still very important to me… but it seemed like lately it might not be enough.

Emotions stirred in me, emotions I thought I stuffed down so deep they’d disappeared. A couple weeks with Romeo, a few bone-melting kisses, and a lunch with two girls, and I realized they had been there all along. Waiting. Lurking. Watching.

I liked Romeo. More than I wanted to. How much longer could I fight it? The minute he touched me, I seemed to turn to mush. It’s like everything my head knew to be true was pushed aside by my overeager heart.

Romeo was dangerous to me. Not in any physical sense, not even a threat to my future. I would see my dream of becoming a veterinarian come to life. Nothing would stop me from that.

But on an emotional level, Romeo was possibly an atomic bomb. He scared me. He scared me more than any guy I’d ever met, even the one from years ago. Maybe because this time I knew whatever piece of me I let him have I would never, ever get back.

How could I surrender any part of me to him?

Dangling right here before me was an entire life. Friends. A guy. Something more than just me, myself, and I.

I wanted it.

How would I know I could trust him? How could I trust any of them?

I sighed and looked away from the open textbook in front of me, not even bothering to try and read it anymore. Murphy was curled up in my lap, and I stroked his velvety fur and leaned my head back against the wall. “I wish I knew what to do, Murphy,” I whispered.

I closed my eyes and concentrated on the vibrations against my legs from Murphy’s machine-like purr and tried to clear my mind. A few moments later, Murphy stopped purring and I felt him lift his head.

I opened my eyes and looked across the room.

Romeo was standing in the doorway, watching me. Our eyes collided. We stared at each other for a long time. I don’t really know what he was looking for, but I was searching for something, anything that would tell me how he really felt.

He was wearing a pair of washed-out jeans that hung dangerously low on his narrow hips. His deep-royal and yellow-gold varsity jacket was open to reveal a black T-shirt with some sort of faded logo on the front. His hair was damp like he’d just come from a shower and it was tousled and messy on top like he’d been running his fingers through it.

His shoulders were the same wide width as always, but beneath his captivating blue eyes was a hint of darkness, giving him a slightly weary look.

“Hey,” I finally said, breaking the silence.

“Hey,” he replied, coming farther into the room. Neither of us said anything else as he dropped down in front of me, mirroring my Indian-style pose. His knees bumped against mine he sat so close, and my stomach flipped over at the casual touch.

Murphy abandoned my lap and climbed into Romeo’s. He glanced down, lifted half his mouth, and scratched him behind the ears. “Figured you’d be here,” he said.

“Just getting some studying done. Hanging out with Murph,” I replied.

“Can I hang out too?” he asked.

“Sure.”

I don’t know why things suddenly seemed awkward between us. I didn’t know what to say or how to act. Just because we kissed a couple times didn’t mean we were dating or together. He kissed lots of girls. I knew I wasn’t anyone special. What I didn’t understand was the hoodie. Why he wanted me to wear it so badly. I heard the whispers this afternoon. No one had ever been spotted wearing it around like that.

“You’re not wearing my shirt,” he said, as if he knew where my mind had gone.

“I didn’t want to get hair all over it.” I gestured to Murphy.

“I just got done with practice,” he said, and it seemed it was more to fill the silence than anything else.

“You look tired,” I said honestly.

He gave me a sheepish look. “I’m fucking exhausted.” Then his eyes sparkled. “But don’t tell anyone that. I got a rep to protect.”

I smiled, but it didn’t last long. He did have a rep to protect. It was exactly why I couldn’t understand that he was here with me.

My phone went off beside me. Seconds later, Romeo’s went off as well.

I picked mine up and looked down at the latest Buzz. I felt the blood drain from my head. It was about me. The BuzzBoss called me a nerd. No, worse… a hashtag nerd. Pretty soon I would be trending all over the Alpha social waves.

Everyone thought I was going after Romeo.

I snorted because it was freaking ridiculous. The loud sound caused Murphy to look up from beneath Romeo’s hand.

He was staring down at his screen too. I knew he was seeing the same notification I was.

