Tempted (Tempted #1) Read online

  “Right this way.”

  We followed her through the dim lit room. She seated us in one of the round booths.

  “Your waiter will be here shortly.” She said as she sat the menus on the table.

  “Thank you, Megan.” Preston told her as he watched her walk away.

  He was checking her out but I didn’t care.

  “You’re very welcome.”

  We sat in an awkward silence as we scanned the menus.

  “What are you going you getting?” Preston asked me, never looking up from his menu.

  “I’m probably going to get the stuffed tortellini. How about you?”

  “The steak Florentine with garlic mashed potatoes.” He answered.

  I could not for the life of me figure out why Preston wanted me. We had nothing in common, there was no spark. It was just blah. I felt different when I was around Roman, like he was where I belonged. I didn’t belong with Preston. I just had to figure out how to get rid of him.

  We ate and I listened to him ramble on and on about himself. I nodded when the conversation called for it. And pretended to listen. My mind drifted back to the conversation with Maddie. She was right. I didn’t want Preston and as much as I tried to make myself want him, I just couldn’t.

  I shouldn’t have said yes to him. I had to break it off. He asked me for chance and I had given one. It didn’t make sense. As we drove back to my dorm, I thought of ways to end it.

  When we pulled in the parking lot, Preston took his keys out of the ignition and started to get out.

  “What are you doing?” I asked him.

  “Going up to my girlfriend’s dorm, we have been dating for four months. Don’t you think you’ve kept me waiting long enough?”

  That was it. He had to hit the road.

  “Listen Preston, I have been trying to think of way to end this nicely. But I don’t think it’s going to work out between us. It’s not you, it’s me.”

  “Did you really just use that generic line on me? Wait, is this because that criminal got out of jail? “

  “No, if I would never met him I still wouldn’t have wanted you.”

  “Wait, how did you know he was out?”

  “I have my ways.”

  “It has nothing do with him.” I lied. It had everything to do with him.

  “You’re going to be sorry. You don’t get to break up with me.” He yelled as he got in his car and drove away.

  “Good riddance.”

  I wasn’t going to miss him or his hideous bow ties.

  Chapter 11

  It had been a few days since I had broken up with Preston, but he still wouldn’t leave me alone. My parents had been calling me nonstop telling me to take him back. They told me I could learn to love him. How do you learn to love someone? You don’t learn to fall in love. It just happens. Why didn’t they know that?

  Rushing to get ready for my first class of day, I made sure to dress warm. I grabbed my books and purse. Making my way down the hall, I managed to catch the elevator. I stayed up all night making sure my paper was just right for class today, so I went to sleep late and over slept. My major was in psychology. Dad wanted me to study law but that just wasn’t for me.

  I always wanted to work with children, I loved kids. Childs psychologist was my end goal. Walking out into the cold morning, I quickly ran to my car. I jumped in and attempted to start the engine. Of course, it wouldn’t start. Great.

  Pulling my phone out of my bag, I quickly looked up the number for a tow truck. Thirty minutes later, the truck arrived. A friendly looking old man was driving it.

  “Good Morning, Ma’am. I’m Marty.”

  “Good Morning, Marty. Thank you so much for coming. I’m Emma, and you don’t have to call me Ma’am.”

  He smiled at me and opened the passenger door of his truck for me to get in.

  “It’s my job. Why don’t you get on in while I get everything ready to go? You can warm up. And when I’m done I’ll drive you to the shop.” He said as he smiled at me.

  “Thank you so much.”

  I waited for a few minutes and before I knew it, the old man was climbing in the driver’s side. We drove to the shop and as soon as we parked, I hopped out. The old man let me into the garage where he was going to bring my car. Looking out of the window, I waited on someone to let me know what was going on with my car.

  “Excuse me , are you the owner of the red beetle?” I heard someone ask so I turned around.

  I saw a young boy, he couldn’t be over eighteen. It took me back.

  “Yes, that’s me.” I told him with a smile.

  “Great. Follow me.”

  I followed him until my car was in site. The hood was popped and someone was working on it but I couldn’t see his face.

  “Charles, this is the owner of the beetle.”

  Did he say Charles? Was my mind playing tricks on me? The guy’s name was probably Charles something.

  The man lifted his head and closed the hood and i saw something I hadn’t seen in two long years. Those electric blue eyes staring right back at me.

  “Emma, this is your car?” he asked.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked him.

  “Why do you think I’m here, pumpkin?”

  “Don’t call me that! I’m not your pumpkin.” I yelled at him.

  “How long are you here for?”

  “As long as it takes.”

  “You’re here in vein, it’s over.”

  He looked so hurt. Why was I doing this? I wanted him and he was standing in front of me.

  “Emma, I came here for you. Do you remember what we said to each other that night?”

  “I remember everything.”

  “Roman, I can’t do this. I don’t think I could handle losing you again.” I told him

  “You won’t. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “You don’t know that!” I said through the tears streaming down my face.

  He started to walk closer to me, I jumped back.

