The Naughty One

by Michelle Love

  Romy buried her head in his neck. “Blue … God, I’m so wet for you.”

  In a flash he had swept her onto the couch, locked the door, and flicked the light off. The whole back wall of his office was glass and Romy glanced quickly to see if anyone could see in. Blue grinned down at her as he unzipped his pants and tugged her underwear off. “Maybe we’ll get caught, baby.”

  His smile, his words, sent a thrill through her and he plunged his ramrod-hard cock into her and they fucked deliriously, not caring if they were caught. Romy sighed as she came, feeling him pumping his seed deep inside her. “God, we’re such a pair of sex fiends.”

  Blue chuckled. “Yes, we are.”

  Laughing and talking, they tidied themselves up and went back to work. The routine laparotomy went easily and afterwards, Blue took Romy out to dinner.

  Romy didn’t know when she started to feel uneasy, but in the car on the way home, she kept looking behind them, as if she had seen something. Blue frowned at her. “You okay, baby?”

  Romy nodded, but her chest was tight. “I don’t know why but I feel like … someone was watching us.”

  “In my office?”

  She shook her head. “No, at the restaurant. I went to the bathroom, and I could have sworn … no, never mind. I’m just being paranoid.” She glanced behind them again.

  Blue looked in the rearview mirror. “Sweetheart, if your instincts are telling you something, we should listen to them. Do you think we’re being followed?”

  Romy didn’t want to sound insane but Blue’s expression was serious. “It’s crazy, but yes. There’s a dark sedan that’s been following us all the way from the restaurant.”

  “Gotcha.” With deftness and skill, Blue pulled the car off the freeway and onto a side street. He made a circuit of the almost deserted business district, and then circled back towards his apartment. “How about now?”

  Romy was watching carefully. “I can’t see it anymore. I’m sorry, honey, maybe I was imagining it.”

  “Better safe than not.”

  She smiled gratefully at him. “I promise I’m not a hysterical female.”

  Blue laughed. “Would never have crossed my mind that you were.”

  As they parked the car in the garage beneath his building, Romy couldn’t resist checking out the other cars there. Blue grinned at her. “Still being super spy?”

  “You got me.”

  He took her hand. “Come on, Black Widow, let’s go home and cuddle some.”

  In the elevator, alone, he kissed her tenderly. “You know, if you want, we could look for somewhere together. We don’t have to stay here.”

  “I love your apartment,” she said, leaning into him, feeling his arms tightening around her. She reached down and squeeze his cock through his jeans and he grinned.

  “Insatiable.”

  “You know it.”

  He was still laughing when he unlocked the door to his apartment and held it for her. “After you, ma’am.”

  Romy’s laughter echoed through the hallway but when she got into the living room, her smile faded. She heard Blue cuss behind her.

  “What the fuck?”

  The naked dark-haired woman slowly spread her legs with a wide smile on her face. “Hello, darling Blue. Is this your new toy? Would she like to play with us?”

  Romy’s whole body was icy cold. She slowly turned to Blue. “I take it back. I hate your apartment.”

  She pushed past him, wrenching her arm free when he grabbed it. “No, baby, wait, this isn’t what it—”

  But Romy ran, slamming the door behind her, her sobs wracking and desiccating.

  Hilary Eames stood up and sashayed over to her stepson. “Flighty, isn’t she?”

  Blue, his anger threatening to overwhelm him, glowered at her. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing, Hilary?”

  She touched his cheek and he flinched away. She smiled. “Just reclaiming what is mine, Blue.”

  “Get out.” Blue clenched his fists to stop himself from physically hauling her out of his apartment. “Now, Hilary, and don’t ever come back.”

  Hilary pretended to pout. “Come on. Don’t you remember the fun we used to have? God, you were like a Roman god back then.” She studied him. “Now … you look tired, Blue. She’s exhausting you, making you pretend that you’re good enough for her when you and I know differently, don’t we?”

  “Get out now, Hilary, or I won’t be responsible for what I’ll do.”

  Hilary smirked. “Fine. I’ll go. You know where to call me.”

