Maybe this time he had a reason to be on the road, but what about all the other times he was in and out of her life?

  We slept under our Christmas tree.

  The next morning, as sunlight streamed in through the living room windows, I watched the colorful lights play over Juliet’s cheeks.

  “Are you watching me sleep?” she whispered.

  “Yup.” I rolled to my side and propped my head on my hand. “Can’t help it. You’re pretty.”

  Her lips curved and she finally opened her eyes. “Merry Christmas, Roman.”

  “Merry Christmas.”

  She snuggled closer. “This is already my best Christmas morning ever.”

  “Mine too, butterfly.” I kissed the top of her head.

  We slowly got up and replaced all the couch cushions and blankets we’d dragged to the floor to make our bed in the living room. Juliet ran upstairs to the bathroom and I ducked into the one downstairs.

  She returned a few minutes later, so damn cute in her black and green flannel pajamas.

  “Were you warm enough?” I asked. “On the floor.”

  She reached up on tiptoes and brushed a minty kiss against my lips. “You kept me warm.”

  “Come here.” I tugged her toward the Christmas tree and pulled a big silver box from behind it.

  “Roman, you didn’t have to get me anything.”

  “Of course I did.” I hoped she liked it.

  She carefully unwrapped the box and tugged the lid off. Layers of tissue paper crinkled as she pawed through it. “Oh!” She pulled out the warm wool coat. “It’s so pretty.”

  “It has a warm, fuzzy hood since I know how much you hate hats.”

  She nuzzled her face against the hood. “I love it.”

  Her eyes lit up and she reached for a box under the tree. “This is yours.”

  “Juliet…” She already did enough for me. Dex had a point last night. I was basically living off of her. “You didn’t need to get me anything.”

  “Open.”

  The box wasn’t heavy, but it was big. Inside, I found neatly folded flannel shirts and jeans. A stack of brand new, expensive clothing.

  Carefully, I pulled everything out. Juliet knew me so well. My favorite colors. Understated with no flashy logos. Things that would last.

  “Juliet, you shouldn’t have done this. It’s too much.”

  Her smile faltered. “We’re on the same wavelength.” She hugged her coat to her chest. “I needed a coat, you got me one. You need more than Mr. Shields’ hand-me-downs.”

  “I can’t keep taking charity from you.”

  “It’s not…charity.” A note of indignation colored her voice. Worse, her eyes widened like she was trying not to cry. Why’d I have to get so prickly about this and hurt her feelings?

  “I’m sorry.” I set the shirt in my hands back in the box. “I just hate feeling like I’m taking advantage—”

  “Stop. That’s my uncle Dex getting in your head. Forget whatever he said last night. It doesn’t matter.”

  “It’s not that.”

  Her eyes narrowed and her mouth set in a determined line. She shoved the box out of her way and straddled my lap. I shifted my legs to hold her. With our bodies this close, the awkward feelings about the clothes disappeared, leaving room for some other feelings to grow.

  She teased her fingers over the collar of my shirt. “Maybe,” she said in a low, soft voice, “I enjoyed thinking about your body.” She dropped her hands to my sleeve, unbuttoning the cuff and folding it a few times. “And how sexy your arms look with your sleeves rolled up.” She traced her finger from the crook of my elbow to my wrist, leaving behind a hot, ticklish sensation.

  “You got a thing for arms, now?”

  “Yours, yes.” She cupped my cheek. “I love you. I’ve never had someone I cared about to buy presents for. It made me so happy. Please don’t ruin that for me.”

  “I’m not trying to ruin anything.”

  “Hmm.” She brushed her lips over my cheek. “Do you like the shirts?”

  “I love everything.” My lips curved, and I rubbed my hand over one of the soft flannels. “You know me so well.”

  “Good,” she whispered. Her fingers strayed to the hem of my T-shirt, teasing underneath. “Let’s try one on.”

  The warmth of her body so close and the huskiness of her voice sent heat blasting through my blood.

