Chapter Three

Roman

I nearly flew over the top of her to choke the shit out of the District Attorney when he greeted her. All polished with his hair sleeked back, expensive pansy ass suit. Hand resting on her back. I wanted to break his fingers one by one.

I let him get away with it because the truth was, I was more concerned about what all of this was doing to her. Why she showed up to help me when she not once sought me out before this. I understand it’s her name being tossed around. But for her to show up to help me now didn’t make a lick of sense at first.

It does now. I get it without even having to ask her. The guilt is eating away at her too. This incredible woman gave me up so I could follow through with my dream. It should piss me off that she never returned my calls and walked away without a backward glance. It doesn’t. If anything, it makes me want her all the more. Call me dumb, crazy, stupid or whatever else. This is my life, my story and I’ll do what I want. I have no one tying me down to give and take the only thing I’ve ever wanted to please and possess.

My firm dick jolts when a slight gasp escapes her mouth. I can see the speedy rap of her pulse on the side of her neck. I place my mouth over it, lick and suck. Smile over the quickening struggles of her heavy breath. She’s turned the fucked on. That’s all the proof I need to show me that what I just threatened her with more than likely has her wet between those heavenly thighs. What I wouldn’t give right now to drop to my knees and eat her the fuck out. I’m so lost in her that I don’t hear Marcus walk up behind me.

“Hate to break this up, but I need to get her out of here. Give us five then walk on out, and for fuck’s sake, don’t say a word. I don’t care what they try and goad you with.”

As long as I’ve known Marcus and as close as he is with everyone in the band, he has not once gone behind our backs and done a damn thing without running it by us first. The guy holds many secrets inside the vault he calls his head. We aren’t his only clients with secrets. Ours are minor compared to some of the shit he’ll die with stored up there. How in the fuck he knew how to find Joslyn beats the shit out of me. I’m glad he did.

I sat next to her barely listening to anyone else. The sound of her voice had me in a trance. The smell of her all around me had my cock throbbing.

The damn woman blew my fucking mind when she talked about me. Not sure if she really had been paying attention to my career all these years or not, but hearing the implication behind her words made me think she knows more about me than I do her.

I knew she wouldn’t go down without fighting for what was right. Never did I think she would shove herself to the ground to make it loud and clear that not only what he did was wrong, but it costs her, too. A loss that still impacts every part of my being. In the beginning, there were days as if I felt I had a mental tornado running a rage through my skull and destroying everything in its path to make a beeline straight for my heart.

“We need to get out of here, Roman. You two can cozy up another time.”

My fingers tingle from her silky skin as I watch her tug open the door and walk away from me with Marcus by her side for the second time in less than two hours. I stand there trying to calm the hell down until I hear a scream rip from a woman’s throat so loud it pierces my ears and stabs me in the gut.

It’s her.

“Get off her, you crazy fucks.” I whip open the door to chaos all around as dozens of paparazzi surround Joslyn, while Markus hollers and tries to shove them away. How in the fuck did they get past security? Goddamn leeches. I hate them. Every last one.

“Miss Reynolds, are you and Mr. Nixon back together? Can you tell us about your relationship with your co-worker Chad Clark? Have you ever tried looking for your parents? Roman and you were foster brother and sister, correct?” They are attacking her from every direction. Jesus fucking Christ. It’s like a sudden flash mob with a variety of lights going wild. All of them shoved in her face asking questions that will destroy her worse than she already is.

“Hey, I’m not afraid to knock all of you on your asses. I don’t care if you’re a woman or not. Get the hell off her. She has nothing to say,” I holler, fists clenched tight at my sides. I shove as many of them out of my way until I reach a red-faced, angered Joslyn. Taking hold of her sweaty hand, I drag her right through the madness and back into the courtroom while the shouting continues and an alarm goes off. Marcus is used to this shit. It’s one of the things I pay him for, but this, this is a bunch of fucking bullshit.

“You need to arrest every single one of those motherfuckers out there and sue the shit out of whoever they work for. I also suggest you get better security around here. There has to be a law about that bullshit I just witnessed out there. You okay?” I rotate toward Joslyn while telling the judge what I think of the crap I just witnessed when he steps out of his chamber all flustered-looking. He doesn’t even know what being flustered is.

“I’m fine. Please just get me out of here.” She melts into my side. Closer to me than she’s been in years. Feels better than I remember. Except, I shouldn’t be holding her over what happened. I should be holding her because she wants me to. Apprehension. It’s stifling the air. Stiffens her body when I wrap my arms around her.

“Trust me, Mr. Nixon, it will be handled. Ms.Reynolds, I apologize for what they did to you. I can assure you we will get to the bottom of this. You have my word. I can get an officer in here if you’d like to press harassment charges. If not, I can have one guide you safely through my private office. We can set up a car to take both of you wherever you need to go.”

“We’d like to leave,” I answer for her. Cautiously. The last thing any of us need is these people hounding us more. It’s already spreading, and the ruckus isn’t even completely calmed down yet. It’s only the beginning of the shitstorm that’s about to rain down. I’m used to seeing how these inhuman fuckers work. Joslyn, not so much.

We follow him through his chamber, out a side door, and down a long hallway. By the time we get to the exit door, he’s made a call, and there’s a dark exterior sedan with tinted windows waiting.