  “Don’t hold your breath. You know what you did to me. Don’t pretend it was anything more than …” Blue squeezed his eyes shut, trying to erase the memories, the feelings from back when he was just a kid.

  “Call it what you will, Blue.” Hilary reached down and squeezed his groin. “You may tell one story, but your magnificent cock told another.”

  Blue did lose his temper then, and taking her by the upper arm, hauled Hilary to the door and threw her out. A bright flash blinded him, and he realized that a paparazzo had been waiting outside his door to take a photo of him throwing a naked and grinning Hilary from his home.

  But Romy was all he could think about, out there, unprotected. Blue called the security firm. “Find her. Protect her. She won’t want to see me at the moment and that’s fine. But, please, keep her safe.”

  “Will do, boss.”

  Chapter 13

  Running out into the midnight streets, Romy kept going until she could not breathe any longer. Stopping, dragging much needed oxygen into her lungs, she allowed herself to feel the pain of what had just happened in and it bent her double. “God … God.”

  Slowly, as her breathing returned to normal, she began to walk, dazed. She knew it wasn’t safe to do this but at this moment, the pain of Blue’s betrayal seemed to overwhelm any fear that Dacre might catch up with her.

  Come for me now, Dacre, and end this pain for me. I don’t care anymore.

  She sat down on a low wall and put her head in her hands, willing the tears to stop.

  God, how stupid was I? To think a man like Blue wouldn’t have a fleet of women in his past. How long ago had he slept with this one? Who the fuck was she? She was beautiful, if skinny as hell, but way too old for him. Jesus, that’s what you’re focusing on, Sasse?

  Fuck. Romy wiped her eyes. She’d call a cab and get them to pick her up at the end of the street. She was dialing when a silver Audi pulled up beside her. She began to walk quicker, nervous now.

  “Romy?”

  She stopped, turning towards the speaker. Gaius smiled at her. “What on earth are you doing out here so late?”

  “I …” Romy didn’t know what to say. “Blue was called in for an emergency and I decided to try and find a cab.” Lame as hell.

  “Girl, get in. With your rabid ex on the loose, you really do not need to be out on the streets alone.”

  “I’m fine.” Her voice shook, betraying her. Gaius got out and came to her.

  “Come on, sweetheart. I’ll take you home.”

  Romy let him put her in his passenger seat and drive away from Blue’s neighborhood. Gaius looked over at her, concerned.

  “Are you okay?”

  Romy nodded. “Would you mind taking me to my sister’s place? To Artemis’s place?” She gave him the address and then smiled tentatively at him. “Thanks, Gaius.”

  “It’s no problem … but are you sure you’re okay? You look upset.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “You said that already.”

  Romy gave a half-hearted laugh. “Just tired.”

  She stared out of the car window. The shock was dissipating now, and Romy was beginning to regret running away. She should have stood her ground and gone toe to toe with the whore in Blue’s flat. Romy gritted her teeth. Then again, why the hell hadn’t Blue come after her?

  Was it the guilt of being caught? God. Romy closed her eyes. The pain in her chest was killing her. Had she
gotten him so wrong?

  No. She was sure of Blue’s love for her, utterly sure. There had to be some kind of rational explanation for it.

  Gaius left her alone on the journey, only turning to her as they turned into Artemis’s street. “Are you sure I can’t do anything else for you, Romy?”

  “No, thank you again, Gaius.” A thought occurred to her. “What were you doing in Blue’s neighborhood tonight?”

  “Just hoping to see my brother for a few minutes. Nothing important.”

  That didn’t ring true, but Romy didn’t have the energy to press the point. She got out, then bent down to thank him again.

  Gaius smiled at her. “It’s no problem. If you need anything, I’m always here for you, Romy. Always.”

  She watched him drive away, then dug in her purse for the key. All of the sisters had keys to each other’s houses and Romy was glad she wouldn’t have to wake Arti up. She snuck into the house, but halfway up the stairs her phone beeped. She knew it had to be Blue.

