Eternal Flame (Eternal Flame #1) (5 page)

You have wanted this for six years. So why are you just standing here? Say something. Don’t just stand here!

After so many years, Kristen’s ultimate dream and wildest fantasy was coming true. Roman Dean was standing in front of her and all she could do was stand there and look at him. She felt like she’d all of a sudden forgotten the English language. She didn’t know what to say or do. He wasn’t saying anything to her either. He was just looking at her like he was trying to figure out who she was.

She noted with delicious excitement that he had changed his clothes. He was now wearing a black v-neck T-shirt and black slacks. She could see his chest hair peeking out the top of his shirt and she wanted so bad to run her tongue over it. She closed her eyes and grimaced at the thought. He’d probably have her arrested if she did something crazy like that. But fuck he looked good. And the way those pants were hugging his ass….

“Are you her?”

Kristen’s eyes blinked open. She dazedly looked at him. “Huh?”

“Are. You. Her?” he repeated the question slower this time, as if she were slow.

“Who?”

“The girl who won the contest.”

Kristen dumbly looked at him. She roughly shook her head and chastised herself to get it together. “Oh! Yes! Yes I am. Hi.”

“Hi,” he said, his face still expressionless.

“I’m Kristen.”

“Roman.”

She wet her dry lips. “It-It’s nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too.”

The man’s voice was made to narrate erotic love stories. Deep, husky, and seductive. Every-time he spoke her body had a visceral reaction to him. She was confused about the chemistry she had with Diego but she was undeniably still attracted to Roman. Her virginal pussy tingled between her legs and her nipples were as hard as saucers. She hoped he couldn’t tell they were hard. They were practically breaking free from her lace, strapless bra.

Kristen nervously toyed with her hair and stuck her hand out to shake his hand.  She hoped her poker-face came in handy because when his hand touched hers, she felt like an earthquake was thundering her body. A dull ache formed in her stomach and tightened. Sweet Jesus. Had he felt that?

Still no expression. Kristen was dumbstruck. He didn’t say anything else after that and she seriously was stumped on how to continue the conversation. Luckily at that moment Cameron happened along and saved them from more uncomfortable silence.

“Great!” she said, bouncing over to them in her perky heels and flashing those perfect teeth. “You’re back!”

Roman gritted his teeth as he looked at her. “Yeah.”

Cameron raised her arms to hug him and he shrugged her off, frowning. “You okay?” she asked, raising her hand to stroke his hair in affection.

He moved out the way and flinched at her, his eyes tightening. He was no doubt remembering their argument from earlier and was in no hurry to kiss and make up. Cameron looked over at Kristen in embarrassment and bit her lip. Kristen thought she looked like she was going to cry.

Kristen looked over at Roman and frowned. Why was he being so rude to his sister? Especially in front of a stranger.

“You guys have a chance to introduce yourselves to one another?” Cameron eagerly asked, determined to diffuse the tension. “Roman, did you introduce yourself?”

“I’m not 5 Cameron.”

“We did,” Kristen quickly interjected, forcing a pleasing smile. “Right before you came out.”

“She knows who I am. It wasn’t necessary. But yes, we did.”

“Okay great,” Cameron said. “You guys should probably go ahead and leave then. So much time has been wasted already. We don’t have a lot of time until the party starts, so… Again, I’m sorry Kristen that this afternoon hasn’t gone as smoothly for you as originally planned-“

“Don’t do that,” Roman snipped. “You wanted me to be here I’m here but don’t throw what happened earlier in my face or talk about what happened like it was some insignificant hiccup that disrupted your well-laid plans. I have shit I’m dealing with right now so believe me when I say that this is the last thing I’m worried about. But I made a commitment to do this so I’m doing it. So let the shit go already. Please.”

