Page 78 of Inside Out
“Uh oh. I bet you returned his smug smile.”
“Baby, I showed more teeth than the Grinch.”
“Had you come to a compromise before Peter died?”
“No,” Rome said, shaking his head sadly. “We would let the conversation drop for months at a time to avoid arguing, but it still hung over our heads like an ominous cloud.”
“What do you think would’ve happened if Peter hadn’t died?”
“We would’ve drifted apart and found people who wanted the same things we did, or we would’ve become grumpy, bitter old men. I would’ve chosen to walk away and be grateful for all the memories we’d made together, but Peter would’ve rather hung on to what he knew, even if it wasn’t what was best for him.”
“How long did it take you to realize that truth after he died?” I asked softly.
“Five years, give or take a few months. You know what happens when you lose someone you love. All you can remember was how great they were. The things that annoyed you no longer seemed valid. It took a long time for me to realize as much as Peter and I loved each other, we weren’tin lovewith each other anymore. We were bound together by history and friendship, and it’s terribly hard to let go sometimes. Jules, being with you has driven that home harder than any epiphany I had before we met. The way you make me feel… It’s like nothing I’ve ever known, and I will never accept anything less ever again. Not if I live for one more year or live to be one hundred. You are everything I want, need, and cherish. You.”
Tears stung the back of my eyes. “I’ve never been in love until I met you. I knew lust and desire, but not this.” We leaned toward each other at the same time and knocked heads.
“Damn,” Rome swore angrily. “Will I ever stop ruining our moments with my clumsiness?”
“I think we share the blame.” I cupped the back of his head and held him in place for the kiss we’d both sought. By the time our lips parted, I was done talking about the love and hurt from Rome’s past; I only wanted to think about pleasing him in the present. “We need to get out of this bathtub.”
“You didn’t enjoy it?”
“No. I think you’re sexy as fuck all wet and sudsy, but this space is too limited for what I want to do.”
Rome pulled the stopper to let out the water then we got out of the tub and toweled off. Rather than risk Rome tripping over something on the way to the sprawling bed, I hoisted him over my shoulder and carried him fireman style. He gasped in surprise and playfully slapped my ass.
I wasn’t gentle when I laid him on the bed. I settled over Rome, aligning our hard dicks together, but he had a different kind of foreplay in mind. I didn’t put up a fight when he rolled me to my back and kissed a path down my body before taking my dick inside his talented mouth. I never knew how sexy eye contact during sex was until I met Rome, and I loved the way his gaze held me spellbound as his lips and tongue cherished me.
“C’mere,” I said when I reached my breaking point. “I want you inside me now.”
Rome reluctantly released my dick and crawled up my body. After carefully stretching me open with slick fingers, he sheathed his cock and pressed inside me. Like always, the world faded away and he was the only thing I could see, feel, or hear. He was the maestro, my body was his instrument, and the score we created together was the most beautiful I’d ever heard. The tempo of our lovemaking reminded me of a symphony. A graceful minuet gave way to an explosive sonata as we chased our climax. Afterward, our song faded into a lilting melody as we lay together in a heap of tangled, sweaty limbs. It was so beautiful I wanted to recreate it for Rome so he could carry our music with him everywhere.
The next morning, we headed to Ashley and Ben’s house for the all-important first meet and greet. Rome told me not to worry and assured me his family was already in love with me because he was. I decided to take him at his word instead of worrying.
Ashley and Ben’s house wasn’t as grand as Frank and Heather’s, but it wasn’t too far off.
“Don’t worry,” Rome said, squeezing my hand as we approached the front door. “The inside is as warm and inviting as the welcome you’re going to receive from my family.”
The door jerked open before we reached it to reveal two angry teenagers. I recognized them as Michele and Laurel from the numerous photos Rome displayed around his home.
“This is all your fault, Uncle Rome,” Michele practically spat out. “I hope you’re happy now.”
“What’s my fault, lamb?”
“Ugh! I thought you stopped calling me by that name,” she replied, sounding even angrier.
“We haven’t slept in two days,” Laurel whined.
“Michele and Laurel,” Ashley said in a warning tone as she walked up behind them. She had a baby swaddled against her chest in a sling and managed to look both exhausted and beautiful at the same time. “Let Rome and Julius in right this minute.”
“What’s going on?” Rome asked. A huge smile spread across his face. “You didn’t.”
“Not yet” the girls both said.
“We’re just babysitting this weekend, but Dad calls it a trial run for when we adopt a baby,” Laurel said.
The baby let out a soft, pitiful cry and Ashley cooed to him. The girls looked at each other and winced.