Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

Roman

I don't mind at all that I was the person who helped Nolia to her bed when she grew too tired to talk anymore. Or the one who watches over her while she sleeps. The only thing I am even the slightest little bit annoyed about is that I still haven't come up with a way to make her stay. I did, however, buy myself another night. And if I have to spend the rest of our lives talking her into one more night with me, one more day together, then that is what I will do.

But I think there is probably a better way.

And when my sister calls me, I think I have found my biggest asset.

"How is everything, Rome?"

"You mean, how is she?"

"Well, Summer did say she walked in on the two of you, and Nolia was tied to a chair."

"She's resting."

This is met with silence.

"What's going on, Rome?"

"What do you mean?"

"'She's resting'? That doesn't sound like something you would know automatically if you weren't still with her. And if you are still in the suite with her… why are you hanging around?"

Damn! My sister knows me too well.

"I don't know what you are talking about, dear sister. I am tired - bone fucking tired - and this is where I am bedding down after all. Why would I not be here still?"

"Don't fuck with me, brother dear." She throws my words of affection back at me. "Something is up, and I know it. If you were just staying put to sleep, how would you know Nolia is ‘resting'? Oh my God!"

And she found me out!

"You like Nolia."

I say nothing, neither denying nor confirming if what she says is true.

"Oh! You REALLY like Nolia. Okay, this is what we have to do…"

"She's trying to go back home."

"Oh, that's not going to work. What did you do? Did you come on too strong?"

"I didn't do anything, Pearl. She…I don't think she likes me very much."

"Well, that's because you tied her to a chair, sweetheart. Women don't like when strange men tie them to furniture. It makes us a little…antsy." I heave a heavy sigh. Wouldn't it just be easier if I could just keep her tied to the fucking chair? Then I would have time to think of a better way to make her stay. "Okay, don't do anything. Leave it to us."

"Us?"

"Me and the girls will see what we can't do about buying you more time but what you do with it is up to you. And, Rome…don't fuck this up for me."

For her? She's telling me not to fuck things up…for her? And how are they going to buy me any fucking more time? They don't understand what kind of woman Nolia is if they think they can just manipulate and control her. One of the reasons I've fallen so hard for her is because of that fact. She's…strong. And I like it.

I sit and brood for I don't know how long when I'm pulled from my thoughts by a hand on my shoulder. "Did you get any rest?"

I quickly reach for her fingers and flip them so that I am holding her hand, our digits entwined. "I'm still running on Japanese time. It takes me a couple of days to catch up to what country I'm in."

"You, um, travel a lot, don't you?"

I nod for her, "How could you tell?"

"Your place wasn't very…well, it's just…,"

"Didn't feel very homey?"

Her eyes widen and she tugs at her fingers, but I don't let her go, "I was going to say…there were no pictures or personal things there. I just assumed that you… might not have had time to put those out."

"I tend to take my pictures with me."

"Thus, the traveling comment." I narrow my eyes at her and give her a tug throwing her off balance and pulling her into my lap.

"If we didn't have to go…"

She would be in so much trouble…and I would be in her!