Brother and sister stared one another down. Kristen put her hand against her face and turned away, her teeth worrying her lip. This was not going well. But with the way he’d behaved earlier, what else could she expect? She didn’t want to be an annoyance to Roman when he seemingly had so much going on. Still, this was a moment she’d been waiting for a long time and she selfishly wasn’t keen on not taking advantage of it.

“Okay, fine whatever,” Cameron finally said practically rolling her eyes at him. “Right now is not the right time to discuss or talk about it.”

“No, it isn’t,” Roman seethed, openly rolling his eyes at her.

Cameron checked her watch. “You guys better go ahead and get moving,” she repeated. “It’s 2:00 so you have about five hours until the party starts. Don’t forget Idol will be here at 6 so you might want to come back a little earlier than that.

“Whatever.”

“And with a better attitude.” She couldn’t help but throw that in. “It’s no one’s business what you’re going through and it’s not their fault or their problem.”

“And yet you still keep talking about it.” He pointed his eyes in direction of Kristen, who was still turned away, trying in vain to make herself invisible.

“It’s not your family’s fault or problem either.”

“No one’s trying to make it your fault or your problem but you guys aren’t doing a good job minding your damn business either.”

“Roman, we’re your family-“

Roman threw his hand up at her and walked back to the Hummer. “Fuck Cameron! Let it go! Shit!”

Cameron swallowed excessively and roughly rubbed her head with her finger. “Kristen, I’m sorry,” she whispered to her. “I’m so sorry.”

Kristen turned to her, her eyes soft with concern and understanding. “Cameron, it’s okay.
I’m
sorry. I don’t know what’s going on but I can tell it’s eating at you. I’m fine. I’ll be fine. Hopefully he and I can have a good time and keep whatever’s bothering him at bay. At least for a little while.”

Cameron warily stared at her brother. He was standing in front of the jeep with his hands deep in his pants pockets, staring at the ground.

Cameron leaned in to Kristen, whispering confidently. “I don’t think he can.”

She hugged Kristen and Kristen hugged her back, taken aback. “Have a good time,” Cameron said as she pulled away. Her eyes swept over Kristen. “You’re very pretty. And you’re such a sweet and nice girl. If that doesn’t make him feel good at least for a moment…”

She hopelessly shook her head, turned, and walked away, slowly swinging her arms back and forth.

Kristen just stood there, feeling torn and desolate. She turned back to Roman and timidly walked over to him, her sandals crunching in the thin gravel.

Roman looked up at her as she approached. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he studied her face. Kristen put her arm around her back and scratched an imaginary itch. Why was he looking at her like that? And why was it turning her on so much? Why couldn’t she stop sniffing the air like a dog, her body responding and tightening with lust at the scent of his cologne? Fuck he smelled good.

“Sorry,” he dryly said to her.

Kristen curiously looked at him.

“Hate you heard all of that. I’m sure it was uncomfortable for you.”

“Oh that? No. That’s nothing. I mean, I-I wasn’t paying attention really.”

Roman doubtfully looked at her but didn’t call her out on his bullshit. He stood up straight and looked around the yard. “Is there anything in particular you wanted to do today? I mean, I know it was supposed to be tomorrow but it is what it is.”

Kristen twisted her hands in front of her. “No. Whatever you want to do.”

He continued talking as if he didn’t hear her. “’Cause I don’t have a lot of time so whatever we do we need to do it quickly. And it can’t be too far out of the city so I can get you back in time and everything.”

“Okay. Sure.”

Roman looked at her for a moment; then abruptly turned and walked over to the driver’s side of the Hummer. He opened the door, got in and closed the door, sitting there. She stood still stupidly looking at him as he blandly looked back at her through the window.

Well, he may be fine but he wasn’t a gentleman. He wasn’t going to help her in the car? Kristen sighed and disbelievably chuckled to herself. She walked over to the passenger door and pulled it open. Grunting, she hoisted herself up and into the seat, slamming the door behind her. She looked over at him in alarm as he cranked the engine and put the Hummer in reverse, barely waiting before she was inside and seated. Kristen grasped the dashboard with her hands; then haphazardly grabbed the seatbelt, fastening it quickly. She cut her eyes at him.

