And he just pounded on through. Never stopping. Going harder and harder until he cursed aloud and unloaded inside of me.

“Holy fucking shit,” he rasped.

I knew exactly what he meant.

And just when I thought we were done, the god of a man started all over again.

*

Okay, now I was really sore. I had another quick hot shower to ease the throbbing, and by then Carter had left to grab breakfast. He was supposed to meet Rome in a half hour to discuss the band plans and check out some guys who were supposedly good at playing guitar. Meanwhile I had more trials to do at the bar.

I finished and slowly stepped out of the stall. God, had I been punched in the vagina or something? Because seriously!

I wrapped my body in a towel and combed through my hair. When a knock sounded out, I threw the comb down and hurried to the door, thinking it was Carter. My smile faded when I saw Rome instead.

He looked like shit. Totally in a hangover from hell, wearing a baggy shirt and pants. His eyes widened at the sight of me. “Hey.”

I tightened the towel against me. “Hey. I thought you were meant to meet Carter later.”

“Yeah, I just came to see how you were after last night. It was pretty crazy.”

I smiled warmly. “I’m good.”

He must have noticed the dazed look in my eyes because his eyebrow went up and he repeated, “You’re good?”

“Very good.”

“So is it official then?”

“What?”

He pointed at me and then at the empty space behind me. “You and Carter. Together.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but then shut it again. How was I going to explain this to Rome? He would get pissy if he knew about our situation.

“I knew something was going on when you showed up at the house and asked for a place to stay. I mean, the hickey was a giveaway, but last night, I saw you both together and it was obvious as shit something was going on. I was just wondering, since I’m your friend and all, and you’ve been silent on the topic.”

I didn’t reply. I looked awkwardly down at my body. “Do I have to explain this with just a towel on?”

“It needs to be explained?”

“Things between Carter and I are… complicated.”

“How so?”

I gave him a look. “Rome –”

“I don’t want to see you hurt,” he cut in, sternly. “I know all about Carter’s reputation. He’s a fuck ‘em and leave ‘em kind of guy, and I don’t want the same thing to happen to you. I’ve grown up with you just as long as you grew up with him, and I don’t want him to hurt you.”

“You told me that already last night.”

“Did I?”

“You told me to be careful.”

“I was probably drunk by then because I don’t remember.”

“You did, and I told you not to worry. So there, don’t worry, alright?”

He exhaled slowly, his green eyes hardening as he looked over my shoulder.

“He’s not here,” I then said. “He’s out to get breakfast.”

“What’re you eating?”

“Probably a few hash browns.”

His jaw ticked. “Hash browns for breakfast?”

I shrugged. “Well, we’re not necessarily made of money, Rome. I’ve been training at the bar not long now and…”

My words trailed off as he dug into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. He dug into it and removed a few bills. He extended it out to me, gesturing when I didn’t take it.

“No,” I told him. “I don’t want your money, Rome. You’ve done enough for us as it is.”

“Take it,” he demanded.

“No.”

“Stop being stubborn, Leah, and take it.”

“Rome, I don’t want it. Relax, alright? Forcing me to take your cash is only going to make me feel guilty, and then I’m going to be walking around, kissing your ass for a very long time, and I don’t want to do that!”

He ran a hand through his black hair and dropped his arm. Sighing, he muttered, “Fine. Well, look, I’m gonna be waiting on Carter. I’ll see you around, and you better have a decent explanation for what’s going on between you two, alright? Friends, remember? Not a stranger. You need to open up to me.”

I forced a nod and watched him leave down the side of the house. Before he made it out, he bumped into Carter, and they stopped for a moment and just stared at each other. They spoke for a bit, but I couldn’t hear what was said. Then Carter nodded and they crossed each other, walking in opposite directions.

Carter’s gaze cut through me just then as he made it to the door, and he looked down my body with a frown and said, “You answered the door to Rome in nothing but a towel on? What the fuck, Leah?”

Oh, for God’s sake. “I thought it was you at the door.”

He shook his head and stepped into the apartment, setting the brown paper bag on the kitchen counter as he peeled out of his jacket. “What did he want?”

“Just to see how I am after last night.”

He glanced at me briefly before he dug out two plates. “And?”

I slowly made my way into the kitchen and rested my elbows on the counter. “And… I told him I was great.”

He nodded. “He give you any money?”

“No.”

He put a hash brown down on the plate and looked up at me. “Did he offer you some?”

How the hell did he know? “Yeah, and I didn’t take it.”

His face relaxed just then and he smiled softly at me. “Good, because you know I’ll look after us, right?”

I carefully nodded. “I know.”

“Good.”

“How did you know?”

“He kept asking me whether you were eating fine last night. Like I was fucking starving you or something.” He sneered bitterly. “He’s looking for ways to hate me, I swear.”

He handed me my plate and I took a few bites, watching him carefully as he served himself.

“Don’t take it to heart,” I told him. “He’s just protective of me.”

He paused then and turned to me. Casting me a sharp look, he leaned over and said, “Babe, he never took a punch for you. He didn’t smuggle you out of your place because he was scared for your safety. He didn’t fuck your brains out last night and this morning, and make you come three times in the process. As far as I’m concerned, his protectiveness over you is as effective as a poodle defending his owner in an attack.”