Page 25 of Falling for You (Balsam Cliffs #2)

I’m vaguely aware that Rome told me we’re at the inn. I feel his arms wrap around me, and I instinctually wrap my arms around his neck.

The next thing I know I’m being placed down, and I can smell Mom’s scent of vanilla buttercream. I curl into her, seeking the comfort I need.

I don’t know how long we sit here together, Mom rubbing my back and holding me tight as I sob. I cry until there’s nothing left.

“Sweet girl, what can I do for you? I can’t fix anything. But I want to take all your pain.”

She sweeps my hair out of my face, pulling the pieces away that are matted to my cheeks, wet with tears.

“Why can’t I keep a baby safe, Mom?”

My question brings on a new round of sobs until I’m enveloped in a mass of arms coming from everywhere.

I know my girls are here with us.

Willow is kneeling on the floor in front of me, “Babes, I love you so much. But you can’t blame yourself for Olivia. This is nothing that you did. Nothing.”

“If I didn’t want a night out, if I didn’t want to see your show, if I wasn’t busy trying to figure out what the hell was going on with Rome, she’d still be home, Will.

She’d still be in her little crib having a nap right now.

She wouldn’t be at her grandparents house, and Rome wouldn’t be having to fight for his own damn daughter. I can’t keep his babies safe.”

I sink back into the couch with my arms fallen by my side. My eyes hurt. They’re swelling, and heavy, and I’m so fucking tired.

“You stop it. Stop. Right now.” Violet shocks all of us with her tone.

“I will not sit here and listen to you blame yourself for either one of these babies. And Olivia is not gone. She’s not.

You, Emma Keaton, are a badass bitch. You don’t let people walk over you and get their way.

So you’re going to be sad today. Then tomorrow, we’re going to help you kick some ass, and remind you what a bad bitch you are, and that no one messes with a Keaton. ”

Mom, Will and I stare at her.

“Was that too much?” She starts to shrink back into herself.

“No, sweet Violet. No, it was not.” Mom grins over my head, reassuring Violet that she didn’t do anything wrong.

“You’re right. But today I’m really fucking sad and I want to go home.” I hiccup from all the crying.

“Okay, I’ll get your dad to go upstairs and set a room up for you.”

“No, Mom. I want to go home with Rome. I need to go home with Rome.” I plead with her.

“Okay. I’ll go get him.” She stands, giving me a sad smile.

Willow and Violet each give me a squeeze.

“Remember you’re a bad bitch, not a sad bitch.” I offer Violet a weak smile.

I gave her the same line after her mom’s last visit where she pointed out all the things Violet isn’t doing properly.

They pass Rome on the way out the door, each giving him a little squeeze too.

He stands in the doorway, unsure of himself. He’s got his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his shorts and he rocks back and forth on the balls of his feet.

“Hey. I was told you want to go home?”

“Is everyone in the kitchen?” I just want to leave in peace, I don’t want to talk anymore.

“Yes. The living room should be clear.” He walks past me, toward the other door that leads out to the living room.

Opening the door, he peeks his head out. “All clear.”

I go to stand, but he scoops me up first. Carrying me out the same way he carried me in.

I relax in his arms, my muscles are so tired, and tense, my head is throbbing and the bright sun hurts my eyes as we walk to the truck.

He gingerly places me in the truck.

“I’m so sorry, Sunshine.” His voice cracks, and he places a kiss on my cheek.

Bringing my hand up to his face, I place my palm on his cheek.

“Bring me home, Stud.”

When we get home, the tears started again for both of us.

We still haven’t spoken, just sitting together, holding hands and crying in the cab of his truck.

“I don’t know if I can go in there.” I break the silence, voicing my worry about seeing Olivia’s things strewn over the house.

“Do you want to go to a hotel? We can go to Portland, then we’ll be closer to the lawyer. I already asked Clark and Jasmine to handle the next few days, we can do—”

I place my finger to his lips. “I just want to be with you, in your arms and I’ll be okay.”

“Okay.”

We both slide out of the truck, and walk inside hand in hand. We bypass all of the main areas of the home, and go right to Roman’s bedroom.

Seeing how we left the bed, the blankets and pillows in disarray, a visual of the happy memories we left behind just a few hours ago.

“You need some sleep.” He grips the blanket by the edges and fluffs it out to straighten it over the bed before he folds a corner back for me to get under it.