His eyes lifted to mine. I jumped up, taking my book with me, and strode to where my bag was and started packing everything up. When I turned, he was at my elbow, Murphy in his arms.

“It’s just the stupid BuzzFeed,” he murmured. “No one pays attention to it anyway.”

I laughed. “Do you even believe that?”

His gaze was unreadable when I reached for Murphy and pulled him against my chest. “You should go.”

“You’re mad.”

“Yeah, maybe I am.”

“I didn’t write that Buzz,” he said.

“It’s not the stupid Buzz!” I cried. Then I felt contrite. I sighed and took Murphy over to his shelter and placed him gently inside. After I made sure everything was closed up, I grabbed my stuff off the table, his hoodie one of those items.

“I’ll drive you back to campus,” he said.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

His eyes narrowed.

Michelle came out and saw us standing outside the cat room. “Romeo,” she said with a wide smile. “Did you come to give Rimmel a ride?”

“Yes,” he said smoothly, looking at me with a dare in his eyes.

“Good, I won’t feel bad that I have to stay late.”

“Is everything okay?” I asked.

“Everything’s fine,” she said. “We have an animal coming in from another county and he won’t be here until late.”

“I should stay.” I began. “You might need help.”

She was already shaking her head. “I can handle this. Besides, you have class tomorrow.”

“I’ll get her home,” Romeo said, placing his palm on the small of my back. My skin tingled beneath my shirt, and I felt like he was branding me.

“See you Saturday!” Michelle gave me a wave and disappeared.

“C’mon,” Romeo said softly, guiding me toward the door.

I went with him because I didn’t feel like walking. Outside, the air felt bitter and I gritted my teeth against it.

“You don’t like the cold much, do you?” he said, gazing down at me.

“I’m from Florida. Cold like this is just unnatural.”

He chuckled. “You could put that on, you know,” he said, gesturing at his hoodie.

“I’m good,” I replied and went over to climb into his Hellcat. The interior was still warm from when he drove over, and I sighed as I leaned back.

“You hungry?” Romeo asked when he got in. “I’m starving.”

“Sure,” I said.

He drove to the nearest drive-thru and ordered a bunch or burgers, some fries, and two milkshakes. “Is your roommate at your dorm?” he asked.

“I doubt it. She never is,” I replied.

“Good. We can eat there.”

He wanted to come upstairs?

“I’m not sure,” I said, recalling all my doubts.

“We need to talk, Rimmel,” he said softly. “You’re pissed and I want to know why.”

I snorted and pushed my glasses up on my nose. “You know why.”

“Maybe. But I want to hear it from you.”

No one was in the hall when we walked to my room. Thank goodness, because I could only imagine the kind of stir that would create. I hurried to let us in and held my breath, praying Ivy wasn’t here. She wasn’t, and I relaxed when the door closed behind us.

Romeo kicked off his shoes, flung his jacket over the end of my bed, and practically dived onto the mattress. It looked small with him in the center.

“Make yourself comfortable,” I said sarcastically.

He grinned and took a huge bite out of one of the burgers. As he chewed, he patted the mattress beside him. I hesitated but gave in and sat down because he had the food.

After rubbing some yummy-smelling hand sanitizer on my hands, I unwrapped a burger and took a small bite. Romeo was already on his second burger.

“Those jeans you’re wearing are hot,” he said around a bite.

I glanced up and noted his heated gaze and I felt it down to my core. Something stirred inside me and it felt a hell of a lot like desire.

I took a pull of the chocolate shake, hoping it would cool the flames. It didn’t seem to help, because he watched my lips wrap around the straw and his eyes darkened until they were sapphire pools.

I shivered.

He sat up and put his back to the wall and moved the bag of food onto his other side. He held out his arm like he wanted me to come closer. I moved just an inch, but it was enough. He caught hold of me and scooted me into his side beneath the crook of his arm.

My legs stretched out beside his on the bed. My feet didn’t even make it to the end of the mattress and his hung over. He looked so much more powerful than me as I compared our bodies. It made me wary and a little mad all over again.