  Suddenly, I wished I’d gotten her something a little sexier than a coat for Christmas.

  I sat forward, allowing her to pull my shirt over my head and toss it on the couch.

  She inhaled a sharp breath. “Merry Christmas to me.”

  I liked the way her gaze flicked to my chest, then lower. And when she traced her fingertips over my abs, my breath caught. My cock instantly hardened.

  Her gaze dropped to my lap, and her lips curled. “Looks like I have another present to unwrap.”

  “I thought you wanted—”

  “Are you arguing with me again?” She lifted one eyebrow.

  I barely held back my laughter. “No, ma’am.”

  Juliet

  Maybe I was overwhelmed by our first Christmas morning together, which seemed like a miracle. But staring at Roman’s bare torso, I was stunned by how much he’d changed since the first time we’d fumbled and fooled around together. “You’re so beautiful, Roman.”

  His lips quirked. “Beautiful?”

  I traced my fingers over his broad shoulders and down his well-defined arms. “It’s a very masculine beauty,” I assured him.

  He chuckled, rough and deep. “As long as I turn you on.”

  “You always have.”

  His teasing expression softened, and he brushed his knuckles over my cheek. “You have a way of looking at me that makes my heart flutter.”

  What a sweet thing to admit. “Is that why you call me butterfly?”

  “Maybe.” He pulled back and studied my face. “The times I’ve felt dead inside,” he tapped his chest. “You’re what brought me back to life.”

  Tears stung my eyes. I couldn’t stand that he’d ever felt that way. “I love you so much.”

  I pressed closer and kissed his parted lips. He groaned into my mouth and wrapped his arms around me, sitting slightly forward. Underneath me, his body shifted. I braced myself against his shoulders and kissed along his jaw. Beard scruff tickled against my lips as I kissed my way to his neck.

  I slid one hand lower, right under the loose waistband of his pajama bottoms.

  He sucked in a sharp breath. “What are you doing?”

  “Unwrapping my present.” I pressed a hard kiss to his lips, then scooted off his lap, kissing my way down his chest. “Don’t interrupt.”

  His stomach muscles quivered under my tongue. I curled my fingers in the elastic waistband of his pants and yanked them low enough to free his erection.

  “Juliet?” he whispered.

  “Shhh.” I closed my hand around his cock and brushed my thumb over the tip.

  His body trembled. Little panting humming noises left his lips every time I teased his sensitive skin. I stroked and squeezed, enjoying the feel of him. “Is that good?” I asked.

  As if his body wanted to answer, he thrust into my hand.

  “I love touching you.” I stroked faster. “Your skin is so soft. But you’re hard as steel.”

  He let out a shaky laugh. “You’re killing me.”

  I swiped my tongue over my lips, then bent closer to take him into my mouth, sucking soft at first. His hips jerked off the floor.

  He groaned and tangled his fingers in my hair.

  I pulled away and pursed my lips, lightly blowing on his damp skin. “You like that?”

  “Yes.”

  A powerful feeling slid through me. Roman was usually so strong and controlled. But I had the ability to leave him trembling. With a few soft touches, kisses, and licks, he was mine. I savored his desperate noises. When I flicked my gaze up, I found him watching my every move with wide, adoring eyes. His breath came faster. He closed his hand over mine, helping me stroke, showing me how much pressure he liked.

  “Yes, show me,” I whispered.

  He gritted his teeth. “God, Juliet,” he rasped. “You have no idea…”

  Heat flowed through me, loosening my body but tightening my center at the same time. My heart pounded with excitement.

  Two powerful hands gripped my arms and yanked. I released him with a pop and licked my lips. “What are you doing?”

  “I gotta tap out now, or I’m gonna lose it.”

  “But I wanted—”

  He cut me off with a kiss. “Later.” His hands slipped to my waist and he tugged me into his lap. “I need you wrapped around my cock when I come.”

  As soon as he said it, I quivered with anticipation.

  He stared at me with wild, hungry eyes.

