Tight

“I have a lot of explaining to do,” I finally muttered.

He cleared his throat and looked down where his friends had gone into the theater. When he looked back at me, he gave me a genuine smile. “Can we do lunch tomorrow?”

I nodded and licked my lips. There was no disgust or judgment coming from him. Then again, I should have known there wouldn’t be.

He stood there for a moment just staring at me, the questions he had clear on his face. I wanted to just tell him the truth, but I needed to let Roman know that I was going to let Isaac know about us. We’d already talked about telling our family, but this was a little different.

This was an outside person, and although I trusted Isaac impeccably, this wasn’t just my decision to make.

“Tomorrow then,” I said. He smiled and for a second didn’t move, then nodded as if he realized he’d just been standing there and headed down the hall.

I watched him until he went into the theater, then exhaled a large breath I hadn’t known I’d been keeping in. I headed back outside to where Roman stood waiting for me.

He leaned against the brick of the building, his hands in his jean pockets, his head lowered as he stared at the ground. When he heard me approach, he looked up, this heavy expression on his face.

He pulled me in close instantly, curled his hand around the nape of my neck, and leaned down to kiss me possessively. I wasn’t tense now out of surprise. I closed my eyes, opened my mouth, and let his tongue slide between my lips and into the depths of my mouth.

I moaned softly. I knew what this was. He was marking me, claiming his ownership. He felt threatened where Isaac was concerned.

I pulled back but kept my arms wound around his waist. I tipped my head and looked into his eyes, having so much to say, yet finding no words.

“You okay, baby?” he asked softly, only loud enough for me to hear.

I nodded. “I’m fine. But I want you to know that Isaac is nothing more than a friend. You don’t have to feel threatened by him.” I rose up and kissed him before he could grumble out a response.

I wasn’t going to tell him Isaac was gay, because that wasn’t mine to say. But I felt in Roman’s body as he relaxed against me that my answer was good enough for him. I was glad he didn’t fight me on this, although I couldn’t deny that having him be so possessive of me was a thrill.

I finally pulled back and felt my lips tingle, the blood rushing to the surface. “But I have to tell Isaac about us. Especially since you decided to mark your territory in front of him.” I started chuckling and he growled low. That sound had desire rushing through me all over again.

“I couldn’t help myself,” he murmured and leaned in to kiss me once more. “I had to make it known you were mine.”

My toes curled, and I melted against him.

“Now, you ready for me to take you back to my place and really show you that you’re mine?”

Heat rushed through me.

The arousal washed over his face instantly and he curled his fingers around my hips and pulled me impossibly closer. I felt the hard outline of his desire for me press against my belly, and a gush of wetness left me.

I wasn’t going to think about anything else, worry about anything more tonight. All I was going to focus on was being with Roman and how he made me feel.

Because at the end of the day that’s what really mattered.

Chapter Seventeen

Kennedy

The next day

I sat across from Isaac and watched as he picked through his cheeseburger, taking off all the toppings and setting them on the side of the plate. “Why don’t you just order your cheeseburger plain?” I teased him, and he glanced up at me, smirking.

“Because, strangely enough, I don’t like all the shit on here, but I like how the burger tastes with all the juices.”

I furrowed my brow and burst out laughing. “That’s weird as hell, Isaac. You know that, right?” He looked up at me and grinned before shrugging. He picked up his burger and took a big bite.

I looked down at my own cheeseburger and fries, picking up one of them and dipping it in my ketchup. But I wasn’t hungry. I was about to tell Isaac about Roman and me. He was the first person I would have admitted how I felt to.

It was scary but also a little exciting. I knew Isaac wouldn’t judge me. I knew he’d be supportive, but that didn’t stop me from being nervous.

“Do you want me to start the conversation?” I looked up at Isaac after he spoke, dropping the fry back onto the plate and leaning against the booth.