  Baby, where are you? I swear it wasn’t how it looked—but of course I would say that. Please believe me, her being here was nothing to do with us. Please just let me know you’re safe. I love you.

  Romy sighed, all her anger dissipated.

  We’ll talk tomorrow, Blue. That’s all I can promise right now. I’m at Arti’s for the night. I’m safe.

  Of course. Just know I love you.

  I love you too. Tomorrow.

  Tomorrow.

  Romy climbed up the stairs wearily, and slipped into Arti’s guest bedroom. She stripped down to her underwear and into bed—only to encounter bare flesh. She shrieked, as did the other person in the bed, and Romy skittered across the room to switch the light on.

  A young woman with dark hair and huge brown eyes was staring at her, her hand clamped over her mouth.

  “Who are you?” Romy asked, breathless, but the girl didn’t have time to answer before Artemis burst into the room, followed by a giant of a man who looked familiar. Romy gaped at him. “Dan? Dan Helmond?”

  The man grinned widely, a strange counterpoint to the three women all in shock. “Romy Sasse, as I live and breathe. I take it you’ve met my daughter and your mini-me, Octavia. Tavia, meet Romy Sasse, Artemis’s sister.”

  Romy and her younger double stared at each other for a long moment before Romy, not knowing what else to do, burst out laughing.

  Chapter 14

  Romy shrugged, recounting the story to her sister. “So I just walked out. Wouldn’t you?”

  Artemis, sitting opposite her sister at the breakfast bar, chewed on her toast thoughtfully. “Maybe. No, probably not. You know me, I would have demanded a full and detailed explanation.”

  “With color-coding.”

  Artemis grinned as Dan and Octavia laughed. “And, you, sis, are the firebrand, so I guess I can’t blame you for walking away.”

  Romy sighed. “I told Blue I’d meet him this morning in the city. Don’t suppose you could give me a ride?”

  “I can.” Octavia said, spooning the last of her cereal into her mouth, “I have to go to the library, it’s no problem.”

  Romy grinned at her. “Thanks, dude. I still can’t get over how alike we look. Daniel, are you sure you didn’t fool around with my mom when we were back in high school?”

  The women laughed as Dan held up his hands. “All I’m saying is Magda is a beautiful woman.”

  “Dad! God, you’re so embarrassing.” Octavia hid her face in her hands as her father smirked.

  Romy snorted with laughter and poked Octavia. “Come on then, twinsie, let’s get going.”

  On the drive into the city, Romy and Octavia chatted easily, then Octavia smiled at her.

  “Artemis told me you are actually a twin. I’m sorry about your brother.”

  Romy felt a lump in her throat. “Thanks … I miss him still, even though it’s been over twenty years.”

  “What happened? If you don’t mind telling me.”

  Romy cleared her throat. “Not at all.” Her voice quivered a little but she ignored it. “It was so quick, such a normal moment in a normal day. He fell over in the school yard. He was playing with some friends and tripped and hit his head. For a few hours he was okay, and then the next morning, Mom found him dead in bed from a hemorrhage.”

  Even now, Romy remembered the agony of seeing her twin, the person closest to her, blue- lipped and lifeless.

  Octavia had tears in her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Romy.”

  “You know what it’s like to lose someone, Tavia. It never gets easier; you just get used to the pain.”

  Octavia nodded. “I know. Mom fought cancer twice, once before she had me. That time she won, and was determined that it wouldn’t stop her and Dad from having kids. They went through seven rounds of IVF before one took. Sometimes I wonder if having me, putting her body through all of that, made her weaker and allowed the cancer back in.”

  Romy squeezed her hand. “No, honey, it doesn’t work like that. And, believe me, she would have taken the cancer over and over again if it meant having you in her life.”

  Octavia looked tearful. “Thank you, Romy.” She laughed a little through her tears. “I wish you were my sister.”

  “How about we pretend we are? After all, it looks like Arti and your dad are pretty much solid—so that makes you family. Of course, I would technically be your step-aunt—but sister sounds better, right?”

  Octavia grinned at Romy. “Deal.”