Roman kept his head over his shoulder as he backed down and then out the driveway. He looked forward and yanked the gear in drive, speeding down the road. Kristen said her Hail Mary’s and clutched her seat, praying they wouldn’t crash.

Kristen watched trees and fancy houses zip by her at an alarming pace and looked ahead, thinking that would make her less fearful of his driving. It didn’t.

They rode in uncomfortable silence for minutes. Kristen fidgeted in the car, feeling ill at ease. Her dress kept riding up her thighs and she kept trying in vain to pull it down and keep it down. Part of her wanted to leave it up so he could look at her smooth, hairless legs. Maybe if he saw how pretty they were it would calm him down. He might even jump on her and start humping her legs in lust. That would be nice. She giggled out loud at the thought.

Roman glanced over at her. “What’s so funny?”

“Oh. Nothing.” She rubbed her lips together and suppressed a smile.

More silence.

“I like your sister Cameron a lot. She’s nice.”

“And you’ve formed that opinion about her based on knowing her for only what? Five minutes?”

Kristen pressed herself against the passenger door, wishing she could disappear through it. This nut was going to be hard to crack.

She subtlety looked over at him. “She’s very pretty too.”

More gritting of his teeth and silence. Kristen held in a sigh and looked back out the windshield.

Roman turned the radio on, keeping the volume low. It was on a hip-hop station. Kristen hoped for something a little more romantic. “What are you in the mood for?” he questioned her.

“Sorry?”

“To eat. Would you like to eat.” It came out more like a statement than a question.

“That’s fine.”

“Seafood, Italian, Chinese, Buffet, American…”

She shrugged. “It-It doesn’t matter. I don’t really have a taste for anything.”

“We could eat here in Andover or go into the city.”

“Okay.”

“There’s a Legal Sea Foods… Amrheins in South Boston is nice… China Pearl in Chinatown… Novara in Milton is pretty good too. That’s about 45 minutes from here but we’re headed that way anyway, so- ”

“Any places around here or in the city with some good soul food?”

He nodded. “I know just where to go.”

Things got quiet again. Kristen attempted to make small talk but he wasn’t really engaging her. Sometimes it was like he didn’t even hear her.

“What’d you say your name was again?” he asked her.

“Kristen.”

“That’s right. Okay.”

Kristen couldn’t stop staring at him. She tried to be discreet about it but it was hard. The man’s body was in tip top shape. Each time he moved, the muscles in his arms would bulge. She thought the veins in his hands were hella sexy. The thin beard and mustache that hugged his lips and cheeks gave his youthful face a masculine appeal. Speaking of that mouth… She wanted to bite his fucking lip. Sink her teeth into his bearded jaw; lick his dimple… Would he think she was weird if she leaned over and bit him on the mouth?

Kristen blushed and cringed as she felt her core tighten. Moisture gathered between her thighs. She was going to need a new pair of panties soon if she didn’t stop. Her eyes perused his black tousled hair and she couldn’t help but think about pulling and yanking on it as he tasted her between her never before touched innocent thighs or thrusted in and out of her in-tact cherry, stealing her virginity.

She rubbed the sweat on her forehead and bit her nails.
Stop. Stop before you cum all over yourself.

Kristen suppressed another wild giggle and slyly looked over at him. She couldn’t help but note the detached look in his eyes. They were narrowed slightly and he was mindlessly rubbing his arm like he was deep in thought. He looked so sad. He wasn’t present. She wished she knew what was going on with him. She wished she could make it better.

“Happy Birthday.”

Roman looked over at her. He blinked a few times. “Thanks.” He looked back at the road and hit the brakes hard. He’d almost run a red light. He looked over at Kristen to make sure she was okay. “Sorry.”