“Tell me what’s eatin’ ya,” Romeo said, reaching for another burger.

I debated and then I thought, Why not? This was the way I was feeling. It wasn’t going to go away. I needed to speak up for myself because if I didn’t, no one else would.

Plus, maybe it would scare him away.

If it did, I wouldn’t have to feel like this anymore.

“I wore your shirt around campus this afternoon,” I said. “I left it on like you asked.”

“You probably looked cute as hell,” he murmured.

“Well, I sure did get a lot of looks and whispers.”

“Is that what you’re upset about?” he asked, still eating.

“When I was finished with classes for the day, I stopped back by the food court.” I began. “To grab something for later, and someone stopped me.”

He paused in eating and his body tensed next to mine.

“It was some girl,” I said, and he relaxed immediately. It made me curious and partially alarmed that he thought it might be someone else. “She had long black hair and was a lot taller than me.”

“Could be anyone,” he said.

I poked him in the ribs. “You saying I’m short?”

“Calling it like I see it, Smalls,” he quipped.

I told myself not to be charmed.

“She’d seen the shirt. Your name,” I said, the charm evaporating like water on a hot day. “She told me you were going to get bored, that you always get bored, and when you did, I would be just another notch on your belt.”

“Rimmel.” Romeo said my name with a sigh. He abandoned the burger to its wrapper and put his free arm around me to pull me closer. My body melted into him until I realized I couldn’t let him hold me. Not right now. I’d let everything and anything he said become the truth.

I pulled away and he let me go. I slipped off the bed and stood.

I felt his gaze but didn’t turn to look at him. I couldn’t. His blue eyes would weaken me.

“Girls are going to be jealous. The ones I hooked up with and the ones who want to,” he said.

I glanced at him then. “You’ve hooked up with a lot of girls,” I said.

“Yes, I have.” He looked straight at me.

I wasn’t expecting that. I wasn’t expecting such a straightforward, honest reply. He said it without trying to sugarcoat it. He said it without trying to soften the blow with his smile.

The wall I was holding up between us cracked.

I took a breath and kept going. “That’s the thing, Romeo. You could have any girl you want. Why are you here right now? Why did you insist on my wearing your name today?”

His eyes narrowed like something I said pissed him off. “Are you saying you aren’t good enough?”

I laughed and spread my arms out wide. “Seriously?” I said. “Look at me! I’m not tall and long-legged. I don’t like to party. I don’t have model perfect hair or designer clothes. I don’t wear makeup. I snort when I laugh and I wear glasses.”

“So you think I’m superficial?” he said, the muscle in his jaw ticking as he looked away.

“No. Yes,” I said, confused. “I don’t know!” I yelled.

“So let me get this straight,” he said. “You’re pissed because girls are being petty, the BuzzBoss is calling you a nerd, and because in spite of it all, I’m still here?”

“Yes!” I shot out.

Why are you still here?

He scrubbed a hand over his face like he was tired. I was tired too. Suddenly, I was so very tired. He materialized behind me. I felt his heat against my back. His solid arms wound around my waist and pulled me into his chest and he lowered his chin to my shoulder.

“What do you want from me?” I whispered.

He turned his head and pressed a kiss into the crook of my neck. My eyes slid closed. “Right now?” he breathed, his words fanning out across my skin. “Right now I want to kiss you.”

Excitement raced down my spine and my toes curled against the floor.

“Can I kiss you right now, Rimmel?”

I nodded. Maybe I shouldn’t let him touch me or kiss me, but I wanted him desperately.

He pulled back and guided me around. He didn’t move like he was hurried; instead, he stepped up as close as he could. Our toes bounced together and he slowly wrapped his arms around me, pulling me in so my back arched, and pushed my waist into him farther. One of his hands slid up my back and cupped the back of my neck, tilting my head back so I was totally open for him.

I got caught in the blue web of his eyes. I got tangled up in just the feel of him against me, and a cloud of desire settled over the room.