  “Take this off.” He yanked at my shirt. His fingers worked quickly, unbuttoning my top and flinging it open before I had a chance to react. “Look at you.” He traced his fingers down my neck and over my chest. “You’re so pretty. All pink.” He tilted his head. “You liked that?”

  “Yes. You taste good.”

  He crushed his lips against mine, anchoring me with one hand at the back of my head. His other hand slipped and scrabbled with my pajama bottoms. “Get these off,” he muttered between hard kisses.

  I lifted long enough to work one leg out of my pants. Bracing myself with my hands on his shoulders, I hovered over his lap. He slowly guided me to him. I gasped with pleasure and shut my eyes shut as he squeezed inside me.

  “Ohhh,” we moaned together.

  I dropped my forehead against his and held on as he slid in another inch.

  “That’s so good,” I whispered.

  He squeezed my butt and guided me until he was buried to the hilt. Heart racing, I ground down frantically.

  “Juliet,” he warned.

  I placed a finger against his lips. “I’m close.”

  He chuckled. “Already?”

  “Yes,” I panted. Desperation stole my voice. I rocked my hips back and forth, up and down, a frantic, chaotic storm of movement. What I thought had been close seemed to recede.

  Frustrated, I reached down and stripped my pants off the rest of the way.

  Roman slid my shirt down my arms, leaving me completely naked. “Slow down, butterfly. There’s no hurry.” He tightened his arms around me. “Relax.”

  We slid into a slower but harder pace. Our sweaty bodies slipped and strained together. He cupped my breast and leaned down to capture my nipple with his lips, sucking hard. The friction between my legs burned in the best way. I opened my legs wider, trying to take in more.

  Roman’s fingers tightened in my hair, pulling my head back so he could lick and kiss my exposed throat. A dizzying sensation tingled over my scalp and down my spine.

  “Fuck, Juliet,” he gasped. “You’re so tight.”

  Wild, wonderful waves crashed over me. My whole being centered on the aching heat where we were connected. Pleasure slammed into me over and over until I lost my rhythm. “Roman!”

  “Oh, thank God.” He curled his arm around my waist, holding me down while slamming his hips up.

  He threw his head back, his breathing as hard and fast as mine. I felt his heart thumping against my palm, where it was pressed against his sweaty chest. He groaned through his release, spilling scalding hot and wet into me. Our lips met, tongues tangling again. He snaked his hand through my hair and kissed me deeply while our bodies slowed.

  “Roman.” I smiled against his lips while I tried to settle my heart rate.

  His lips curved into an impish grin, and he squeezed my hip. “Don’t move.”

  I ran my hands through his damp hair.

  After a few seconds, he blinked his eyes open. Together, we pulled the cushions and blankets into a little love nest on the floor and settled onto our sides, staring into each other’s eyes.

  He traced his finger over my bottom lip. “Thank you for the best Christmas I’ve ever had.”

  My heart squeezed. “Mine too.”

  Was it too much to ask that the rest of our holidays be as perfect as this one?

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Roman

  The snow had barely melted when Ulfric offered me my job at the drive-in again. The drive-in wouldn’t be open for weeks, but once again there was a lot of clean-up to be done. At least now I could contribute to the household. Even better, he taught me how to drive bigger trucks and a van around the empty parking lot. I briefly considered long-haul trucking as a career but couldn’t stand the thought of being away from Juliet for too long.

  When I passed my driver’s exam, Dex taught me to ride a motorcycle and helped me get that license. We spent afternoons in the garage sifting through Mr. Shields’ old tools. Dex taught me how to fix up a Harley, sold it, then gave me another one to tinker with.

  I reveled in my new freedom and couldn’t wait to be able to afford a bike of my own.

  With a GED and no other job prospects, I picked up more side work for Ulfric and other members of his MC. Dex also threw some assignments my way.

