Lights camera passion, p.21
Lights, Camera, Passion, page 21
I grab his hand and squeeze, and she looks over at him with an expression that lets me know she’s about to get deep.
“You know about our parents?”
“Chels.” Roman says her name like a warning.
“I know what happened,” I reply.
She nods, her eyes assessing Roman. “It changed him, and we’re both still finding our way through the grief, but I know without a doubt I wouldn’t have survived if I didn’t have him. He’s the best person to have at your side through anything, even if he’s directly affected as well. If you two decide to come out as a couple, regardless of what happens, you’ll be lucky to have him at your side.”
The emotion is thick in the room. Rome sniffles next to me and Chelsey stops a tear before it can fall down her face.
Words struggle to make their way past a lump in my throat, and I tighten my grip on his hand as I nod. “I am lucky, and I’m going to try to be the best person I can be for him.”
“Good,” she says with a nod, slapping her hands on her knees. “So, does anybody in your family know?”
I feel Rome shift next to me.
“My sister knows I’m gay. I sent her a photo of Roman the other day but haven’t really had the time to fully explain everything. She’s working and I just got back into town late last night, but we’ve had some text exchanges where she’s been able to deduce that we’re together in some capacity. I’m meeting up with her tomorrow, actually.”
“Oh, good,” she says with a nod. “Your parents?”
“They don’t know. That’ll be a tougher conversation, but one I’m hoping isn’t too hard. My sister is a lesbian, but based on their reaction to that fact is why I’m unsure how this will go.”
“I see.” Her eyes dart to Roman and I can see the concern in them.
The doorbell rings and Rome quickly stands. “Oh, that’s the food.”
After he walks away, Chelsey smiles at me and whispers, “Can I give you a hug?”
“Yes, of course,” I reply, standing up to meet her in the center of the rug.
She holds me tight, her head resting on my chest. “He really likes you.”
I smile. “I really like him.”
Pulling away, she holds onto my forearms as she peers up into my eyes. “He hasn’t dealt with his grief. He spent his time being strong for me and I don’t think he’s processed it the way he needs to. If things go bad when you two come out, he will focus on you first, because that’s just who he is, but he can’t keep stockpiling trauma. He’s going to need—” Her voice cracks.
I rub her shoulders. “I will be there for him. I promise.”
She nods, swallowing down her emotions.
“Dinner’s here!” Roman calls out.
Chelsey wraps her arm around my waist, and we walk toward Rome together.
CHAPTER 41
Dinner goes just as good as you’d want when meeting the family of the person you’re dating. There were no uncomfortable moments or awkward silent lulls. Watching Rome and his sister interact just gave me a new side to him that I’ve never seen. You can tell he loves and looks up to his older sister, but is also very protective of her.
I got a handful of fun stories from them about their childhood and teenage years, and a couple that Rome found embarrassing but that Chelsey had too much fun discussing.
One was about how he had a crush on a teacher in the eighth grade, except that the teacher was well into her fifties, according to Chelsey. Rome argued that she was definitely younger, but Chelsey pointed out the thick bifocals and Golden Girls hairstyle.
I was also told about the time he was in a talent show but forgot the words and kept singing the chorus over and over again.
We all ended up bowled over in laughter, but mostly because of the way they tease each other.
After cleaning up, the three of us end up out back, lounging in the chairs next to the pool with our drinks of choice in hand.
“So, the movie comes out in a couple months, right?” Chelsey asks.
“Yep,” Rome answers.
“Nervous?”
“I don’t think I’m nervous, but I’m just hoping it’s successful. I want the readers of the book to be happy with our interpretation,” I say.
“I want them to think I’m the better actor of us two,” Rome jokes.
Chelsey rolls her eyes but Roman winks at me when I look at him.
“Have you both seen the posts about you two?” she questions.
“Some,” Rome replies. “The ship name is hilarious.”
“Wait, what?” I question, not having heard that one.
“They’re referring to us as Racoby.”
My brows draw together. “That sounds like something you’d name a raccoon that kept showing up on your porch.”
Roman barks out a laugh. “That’s specific.”
“There’s gotta be something better.”
“Manoby? Jacman?” Roman muses.
“I hate those.”
“I’d just say Blackhart,” Chelsey chimes in. “Works better. Anyway, people have already put together these little edits just from the trailers. People are obsessed with you both. I think it’s gonna be a huge hit.”
I glance over at Roman and smile. His eyes rake over me, making me feel things I shouldn’t be feeling with his sister next to us. I mouth stop at him, but he just grins.
Chelsey yawns and looks at the time on her phone. “I think I’m gonna have to call it a night,” she says, stretching her arms above her head. “I flew straight in from New York, and it’s starting to catch up to me.”
I stand up with her and extend my hand for a shake, but she bypasses it and gives me a hug. “It was so nice meeting you, Jacoby.”
“It was nice meeting you, too.”
“You’ll be around the next few days?”
I nod. “Yes. I’ll be here.”
“Good. I hope to see you again before I leave.”
“Definitely.”
She walks over and wraps her arms around Roman’s neck. “Love you. See you tomorrow.”