“You asked me why I’m here,” he murmured, leaning in so he was so close his lips brushed mine as he spoke. “This is why I’m here, Rimmel. Can’t you feel it too?”

My eyes drifted closed and I nodded. The small movement bumped our lips fully together and neither of us pulled away.

Once connected, we were fused together. My arms came up to wrap around his neck, and I leaned up on my tiptoes to get better access to his mouth.

Romeo groaned deep in his throat and deepened the kiss. Sparks of electricity burned me and heat pooled in my center. His tongue slipped between my lips and smoothed over my teeth to tangle with my all too willing tongue.

My brain grew fuzzy and my limbs heavy as he continued to work my mouth like he knew exactly how to make my body succumb to him. When I felt my lungs were going to burst, he broke contact but didn’t pull away. As I pulled in deep breaths of air, his lips slid across my jaw and toward my ear, where he tugged my lobe with his teeth and sent chills of pleasure racing across my skin. My arms fell from his neck and grabbed his biceps as he explored down my neck, licking and biting as he went.

I moaned as he slid back up, and I turned my head to kiss him again. Romeo lifted me so my feet weren’t touching the ground and laid me across the bed, coming over me with his considerable size. I gazed up at him with passion-laced eyes, and he smiled down at me with slightly swollen lips.

I reached for him and he met me halfway, stroking my tongue with his as his hand found the hem of my shirt and slid up across my stomach.

I stilled because the sensation was new, and he drew back slightly to look down. “I won’t do anything you don’t want.”

It took a moment for his words to penetrate my foggy brain, and I nodded.

“I just want to touch you, baby,” he rasped, his voice hoarse. “Is that okay?”

I arched up against his hand, giving him my answer and better access to my skin at the same time. My body was on fire beneath him and his touch was like the cool water that calmed the flames. His lips fused to mine once more and we kissed endlessly as his fingertips dragged across my stomach and teased the waistband of my jeans.

His hand was so big that when he laid his palm flat over my stomach, it nearly covered my entire abdomen. He murmured something unintelligible against my mouth as he explored upward until the tips of his fingers caressed the underside of my jaw.

The rest of his body was alongside mine, we touched from my feet all the way up. He leaned over me so I could feel his weight, but enough of him was on the mattress so I wasn’t being squished.

The second his fingers brushed the fabric of my bra, the flames he’d been keeping under control raged. The desire in my blood tripled and I made a small sound in the back of my throat. I wanted more. I wanted so much more.

Romeo pulled back to look down but kept his one hand where it was. With his other hand, he reached up and gently pulled my glasses off, carefully setting them off to the side. Then he leaned down and pressed ultra-soft kisses to each of my fluttering eyelids.

A soft sigh expelled from my lips and his fingers spasmed against me like he was trying to hold himself back. “Okay?” he asked, inching up a little ways.

My breasts felt swollen with need and I whispered, “Yes,” as I threaded my fingers through his hair and pulled him back down to me. His hand slid all the way up and cupped my small breast. He palmed it entirely, giving it a gentle squeeze and making my hard nipple ache. The pressure of his kiss increased, and I tightened my fingers in his thick blond hair. I loved the way it felt between my fingers. I reveled in the softness.

The sensations running through my body were almost overwhelming. My fingers and knees shook with need and my stomach jumped around even as another part of me urged for more. Romeo’s hands were gentle but gave so much pleasure. He massaged my breast and ran his finger beneath my bra strap against the smooth skin of my shoulder. Cool air brushed over my exposed abdomen, and the kiss we shared went on.

I wiggled beneath him, wanting even more, and my hands left his hair to cup his jaw. He pulled back and stared down at me. The room was dim, but even in the faded light, I saw how much I affected him.

He was attracted to me; that much was painfully clear. If I couldn’t see it in his eyes, I could certainly feel him against my hip. He rocked against me restlessly as he stared down at my face.

I couldn’t look away. I was captivated by him.

