Page 55 of From Rome, With Hate

“Fuck.” I gasp. Groaning, my eyes flutter at the sensation of her hand on me.

“Please, Rome.” She strokes me, the back of her hand rubbing against herself. Although we’ve been seeing each other in secret for months, we’ve yet to have sex. It isn’t that I haven’t wanted to. Fuck, I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything more. But Julianna deserves more than what I can currently give her.

It isn’t that we haven’t done anything at all. Julianna stole my breath away when we snuck away to a bedroom at one of Kiernan’s parties a few months ago and dropped to her knees in front of me. The next time, I buried my face between her thighs. Up until then, I didn’t think I’d hear a sweeter sound than her laughter, but she’d proven me wrong when she’d dug her nails into the back of my head and screamed my name.

Ever since, that’s all we’ve done. Although both of us have had sex before, we understand the difference. Sleeping with Julianna wouldn’t be meaningless. It wouldn’t be a case of one and done.

I know that, once we cross that line, there’s no going back. I’d never be able to flush her out of my system.

Now, here we are on her eighteenth birthday, and she’s asking for it.

I swallow as liquid heat wraps around my spine. “I don’t have a condom.” I deflate slightly. Of all the times I’ve had a condom on me. I can’t believe I’m a fucking idiot, not having one now.

“It’s okay.” She takes my face in her hand. “I’m on birth control.”

“Are you sure?” I ask, just to make sure. I need to know this is what Julianna wants.

“I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.” She pulls back far enough to look in my eyes, still stroking me with her hand. “I love you, Rome.”

A hot breath rushes through my nose as I shake my head slowly, trying to decide what to do. “You deserve more than our first time being pressed against my car.”

She uses her free hand to lift my chin, forcing me to look up and into her eyes. “Our first time won’t be against your car. It’ll be under the stars.”

The corner of my mouth lifts, and I fall in love with Julianna all over again. My heart is pounding in my chest. She’s stunning, all dark lashes and pink full lips while tendrils of chestnut hair frame her soft cheeks.

This woman owns me. All of me.

I don’t deserve her.

Heart pounding, I peek over her shoulder. Under the dark of night, Julianna’s house is in the distance towering over the tree line. There’s one lit window, but otherwise the house is quiet. Looking back at her, I grin, then spin us around and carry her to the other side of the drive. There’s another line of trees there, and I step between two large oak trees and spin us until her back lands against one of them. She giggles and inhales in a shaky breath. It sends heat back to my cock.

She tips her head back against the bark; her face covered in beautiful shadows. Keeping one hand gripped around her waist, I hold her against me while using my other hand to free myself from the constraints of my boxers. I pull them down, and my cock springs to life. I press it against her, realizing she isn’t wearing anything. She’s completely bare.

She grins against my mouth as if she knows exactly what I’m thinking.

“Make love to me under the stars, Rome,” she whispers. “But don’t be gentle about it.”

I lose all self -control. I rub myself against her slick cunt, groaning with relief at the feel of it. She’s soaking wet for me already.

I grip my cock and guide myself in front of her, dragging the head up and down her entrance. She mewls and tips her head back. I watch her in fascination. Seeing her react to me when I’m not even inside her yet, lights a fire inside me.

My stomach hums in anticipation. The liquid heat wrapped around my spine slinks around to my cock. I slip the tip inside her, moving slow. She lowers her head, meeting my stare. There’s desire and lust—an emotion I’ve never seen on anyone I’ve ever been with. No one else has ever mattered the way Julianna does.

With the head of my cock barely inside her, she takes my hand and moves it to the base of her throat.

“Feel my pulse,” she pants. “Feel what you do to me.”

I growl my approval and sink deeper into her. My hand is still wrapped around her neck, pinning her to the tree. I push myself inside her until I can’t possibly go any deeper.

I’m in fucking heaven. It feels like my heart is going to burst.

She tips her head back, a sound coming out of her I’ve never heard before. Her jaw drops, and she gazes at the sky, wide-eyed.

“Keep your eyes on me, Lark,” I order, pulling out, then driving into her again. She cries out with pleasure. “I want you to watch me claim you, watch as I make you mine.”

She nods, closing her mouth and swallowing as she catches her breath. When she returns her gaze to mine, I lose what remaining bit of control I have left.

“I’ve always been yours, Rome. Through hate and love, I’ve always been yours.”