“Love you.” Rome’s eyes flicker to me. “Uhh. We might leave for a little bit, but I’ll be back tonight.”
Chelsey snorts. “Okay.”
Once she’s inside, I force my way onto the same chaise lounge, straddling him and forcing him to lie back. “Way to play it cool. We could’ve left and she wouldn’t have known. Now she knows what we’re up to.”
He runs his hands up my sides and wraps them around my back. “I just didn’t want her to wake up and be alone and confused.”
I kiss his forehead, nose, and then mouth. “You’re sweet.”
Roman groans. “Not that sweet.”
My lips brush across his cheekbone and down his jaw until my tongue finds his neck. “Mm. Very sweet.”
He thrusts his hips into me. “Keep going lower and we won’t make it to your house.”
“Not sure I want to wait that long anyway.” I pull his shirt up, my fingers touching his skin. “You have a shed back here.”
“It’s a nice one, too,” he replies, his hands on my ass as he pushes me into him.
“Got lube?” I question, scooting down and kissing his stomach.
“Yes,” he breathes. “In the house. No condom, though.”
“Hmm,” I murmur as my tongue licks a path under the waistband of his boxers. “How do you feel about that?”
“You’re the only one I’ve been with since the first time,” he says through a breathy voice, his hips undulating.
“You’re the only one I want to be with,” I tell him, kissing his erection through his jeans as I peer up at him. “I can’t even think about anyone else but you.”
Roman stares at me for several seconds before sitting up quickly. “Okay, I’m getting the lube. Meet me in the shed.”
He rushes into the house and I make my way across the grass, heading for the shed that sits on top of a large square of pavers. There’s a window next to the door, and when I step inside, I notice how organized and clean it is.
The lights from the backyard shine through the window, allowing us to not be in pitch blackness. I undress, waiting to see Roman scurry across the grass. When he flies into the shed, I watch his head swivel around until he finds me.
“Oh fuck yes,” he breathes, immediately coming to a stop in front of me and dropping to his knees.
The first touch of his wet tongue on my cock has me groaning in pleasure as I thread my fingers in his hair. “Yes, baby.”
Roman moans around me, taking me into the warmth of his mouth and edging me with his tongue and hands until I can’t take it anymore.
“I need you,” I say between deep breaths. “Come here.”
Roman stands and removes his clothes before he steps closer. My fingers wrap around his erection before I give a languid pull.
“God, your touch is like the strongest drug,” he breathes, exposing his neck to me.
I angle my head and gently bite his skin while I continue to move my fist up and down his shaft.
“How so?”
“I forget everything else. I’m absolutely captivated by you and whatever you want to do to me. It consumes my every thought.”
The strength of the feelings that are threatening to come out in the form of words I’m not sure I should say yet have me choking on a response. I don’t even know if I trust myself to know that they’re true. I’ve never been in love. Is there a set amount of time you have to be with someone to know for sure?
Instead of dwelling on it right now, I simply say, “Let me consume you.” And I lower myself to my knees so I can taste him.
My tongue flickers and swirls, and my fingers close around him to stroke, guiding him to the back of my throat.
“Baby,” he breathes, his body shivering. “Fuck. I need you.”
I ease away and wipe my hand across my mouth as I stand. “Take me.”
His eyes assess my face for several seconds before lust takes over completely. He bends over to grab the discarded lube bottle and begins pouring it into his palm.
“There’s a little table over here,” he says, walking to the other side.
I make my way over and rest my palms on the wood as he strokes himself with the slick liquid. His fingers then slide between my cheeks, and while he readies me, he stands at my side, kissing my shoulder and upper arm while huskily telling me everything he loves about my body and how he can’t wait to be inside me.
“Give it to me,” I whisper, driven to desperation by his touch. “Now.”
“So bossy,” he teases, easing away from me.
“I think the word is horny.”
Roman grabs the lube again and steps behind me. My need for him makes the wait feel like hours. I bend at the waist even more, dying for his touch.
His fingers tease me in a featherlight touch.
“Rome,” I growl.
His legs brush against mine as he begins the gentle push in. “Oh fuck,” he moans.
“Yes,” I hiss, drawing out the word.
He begins slowly, his hands caressing me reverently as he carefully moves his hips. It doesn’t take long before I’m greedily rocking back, demanding more. My soft moans turn into desperate pleas, and soon enough, Roman takes pity on me.
His grip tightens on my hips and his thrusts go deeper.
“God, you feel incredible,” he says. “I can’t get enough.”
Our moans collide together, rising higher and higher until we fill the backyard with a chorus of our pleasure. My cock aches, needing to be touched, but I keep my hands on the table. When I come, it’s going to be by his hand.
Roman begins slinging words together that don’t make sense. He curses and he praises. He grunts like an animal and then sucks in quivering breaths. He brings my knee up to the table that precariously rocks on uneven ground, and he attempts to fuck me through it.
I can tell he’s getting close by the way his fingertips dig into me and the change in his breathing.
“Oh, god. Jacoby. Fuck, baby. You’re so good. I—oh, god, I’m about to fucking come!”