  “Please, don’t. Will you just tell me what’s wrong with my car?” I said as I wiped tears from my eyes.

  “Someone cut your wire that connects to your battery.”

  “Someone did this on purpose?”

  “That’s what it looks like. Maybe you should call the police.” He said not making eye contact with me.

  “I’m not calling the police. How much will it cost to fix it?”

  “Nothing. It’s on me.”

  “No, just tell me how much, please?”

  “Pumpkin, I mean Emma. I’m not letting you pay.”

  “Fine. Thank you.”

  Looking down at my watch, I realized I had already missed my first class.

  “I need to go.”

  “Do you need a ride? I can take you.”

  “No, thanks. I’ll call Preston.”

  I didn’t want to call him but I hadn’t made many friends here. Most of my free time I spend studying. And knew I couldn’t ride back with Roman. I wasn’t strong enough for that.

  “Preston? Really, Emma? Please tell me you’re not with that idiot.” He said as he angrily ran his hands through his black hair.

  I loved that hair. The way he kept messing with it was doing something to me. He had grease all over his hands and a little bit on his face. Dirty never looked so sexy. When he moved his arms you could see the defined muscles hiding under that shirt. He wasn’t that bad boy any more, he was all man.

  Trying to control my thoughts, I turned away from him.

  “That’s none of your business .”

  His eyes flared with anger.

  “Have you let him touch you? Touch what’s mine?”

  “Again, that’s none of your bussiness.”

  I ran outside and dialed Preston’s number. He answered after one ring. Of course he did. Loser.

  “Listen Emma, if your calling about your car. I’m sorry I wasn’t thinking straight.” He apologized.

  He was the one that c
ut the wires?

  “I was calling to have you come pick me up because my car was in the shop. But after hearing that I think I’ll just walk.”

  “But it’s freezing outside. Tell me where you are.”

  “Preston, are you listening to me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. If you come anywhere near me I will castrate you.”

  I hung up before he had a chance to say anything.

  Walking back inside, I had to swallow my pride. Roman was going to have to drive me back to my dorm. I had no other choice.

  “About that ride, does the offer still stand?” I asked him as I kicked the ground.

  “For you? Always.”

  Chapter 12

  As I stood waiting for him to return, I went over in my head what would happen if I took him back. If I let him love me again. I wanted to but I didn’t know I could. He had changed and cleaned up but all I could think about was dirtying him back up. Stop it! i said to myself.

  We walked to the parking lot and I noticed that his black mustang was nowhere in sight.

  “Roman, where is your car?”

  “Home. I flew here.”

  “If you don’t mind me asking, how are you going to give me a ride if you have no car?”

  “I rented a car when I got here. It’s nothing like my car but it will have to do for now.”

  “How did you get the money for all of this?”

  “Doesn’t matter.”

  “It does matter, are you racing again? Is West racing, too? Do you want to go to jail again?”

  “It’s none of your business.” He repeated my exact words from earlier.

  “Will you just take me home?”

  He never answered me. As we walked to the grey mustang, I had to stop myself from reaching out and taking his hand. I missed him.

  He opend my door for me and watched as I slid in. He walked around the car to get in and my eyes followed him the whole way.

  “Can we go somewhere and talk? And if you don’t like what I have to say, I’ll take you home. Deal?”

  I thought about it. I wanted to say no because I knew I would give into him, if he asked.

  “Deal.”

  “Do you want to shake on it?” he asked with a laugh.

  We shook hands and it was like moment we touched, something in me came alive. Quickly pulling my hand back, I slipped them both in my coat. They should be safe in there.

  “So, where are we going to go?”

  “I hadn’t really thought about it. I was just going to drive and see where we ended up.” He admitted as he chuckled.

  “You were just going to wing it?” I asked.

  “Yep, sure was. I live dangerously.”

  “You always did.” I said barely about a whisper.

  “I missed you, so much.” He said to me

  “Roman, you can’t say stuff like that to me.”

  “I just did.”

  His phone started to ring before I could say anything to him. Looking down at it, I was shocked at who’s name I saw.

  “Why is Maddie calling you?”

  Answering his phone, he ignored me.

  “Hey, Maddie. Now is not a good time. Can I call you back?” he asked her.

  He ended the call and looked at me. I was raging mad.

  “Why was she calling you? Is there something going on with you two?”

  “What? No. Why would I have left everything behind to come here for you? Maddie is my friend. She’s the one that bought my plane ticket and rented me the car. That’s it.”

  “Why would she do that?”

  “Because she loves you. And because she knew we were miserable without each other. Listen to me, I want you. And I know you want me too. Why are you fighting this?”

  “Because I don’t want to lose you again, okay? I barely made it through the first time, I couldn’t survive a second time.” I screamed at him.

  “You won’t lose me again. I’m going to quite racing and take over my dad’s shop. I might be able to give you as much as Preston but I can love you like no one else can. Let me.” He said as he looked deep in my eyes.

  I sat there in silence. Could I take him back? I wanted to be with him. Money didn’t matter to me, never did.