  Octavia dropped Romy off at the breakfast place and waved goodbye. Romy drew in a deep lungful of oxygen and went inside, seeing Blue was already waiting for her. His green eyes were troubled, wary, but Romy allowed him to pull her into a hug. “Thank you for coming, baby.”

  Romy leaned into him, breathing in his woodsy, clean scent. “Let’s talk.”

  They ordered eggs and toast with strong black coffee and Romy waited. Blue looked at her. “I have no idea how she got into my apartment, but I swear to you, Romy, I’m not sleeping with her.”

  “Who is she?”

  Blue hesitated. “An ex-patient who got a little too close.”

  “Did you sleep with her before you knew me?” Romy was watching his expression carefully. Don’t lie, please don’t lie.

  Again, Blue paused. “It’s more complicated than that.”

  His answer irked Romy. “Either you had sex with her or not, Blue.”

  His expression was unreadable then in a low voice. “Technically, I did have intercourse with her.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “Romy … I have a past, and some things are too painful, too scarring to discuss. You should know that.”

  Ouch. “Don’t try and weasel out of this by bringing up Dacre, Blue.”

  “I’m not trying to weasel out of anything. It is what it is.”

  Romy sighed. She wanted to believe Blue, but there was something in her gut instinct making it difficult. “But you’re no longer involved with her?”

  “No, nor any other woman. Believe me, Romy, you are my love, my life.” He leaned forward and brushed her lips with his. She didn’t pull away. “Nothing will ever change that. As far as I’m concerned, you and me? We’re endgame.”

  Romy felt a rush of warmth inside her at his words. “We are?”

  “Yes.” This time his words were defiant, determined. Blue held her gaze steadily. “I love you.”

  Romy half smiled. “I love you too, Doc.”

  “Can we move past this?”

  She considered for a long moment then nodded. “I guess we can. But no more beautiful naked women in the apartment.”

  Blue grinned. “Unless it’s you.”

  Romy laughed then, her tension falling away. “Unless it’s me. And get your locks changed, would you? If she could get in that easily, anyone could.”

  “Already done,” he said grimly, “And the building’s security team got a tongue-lashing as well.”

  “Maybe we should look for somewhere tog
ether.”

  Blue nodded. “I’d like that. I want to be somewhere of both our choosing.”

  Romy was dreaming now. “Maybe out on one of the islands? I …” Her attention was suddenly caught by the flat screen TV in the corner of the diner. Blue’s face flashed up, followed by a photograph of the naked woman being thrown out of his apartment, and Blue’s shocked, angry face behind her. With a sledgehammer-like shock to her heart, Romy read the headline.

  Prominent Seattle surgeon in late-night tryst with naked stepmother, socialite Hilary Eames. Photographer captures moment lover’s tiff escalates into public humiliation.

  Romy felt her throat fill with vomit. “Oh my God …” She breathed and turned on a shocked Blue. “An ex-patient, huh? You sick, perverted fuck … Jesus, Blue, your own stepmother?”

  “It wasn’t like that, I swear.” Blue’s voice was gravelly, broken, his shoulders slumped, but Romy had no sympathy.

  “How could you?” She didn’t wait for an answer but darted to the bathrooms and threw up and up until she was sobbing and dry-heaving. She sat on the bathroom floor and cried, her heart shattering. What the fuck is wrong with the world?

  A young waitress came to find her. “Are you okay?”

  Romy shook her head. “No.”

  “Your friend asked me to come see if you were okay.” The waitress crouched down beside her, her kind face concerned. Romy tried to smile.

  “He’s no friend of mind.” She wiped her face. “Is there a back way out of this place?”

  The waitress led Romy through the kitchens and Romy thanked her, pressing a large tip into her hands. “Give me a few moments before you tell him I’m gone, would you?”

  “Of course. I hope you’re okay.”

  “Thanks, honey.”

  Romy went out into the cold December streets and walked to work. How the hell were they going to resolve this? Everything was so fucked up. You should never have slept with him to begin with. Would she have to transfer to a different hospital? God.

  She was in the locker room when Mac came and hugged her. “You okay? I saw the crap on the news.”