I strip out of my clothes, and grab one of Rome’s shirts off the floor before I listen to him and lay down in the bed. I move all the way over and tap the space next to me for him to join me.

Following suit, he strips down to his boxers before laying on his back, opening his arms for me to lay on his chest. I curl into his side and rest my head on his chest. Fiona doesn’t wait for an invite, she hops up and lays in my arms, cuddling close to both of us.

The day is finally taking its toll on me as the exhaustion pulls me under.

My eyes peel open, they feel swollen and gritty. The dull throb in my head is the only reminder of what happened earlier.

Tears threaten to start again.

Get yourself together, Emma. She isn’t even yours.

I suck in a deep breath, willing the tears to stay put, but that only proves to increase the throbbing behind my temples. Sniffles fill the silent room as I try harder to keep the tears in.

Strong arms pull me in tighter. Rome nuzzles into my neck. “Emma.” He whispers my name with concern lacing his voice that I’m still crying.

I roll to face him, cupping his cheek with my hand. He kisses the tears off my cheeks. “Please don’t cry, Sunshine. I’ll do anything to make it better.”

I push my hips into his morning hard-on. “I need to feel something, Rome. Anything but this heartache. Please.”

He pulls me tight to his hard body. “Are you sure? You’re so sad.”

I nod slowly, pinching my lips between my teeth, another attempt at stopping the tears. Who wants to have sex with the crying girl?

I just need to feel him right now. All of him.

As the hunger lights his eyes, under the reflection of his own tears, he kisses along my neck, down to my collarbone.

A spot that he loves to trace with his tongue.

He kisses me slowly, as if he can physically take the pain away.

He gently rolls the shirt up my body and pushes it over my head as I lift my arms for him to remove it.

I lazily drag my fingers up and down his biceps, reveling in the feel of his lips lighting a fire along my skin.

I push my hips into his, desperate for the friction but he doesn’t budge. He continues his slow path down my body.

“Rome, please, give me more.”

“I’m going to make you feel better in the only way I know how.”

He brings his lips back to my cheeks, kissing away the newly fallen tears before returning back to where he left off on his exploration down my body.

He reaches my waist line and repositions himself to throw my legs over his shoulders and he grips an ass cheek in each hand, lifting me up towards his mouth.

This time his tongue drags slowly through my slit, circling around my clit. He lips, nips, and sucks his way down and back up again. Plunging his tongue inside each time he goes back down.

The different sensations have me grasping at the ends of his hair. Trying to pull him in closer to me, tighter to me, giving me more of him.

“Rome,” I pant out. “Inside me. I need to feel full of you.”

He moves his lips to kiss each of my inner thighs before gently laying me back down on the bed. He moves slowly up my body, hovering over me. I know he’s being slow and gentle for a reason, but I want it to be hard and rough. I want to forget. I want to get out of my head.

I slide out from under his arms and push him onto his back. I rip his boxers down his legs and toss them to the floor. I turn so my back is to him before sinking down on top of his cock.

He sucks in a sharp breath, not expecting the sudden move. I lean forward, gripping his calves as I move up and down quickly. Getting the pace I want from him.

He reaches around my waist and finds my clit, circling around it with the pad of his thumb. I sit up straight this time, slamming down on him so he’s fully seated inside me. Feeling so full of him, I swing my hips around in a circle so he hits every possible angle.

I throw my head back in pleasure as his hands snake around my body and rest at my throat, squeezing just enough to send a jolt of electricity down my body.

“Yes, Rome, yes.”

He grunts in response. I know he loves to hear when I scream his name.

I begin another swivel of my hips when I’m lifted up and off him completely.

It’s so sexy that he can just bench my entire body to get me where he wants me.

He flips me over onto my stomach and nudges my knees open with his.

He places a hand on either side of my head and lowers himself down on top of me with his muscular thighs between my legs, slipping inside of me.

“You’re my favorite place to be, Sunshine. The best place in the world is right here with you.” He leans down to whisper into my ear. “We can do anything as long as we’re together, it’s us against the world.”

I whimper in response as his words edge me closer to the orgasm that’s been playing hide and seek since we started.

I clench and squeeze his cock, giving me more pressure, hitting more of the spots I like.

He leans down on one elbow next to me, wrapping my hair around his other fist and pulling me back to expose my neck to him.

He leans down, placing kisses all along the soft skin that’s bare to him.