  “What happened to the player? The one who didn’t care about anyone but himself.”

  “He fell in love.”

  I looked around and realized we were parked at a hotel. When did that happen?

  He leaned in closer to me.

  “Do I still have permanent permission to kiss you?”

  “Yes.”

  He pulled me toward him with one arm. And kissed me like he was trying to make up for the two years we were apart. It was hot and savage. But wasn’t that how love was supposed to be? We were raw and real and I loved that about us.

  “Roman, I need you. Now.”

  “Pumpkin, can you control yourself until we make it inside?”

  “I’ll do my best.”

  He laughed and carried me to the door of the hotel. He was my forever.

  Chapter 13

  After a long excruciating elevator ride, we finally made to Roman’s room. I pushed him on to the bed.

  “Strip.” I demanded him.

  He done what I asked and in record time.

  “Your turn.” He shot at me with a wink.

  I made a show of discarding my clothes, just to torture him.

  “You better get over here before I make you.” He said never let his eyes leave my body.

  “And how are you going to do that?”

  He got up from the bed and began to walk my way. Reaching out one hand he slid it down in between my breast all the way to what he claimed as his two years ago. I moaned, I didn’t remember his touch feeling this good.

  He scooped me up with one arm and carried me to the bed. Laying me down, he began to kiss me every inch of me.

  “I’ve missed this. Your body, the way you moan when I touch you in all the right places. You were meant for me and only me.”

  “Please Roman, I can’t take the foreplay. I need to feel you inside of me.”

  Getting up from the bed, he grabbed his pants from the floor and reached in his pocket pulling out a condom. I think it’s safe to say he predicted this. He opened the package and about to put it on. I got up from the bed and took the rubber from his hand.

  “Can I put it on you?”

  He nodded. I slid it on to his length and moved my hand back and forth. And this time it was him who pushed me on the bed.

  He slowy started to fill me but I didn’t want slow and sweet. I didn’t want to take it easy on me. We had plenty of time for that. I need it to be passionate and raw. Like us.

  “Don’t go slow. Give it your all.”

  He began to furiously pump into me with all his might, grunting each time. My whole body was tingling. I needed him to do me what only he could.

  “You like it rough, pumpkin?”

  “Oh, yes. Yes! Please just like that. Don’t stop.”

  I was panting with pleasure. Nothing felt like feeling roman move inside of me.

  Rolling him on his back, i got on top and began to roll my hips in circular motion.

  “You feel so good.” He said breathlessly.

  He reached his hands up and grabbed my breast as I contined to roll my hips.

  My body started shaking and I climaxed. But I had to make sure Roman finished too.

  “Keep moving like that! Just like that.” He instructed me.

  He let out a low growl and I knew he had finished too. He rolled off of me and on to the bed.

  “That was…..” I said.

  “Amazing? Electrifying?...perfect?”

  “Yeah, I think that sums it up.” I said with a giggle.

  After showering, we decided to grab a bit to eat.

  “Where do you want to go, pumpkin?” He asked as we drove around town.

  “Anywhere as long as you’re with me.” I said with a goofy smile
.

  I knew I sounded like a cheesy movie but I didn’t care. I was a girl in love. How else was I supposed to sound?

  “How does a burger and milkshake sound?” he asked.

  “Perfect.”

  Getting out of his car we walked to the local burger restaurant , Fries with that shake.

  As we walked in door, I noticed a group of frat boys in the corner. Preston was one of them.

  I prayed he didn’t see. We walked up to order and I tried to hide behind Roman.

  “Pumpkin, what are you doing?” he asked as he laughed at me.

  “Nothing, I just wanted to hug you.”

  “No, you didn’t. What’s going on?”

  I point at the table where Preston was sitting. How had he not seen me yet?

  “Don’t worry about that idiot. Let’s order.”

  I held on to his arm as we waited to order. Roman ordered a bacon cheeseburger and strawberry milkshake, I went with a plain old burger and a vanilla shake. Does that say something about my personality?

  Walking over to a vacant table, I heard someone call my name.

  “Emma, is that you?” Preston shouted from the other side of the restaurant.

  I knew he was going to see me but I couldn’t be scared of him. He should know about Roman. I wasn’t going to hide him this time.

  “Wow, nothing gets past you does it?” I asked rolling my eyes.

  “What are you doing here with him? When did he get here?” he said recognizing Roman.

  “I got here a few days ago and she’s here with me because she’s mine. She always has been. You were just too stupid to see it.”

  “Her father will never let you have her. You can’t give her the life her father wants for her.”

  “I don’t care what her father wants, I care what she wants.”

  Preston was right. My father would never accept it but that was his problem. He preferred Preston and that was something I couldn’t accept.

  “Emma, tell this loser that you want to make your dad happy.” Preston said as he looked at me.

  “I want to make me happy, Preston. And Roman is what makes me happy.”

  I leaned into Roman’s side, where I felt safe. With him I felt so protected, I had never felt that before.