Fuck, I need to stop thinking with my dick.
I follow her around as she picks a few things up, thankfully including a dress to cover herself up. She is aloof with me, so I keep my distance not to piss her off more.
“Hey, can we pay for these and just go?” she says, looking over her shoulder at me.
“We will pay and get something to eat,” I state.
“I am no longer hungry. I would like to go back to the hotel,” she snipes, making me grin.
“I like your fire, baby, but we are going to eat. No point in arguing with me.” I take the clothes from her and walk over to the register to pay.
The woman behind the counter eyes me seductively, slipping a piece of paper my way, no doubt with her phone number on it. Nell huffs as she walks past, muttering, “No fucking class these days.”
I pay and collect the bags then exit the store, finding Nell looking at some jewelry through the window.
“Do you like anything?” I ask, stepping behind her.
Her body goes tense, but I ignore it, resting my hand on her hip.
I will not let her push me way before I can explain my fuckup.
“They are all so beautiful.” Her voice is slow, soft.
She is looking at a necklace, bracelet, and ring set. All a matching pattern in white gold.
“Like you.”
She scoffs. “I am not beautiful, Romeo. I am here, so you do not have to jerk my feelings around. I have seen the women you have dated, and they are what you call beautiful.”
Inching even closer, I press my front to her back, both my arms circling her waist, holding her tightly. She feels just right.
“You are a natural beauty, Nell. You do not need to try and be fake, or add layers of makeup and have plastic surgery to look good, like most of the women in my world.”
She says nothing for a long time, but I wait her out, not pushing her to speak. The silence hovers over us for a few minutes, then her body sags.
“Can we get something to eat now?” Kissing the back of her head, I nod.
“Yeah, babe. Come on.” I take her hand, surprised that she does not fight me, and lead her back out onto the main street.
“I am sorry for what I said. It slipped out, but I did not mean it. You are your own person and you are here to help me. I get that, but you have to admit there is something between us.”
She nods. “I do feel it, but I can already see that I do not belong in your world, Rome.”
“Rome?” I arch a brow at her, making her blush.
“Sorry. I should have asked before I just shortened your name.”
“No, it is okay. It’s usually just my family that calls me that,” I add with a smile to reassure her. “I like my name on your lips.”
We walk hand in hand until I find the restaurant that I want to take her in. Greeted by the hostess, we are led to a table that looks across the water. It is a beautiful sight to watch the waves crash onto the beach, while eating with a beautiful woman.
Once we order, I push her to talk to me.
I watch her for a minute or two, as she looks across the water taking in the beautiful view. Hawaii is a special place and holds so much history and honor.
“I came here when I was a teenager, for the whole summer. As you can see, my family has money, but I wanted to work. To not be linked to the De Massy family.”
“So you lived like us simple folk for a while then?” she asks, but the humor in her voice settles something in me.