As he watched me, his fingers delved into the edges of my bra cup and tugged the fabric down. It gave way, and his palm covered my bare breast and squeezed. My eyes slid closed and my head fell to the side. He nuzzled my neck as his fingers found my nipple and rolled it between his fingers.

My hands no longer held him. They had fallen to my sides, but when he once again moved against me, I gripped his hips and my lips reached for his once more.

His kiss was my entire universe, so much so that I didn’t hear the door open. I didn’t hear Ivy’s surprised gasp. I would have gone on kissing him if he hadn’t lifted his head.

He looked up, his body stiffening only slightly, and I looked to see what caught his attention.

“Crap!” Ivy said, her body frozen in the doorway and surprise written all over her face.

I ducked my face into the space between Romeo’s shoulder and jaw, hiding because she caught us but also because I was still quivering with need and didn’t want her to see.

“Hey,” Romeo said. “What’s up?”

“Uh, um…” Ivy stuttered. I smiled into his neck because Ivy was never speechless. “I can just come back.”

“It’s cool,” Romeo said, his voice still a little deep with passion. “You can stay.”

Disappointment flared in me, but then I realized it was for the best. I was getting far too carried away. Romeo adjusted my bra under my top and pulled his hand free. Already my skin ached for him, missed his touch. I was still hiding against him, and he chuckled and wrapped an arm around my waist to drag me along with him as he sat up against the wall.

I peeked at Ivy and saw she was debating on what to do. I noticed a couple girls walking down the hall, trying to see what she was looking at.

“Close the door, Ivy.” I reminded her.

“Right.” She did and then walked into the room. Her gaze kept bouncing back and forth between Romeo and me like she almost couldn’t believe her eyes.

A funny feeling wormed its way into my stomach, and some of the things I’d been worrying about before we started making out reared their ugly heads.

Then I remembered the night at the bonfire Romeo had walked Ivy to the car. “Do you two know each other?” I said, sitting up a little. Romeo kept his arm wound around my waist.

Ivy opened her mouth, but Romeo spoke before she could. “We go to the same parties. We made out a couple weeks ago, didn’t we?”

Ivy flushed. She glanced at me. I was surprised too. Surprised he would just call it out like that. It was almost like he was just putting it out there so it wasn’t between us.

That wall inside me cracked again.

“Um, yeah,” Ivy said. “At the bonfire.”

Romeo nodded. “Missy’s dating Braeden.”

“They’re just having fun,” Ivy and I replied at the exact same moment.

We both looked at each other and laughed.

Romeo grinned. “Ah, yeah. That sounds like Braeden.”

“I thought that was your motto too?” Ivy said, lifting her sculpted brow at him.

“That’s what they say.” He didn’t confirm or deny, and it frustrated me.

The only thing I’d learned tonight was that my body burned for him.

He slid off the bed and straightened his clothes. He seemed to fill up the small space. Ivy clicked on a lamp on her side of the room and dropped onto her bed to watch us. Romeo’s eyes slid down to my chest and he smiled slowly. Then he lifted his hoodie off the floor and tossed it to me. “It’s cold. You should put this on.”

I glanced down at my chest and grimaced. Both my nipples were so hard you could see them through my clothes. I grabbed up the shirt and shot my eyes toward Ivy, but she couldn’t see. Her view was blocked by Romeo.

“Walk me out?” he said, shrugging into his jacket.

“Sure,” I said. After I put on the shirt, I grabbed the bag of food we’d only half eaten and picked up his shake and handed it to him.

“Here.” I blushed. “You didn’t really get to eat.”

“Funny thing,” he said, stepping close. “I’m not that hungry anymore.”

Across the room, I thought Ivy might die.

“I’ll be right back,” I told her, stuffing my glasses back on. She shook her head and mouthed, Oh my God.

I grinned. I couldn’t help it.

We stepped out in the hall and everything went quiet. Various sets of eyes all turned and fastened on Romeo.

“Ladies,” he said and gave them all his megawatt smile.

Then he draped an arm around my shoulders and led me to the stairs.

As the stairwell door closed behind us, the entire hallway burst into chatter.