Page 27 of Stay With Me
If Roman wanted to, he could reach over and touch me.
And that’s exactly what he does; as if he can read my damn mind. My whole body stiffens as Roman places his large, warm palm on my bare leg. I suck in a breath as he slowly brushes my inner thigh with his pinky.
Licking my lips, I keep my attention on the menu in front of me, cursing my hands for shaking. God, I’m starting to sweat, too. This is so bad.
“So, Tasha, honey, how is everything?” Roman asks his daughter as if his hand isn’t slowly inching up my thigh.
My heart pounds in my chest as I try to read the menu. Tasha answers him, telling him all about her job and the new guy she’s seeing. Thankfully, I already know all about her life because I can’t make out what’s being said over the blood rushing in my ear.
“How about you, Ava?” Roman squeezes my flesh for a quick second, causing my eyes to snap up to his.
“W-what?” I ask, blinking rapidly.
He smiles, a smooth, husky laugh shaking his chest. “I asked how your life is going?” He gives my thigh a squeeze, and I almost let out a moan. Fucking hell, this dinner is going to be just that, pure hell.
“It’s good.” I swallow thickly and clear my throat. “Work is good. Long hours.”
“You’re working at the diner still, right? How do you like it?” He moves his hands up further. My core clenches as he brushes the tips of his fingers against my bare pussy. A brief flash of surprise fills his eyes before it turns into a simmering heat.
“I like it. It’s hard, but I love my regulars.”
He nods.“How about your dating life?” he asks bluntly.
“Dad,” Tasha hisses, but he ignores her, eyes still on me.
“What about it?” I ask, sitting up straight while trying to act as if his fingers aren’t brushing against the toy between my legs. A small smirk forms on his lips as he sits back in his chair, removing his hand and looking proud. He likes that I listened, that I wore the vibrator as he instructed me to.
I wish I didn’t because I’m already too nervous and oddly turned on. As soon as he turns that thing on, I will cum. I know it. And I just might die if I do.
“Are you seeing anyone?”
I lick my lips, thankful that the lipstick I’m wearing is smudge-proof. “Kind of.”
“And by kind of, you mean...”
“Dad, that is oddly personal,” Tasha grumbles, shooting me an apologetic look. It’s me who should be sorry. My poor best friend has no idea the underlying meaning of his words.
“It’s okay.” I smile at her and turn back to Roman. “I’m enjoying my time with someone. He’s not my boyfriend, but we’ve been having fun.”
“Oh, really?” He nods. “Fun? How fun is he? Does he treat you well?”
“He does.” I look back down at the menu and jump when I feel his foot kick mine. He gives me a look that tells me he doesn’t like me looking away from him when he’s talking to me.
“That’s good. You deserve a man who can give you the world. I’m sure he will.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that. It’s nothing serious.”
“Do you want it to be?”
I stare at him for a moment, my heart racing so fast I feel like I’m going to pass out. This is it, this is my chance to tell him how I really feel without having to deal with the rejection afterwards. “I do,” I whisper, and he leans forward in his chair. “But I don’t think he feels the same way about me as I do him.”
A flash of anger takes over his handsome face before he looks down at his menu. I’m quick to do the same. I feel like I’m going to be sick; my nerves have turned into a full-blown tornado inside me. My palms are sweating, and I can feel my pulse throughout my whole body.
The waitress comes by and takes our orders. I get a steak with mashed potatoes and a salad.
“If you both will excuse me, I’m going to use the washroom,” Roman says as soon as the waitress leaves.
“Oh my god. I’m so sorry about him,” Tasha is quick to say as soon as her dad leaves the table. “I promise, he’s not always that... pushy? It’s weird. God, I don’t even know what’s up with him tonight.”