The Virgin’s Guide to Misbehaving (Bluebonnet #4)(67)
Author: Jessica Clare

J gave him a tired smile. “Hey, man. You need a room?”

“Who is it?” A voice behind Jericho called, and a second later, a tousled Emily came to his side, pulling her robe closed. She looked surprised to see Rome, and then her face turned crimson as she touched a hand to her messy hair. “Oh, hi.”

All right, clearly his brother was hooking up with cute Emily. He’d figure that out . . . later. Right now all that mattered was Elise. “I need to talk to Elise. Can you wake her up and let her know that I’m here?”

Emily gave him a confused look, yawning. “She’s not here anymore.”

His heart stopped for a second. Had she gone back home to her parents? Had he somehow missed that text? Was there no chance of seeing her tonight? “She’s not?”

“Nope. Right now I’m guest-free.” She looked up at Jericho and her cheeks pinked all over again. “Um. Sort of. Anyhow.” Her eyes focused on Rome. “She’s living out at the Daughtry Ranch right now. Something about a spare cabin.”

A grin shot over his face. “Great. Thanks.” He turned and hustled down the stairs.

“See ya, bro,” Jericho drawled, a laugh in his voice. “Don’t forget to write.”

He shot his brother the finger as he hauled ass back onto his bike.

Elise was still in town.

Actually, she was sleeping in his old bed. The thought made him hard, and he quelled it, turning his bike onto the farm road that led to the Daughtry Ranch. Now was not the time to have a f**king boner. Now was the time to be thinking about babies and responsibilities and what the hell they were going to do.

His dick wasn’t really listening, though. He stayed erect, picturing Elise, soft and sleepy and curled up in his blankets.

Rome turned his bike off before he pulled into the parking lot, rolling it just off the road and walking the rest of the way in. It was late, and if he roared in with it, the muffler would announce to everyone that he’d arrived, and he wanted to talk to Elise in private. One on one.

He walked to the line of cabins and headed toward his old one. For a moment, he wanted to peer into the window, but that would mark him as a perv, wouldn’t it? Very carefully, he turned the doorknob, testing it.

Not locked. He carefully eased the door open and slipped in, then closed it behind him.

And gazed down at the woman sleeping in the bed.

She was wearing an old T-shirt to sleep in, her long hair spilling across the pillows. And she looked so achingly beautiful that his heart hurt. He moved to the bed, watching her sleep for a moment longer, and then crouched next to the side of the bed and brushed his fingers over her cheek. In the sliver of moonlight let in by the curtains, her cheek was perfect.

Hell, what was he saying? She was always perfect in his eyes. Always.

Elise started awake, her gaze automatically turning to him. Her eyes were unfocused, and then a smile blossomed across her face as she realized who he was.

“Hey, baby,” he whispered, his voice aching with want. God, he wanted this woman. Not just for sex, but to be his, forever.

“Rome,” she breathed, sitting up. To his surprise, she immediately reached for him and pulled his face toward hers. Her lips descended on his and she began to kiss him hungrily.

His shock abated a moment later and he kissed her back, his tongue sweeping into her mouth as if he’d never left her. As if the weeks of depression and self-loathing for ignoring her were forgotten. His Elise was kissing him, and the world was perfect in that moment.

His hands dug into her hair and he held her against him, his mouth working hers over as he gave her every ounce of his passion and longing. His tongue slicked against hers over and over again, and she made a soft mewing sound of appreciation that made his dick even harder. She was so very sexy, even freshly woken from sleep.

“Rome,” she breathed between kisses. “Oh, Rome. You came back. I’m so glad.”

He reluctantly pulled his mouth from hers, though he was unable to resist sucking on her lower lip one last time. Then he sighed. “God, I missed you.”

“I missed you, too,” she said softly. “Why’d you leave me like that?”

“I’m just . . . I’m wrong for you. It’s a shit answer, I know. I thought it’d hurt less if I just up and left.” He’d been wrong, though. He’d ached over it every hour of every day, even when trying to lose himself in mindless work.

“You really, really hurt me,” she said, her hands covering his where they cupped her face. Tears spilled out of her eyes. “I didn’t know if I was just imagining how things were between us, or if you really cared for me after all.”

He felt like the lowest man on earth for making her cry. “Me leaving has nothing to do with how I feel about you. It was all me.” He leaned in and kissed her mouth tenderly again. “I’m so sorry for hurting you, baby. But I’m here now, and we’re going to make things right, okay?”

The look on her face became guarded, uneasy.

He hated that. He hated that she felt wary around him. Like she didn’t know if she could trust him. He didn’t blame her—he’d run off on her, hadn’t he? Like a f**king dirtbag.

“Rome—”

“Shh,” he told her, kissing her sweet mouth again. And again. He could kiss her for days and never get tired. “I just want you to know that whatever you decide, I support you. I’m here for you from now on.” He didn’t tell her that he wanted it, though he hoped she’d choose to have it with him. To have a family with him.

She closed her eyes as if in pain.

“I’ll get a job somewhere. Anywhere. I’ll make money for you and the kid. I promise. You can count on me. I know that sounds ridiculous, considering what just happened, but I want you to know that I’m serious about this.”

She licked her lips, opened her eyes, and sighed.

“I’m not pregnant, Rome.”

The breath whistled out of his lungs. He stared at her. “You . . . lost it? Already?” Was that why she looked so unhappy?

“No.” Her fingers brushed his, trying to soothe him. “I was never pregnant. I said it so you would come back and we could talk. I’m sorry.”

She what?

He jerked away from her, getting to his feet. Anger surged, mixed with relief and confusion. He ran a hand over his skullcap of hair, trying to get a handle on his mind, and paced.

“God damn it, Elise, that is a hell of a lie.” The shock was beginning to settle in to him and he glared at her. “How could you do that to me? I’ve been in a panic all night, thinking I ruined your life!”