  As Juliet’s eighteenth birthday approached, we stopped living in fear that her aunt and uncle might try to force her back into their house. Mr. Porter worked hard to protect Juliet’s inheritance and honor Mrs. Shields’ wishes. He wasn’t going to let anyone interfere, no matter how much her aunt and uncle bitched.

  For St. Patrick’s day, Juliet and I stuffed ourselves with corned beef and cabbage. Juliet baked an Irish Apple Cake that I was dying to dig into.

  “I know it has the sauce, but I think ice cream would be so good with the cake,” she said as I helped her clear the table.

  It did sound good. “Is that a hint that you want me to run out and grab ice cream?”

  She flashed the sweetest smile that I couldn’t resist. “Would you? Vanilla.”

  “Anything for you. Be right back.” I kissed her cheek, grabbed my wallet and keys, and headed to Stewarts.

  Juliet

  Roman was gone for maybe ten minutes when someone banged on the door.

  I raced out of the kitchen to answer. “Did you forget your key?”

  Without peering through the curtain-covered window, I slid the latch free.

  Something hard thumped against the wood, rattling the glass.

  The door crashed open.

  I let out a short scream and jumped from the intruder.

  Uncle Jared.

  Instead of relaxing when I recognized my uncle, my body coiled tighter.

  “Uncle Jared, what are you doing here?”

  Like a snake, he struck. His hand wrapped around my neck. With enough force to shove a car over a cliff, he pushed my back into the wall.

  Pressure at my throat choked off my air. I kicked out and clawed at his arm, desperate to breathe.

  “Think you’re so clever, huh? Got that old bitch to leave you all that money and you’re gonna skip out on us? Forgetting all the years we let you live under our roof?”

  “Let me go,” I rasped. Like a fish on a hook, I kept struggling to free myself.

  “Letting that criminal live here. Acting like a whore. Your aunt’s sick to her stomach. What would your mother think?”

  I couldn’t answer any of those questions. His hand was too tight.

  My vision darkened at the edges.

  No.

  I kicked out again, too feeble to do damage. My foot missed his crotch by inches and he laughed.

  “Trying to hurt me, little girl?” He slapped my cheek. “Try again.”

  He released me. I crumpled to the floor.

  Air. Breathe!

  I wheezed and gasped.

  My gaze strayed to the broken front door.

  There was nowhere to run to. He’d follow me into the street and drag me back by my hair. No one would hear me scream.

  “I liked you better when you were little,” he spat. “When you listened to me.”

  “I was scared of you.” I coughed. “You hurt me.”

  He tore a vicious hand through my hair and jerked me into the living room, throwing me on the couch.

  “We’re not blood-related. My wife is gone for the weekend.” He wrapped his calloused hand around my jaw and squeezed. “I never hurt you that bad. What happens stays between us. No one else needs to know.”

  Once again, he was trying to make it sound like I wanted or invited this madness into my life.

  I hadn’t.

  I never had.

  Chapter Fifty

  Roman

  I walked in on a nightmare.

  Juliet.

  My girl red-faced. Clothes torn. Hair tangled.

  And that motherfucking uncle of hers standing over her, undoing his belt.

  “What the fuck!” I shouted.

  I’m not even sure what happened after that. Red vapor clouded my mind, narrowing my body down to one purpose.

  Kill.

  Everything I learned at the Castle returned with lightning speed.

  I struck hard and fast.

  Two shots to his kidneys.

  Jared went down on both knees.

  I kicked him in the face. Blood spurted everywhere from his broken nose.

  My next kick landed in his gut. He rolled to his back and I straddled his chest. My fists crashed into his face, punch after punch.

  Juliet’s cries and her little hands tugging on my arm finally snapped me out of the red fog.

  On my knees, I crawled away from Jared’s battered body and wrapped myself around her. “Are you okay, baby?”

  “I’m okay,” she rasped.

  I pulled away and studied her face. Red cheeks. Red rings around her neck.

  Shaking with rage and fear, I held onto her as hard as I could without hurting her.

  “Is he alive?” she whispered.