“Yes, yes,” I chant, loving the way he shatters, his words shouted into the night as his body trembles behind me.
After a minute of sucking in oxygen like he was just under water, he carefully pulls out. I place my other foot on the ground and turn around to find him lowering himself to his knees.
His long fingers wrap around my shaft and his lips part to take me into his mouth. With his dark eyes on my face, his tongue twirls around my tip.
“You taste so fucking good.”
I groan, dropping my head back as my eyes close. “Please,” I beg, my voice cracking.
Roman makes an appreciative noise in the back of his throat. He loves getting me this way.
His fingers tighten and his hand moves up and down my shaft, only stopping when his fist touches his own lips.
My shuddering breaths and small grunts are all that can be heard as I stare down at him, trying to stave off the orgasm simply to be able to keep this view for even longer.
“Baby,” I moan. “Oh god.”
Roman makes a noise around me and moves faster, ready to taste more.
I don’t even get to warn him. I let out a cry just as my release hits his tongue.
“Oh god. Oh fuck. Oh…” I suck in a breath, “yes.”
When he finally pulls away, he just sits back and rests on his haunches, looking up at me with dark eyes surrounded by long lashes, and swollen, wet lips.
I’ve always known that Roman’s attractive. I’ve been attracted to him for years, but that word doesn’t fully encapsulate his allure. He’s charming, sexy, funny, and seductive. He’s shy and sensitive, but brave and honest. He’s incredible, and I don’t know what good deeds I did to have this sort of karma.
“Holy fuck, I think I’m obsessed with you,” I say.
His mouth forms a smirk as he gets up. He steps forward and brings our naked and sweat-slicked bodies together. “Obviously.” Planting a kiss against my lips, he then whispers, “The feeling is mutual, babe.”
CHAPTER 42
Due to some miscommunication, I thought my sister was showing up at three in the afternoon, but it turns out it was three in the morning, and we happen to show up to my house within minutes of each other.
“Oh my god, am I witnessing the walk of shame right now?” she asks as I open the gate for her to be able to drive in.
“I would have to be ashamed for that to be possible, and I am far from that.”
“Oooh.”
“Why are you here right now?”
“Can I park first?”
I shuffle toward the front door as she parks, the gate closing automatically behind her. As I’m typing in the security code, she pops up behind me with way too much energy for the time of day.
“I told you I was coming at three.”
“Normal people would assume that means three p.m.”
“When did you ever think I was normal?” she says with a laugh as we step inside.
“True.”
“I got off work at one, went home and packed this bag,” she states, dropping the duffle bag to the floor, “then I picked up some fast food and drove over.”
“How’s West Hollywood these days?”
“I’m literally only thirty minutes away and you’re acting like it’s a whole new state.” She plops down on one of my barstools at the breakfast bar. “But you know, still amazing. Trendy as fuck and super queer. My kinda place.”
I go to the fridge and grab two water bottles. “I love you and I’m happy to see you, but I’m in desperate need of a shower,” I say, sliding one to her.
She catches it in her hand, a smirk on her lips. “You definitely reek of dirty, nasty, secret sex.”
I purse my lips at her. “Anyway. I’ll see you in the morning.” I round the bar and drape my arms around her neck, playfully nuzzling my head into hers.
“Gross. Get your sex aura away from me.”
I chuckle. “Sex aura?”
She shoves me off of her. “Go shower. See you later. I’ll expect details about how the hell you two are doing.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
In the morning, I make my way downstairs and run into Fallyn at the foot of them as she takes off her tennis shoes.
“You went for a run already?” I ask, looking at my watch. “It’s not even nine. I had to drag myself out of bed.”
“Yeah, well, I’m used to not getting much sleep, and a run in the morning really wakes me up.”
“I don’t understand you kind of people. Psychopaths, really.”
She laughs. “Shut up.”
“You remembered the code to the gate?”
“No, I hopped it,” she says sarcastically, standing up. “Got some photographers out there.”
“They’ve amped up recently. They gotta be bored.”
“Nah, your neighbor two houses down is a singer. They’re watching her, too. You’re not that important.”
I roll my eyes. “Thanks.”
“I was gonna make breakfast.”
“That’s what I’m doing,” I tell her. “I thought I was getting a head start, but apparently you’re an overachiever.”
“Let me cook,” she says, pushing past me as I make my way to the kitchen.
“Why?”
“My kitchen isn’t this big or this nice. Let me live out my master chef dreams.”
I chuckle. “You’re such a weirdo, but please, feel free. Want to make me some coffee too?”
She shoots me a scowl. “Uh, no. You can do that yourself.”
My bare feet pad across the floor to the coffee maker while she starts pulling out food from the fridge.
She washes her hands at the sink and says, “So, you and Roman. How’s that?”
My smile takes over my face before I even turn around. “It’s really good.”
Fallyn’s grinning at me when I face her. “Gah! Tell me everything. You’ve been giving me the runaround over text. Are y’all official? In love? Moving in and adopting babies? Or are we like, low-down fucking and just having fun?”