“Get in.” I open the door while I look around for signs of a hoarder hiding in this alley. Satisfied there isn’t one, I nod my gratitude to the judge, slide in the car, and slam the door. I expect her to squawk and argue when I rattle off my home address. She does nothing but stare out the window as we pull out into traffic.

I pull out my phone, tap out a quick text to Marcus to tell him to get ahold of my PR, and to schedule some sort of press release before this all blows out of proportion. I will not be undermined or ambushed like this again. I want to put a bullet in Gwen’s big fat mouth for starting this crap. She’s damn lucky I know for a fact she took off to the Caribbean in what she stated was a much-needed getaway to clear her head. Dumb bitch has nothing upstairs to clear.

“You sure you're okay?” Instead of answering me, she reaches into her briefcase to retrieve her ringing phone.

“Chad.” I cringe at the sound of another man’s name coming out of her mouth. He better be a fucking friend, or I’ll flip my shit. I’m not oblivious thinking she hasn’t been with other men; there’s something about the way she said his name that clings to my skin like dirt. The guy is important to her. Goddamn it.

“I know. I’ll be home soon.” Her voice waivers on confusion. She’s angry and scared. I don’t think so, baby. You aren’t going anywhere. Not after that scene back there. Joslyn isn’t fooling anyone. She’s strong in all kinds of ways yet fragile in ways she hides. It’s as if she’s sheltered all her pain away to calm everyone else down. It’s always been that way with her. Putting others before herself while shoving her own feelings down. It’s no wonder she sacrificed her face to help mine.

“I’m here to tell you it’s going to be a while before you can go home. Might even keep you with me the entire week the band is on break from touring. These people are not the respectable red carpet reporters. There’s a difference. The paparazzi will chase someone down in order to snap the right photo. They’ve run people off the road, chased them into alleys, cornered their kids. They stalk, get away with it. You might want to warn your boyfriend about them snooping around.” She ignores me. Isn’t the right time for my cock to go crazy. He does. Her stubbornness turns me on. She’s lucky I can’t throw her over my shoulder and paddle her sweet little ass.

“Excuse me. Can you take me to 1099 Hill Street, Please?” The driver eyes me, lingers on her a little too long for my liking, then shifts back to me again. I shake my head, push the button on the side of the door, and listen to her blow out a frustrated breath when the black glass divider crawls up.

“Roman, this is not a game. We aren’t kids anymore. I have a life, and you have barged right into it and blown me over. I’m not going to your house with… wh—what are you doing?” Her loud voice carries throughout the car when I grip hold of her waist.

“You’re right. This isn't a fucking game.” I shut her up by sliding her ass over, pressing gently on the exposed skin of her chest, and slamming my mouth on hers. Both of us tumble down. My hand is cradling the back of her head to fist her hair and save it from thumping on the armrest.

Her never-forgotten taste consumes my mouth. Her curves pressed tightly to me have my hands wanting to rip this dress right the hell off her in order for me to sit back and admire all of her. I could do it for days, and I still wouldn’t get my eyeful. Her mouth. God, her mouth; it’s as wicked as it is sweet. I’d die a happy man to have her mouth wrapped around my cock. Well, not entirely true. I’m not ready to die yet. Not when I’ll fight with all I’ve got to have her back in my life.

She moans, her lips part, and I’m an asshole for taking advantage when her head has to be boggled down with all of this. I no longer care about anything except the way she feels underneath me.

I have every right to kiss her as far as I’m concerned. She needs to let her guard down just a bit in order for me crawl inside and push out some of the hurt stored up that she didn’t give me a chance to help with when she needed me the most. It might cause more damage at first. I no longer care about that, either. I only care about her.

She doesn’t flinch when I snake my hand down her ribcage, bunch up her dress, and palm the bare skin of her ass. Suspected she was practically naked under here. Her ass was always an unquenched thirst I could never shake.

“Roman, this is wrong,” she whimpers.

No, it’s right. You know it, and so do I.” I rotate my hips as I press into her and lean my forehead on hers. I squeeze her ass one last time then slide my hand to her face. My thumb begins caressing the softness of her cheek. I want to kiss her again. Devour her. I want to inhale her fucking body. Take over her mind. Claim her more than I did years ago.

My voice is desperate when I tell her, “I know you never asked for any of this, Joslyn. I promise you, though, these people don’t care about anything but themselves. They thrive on this. They won’t give up until they either break you or have you losing control the way I did. I’ll lose my mind if you're not in my sight. If you go home, or even to work, they’ll hunt you down. Let me protect you, please?” Her eyelids flutter before she lets out a shaky breath and shakes her head.

I force myself to move off her when all I want to do is pull down my jeans, slide the garment that’s covering her pussy, and slide her down on my cock.

“I have clients who are relying on me. This is going to ruin my life.” Her upset voice pushes on my igniter, setting off a torpedo that aims straight for my heart. Shards of pain are cutting me deep. The last damn thing I want her thinking is any part of me will ruin her.

I wait in stunned silence for her to sit up, right herself, and smooth down her dress. She goes right back to staring out the window, moving farther away than she was before.

I want her with me the same as I did when I moved out here. The same as I did when she miscarried. I didn’t force her then when I should have, but I’m sure as fuck forcing her now.

Roman and Joslyn’s story continues on December 6th.