We talked about his upcoming swim trials, my app, his little sister, and my cat back home. I only asked him one thing about Ethan, even though I promised Sloan I wouldn't. I just couldn't help it. Although it's obvious that we are definitely done, I'll always be curious about just how deep Ethan was into drugs and exactly what kind of trouble he brought upon my doorstep that night. I also wanted to get an idea of just how completely far my head was buried underneath the sand.
"I don't know much Elizabeth. I just know that he's been doing drugs and was selling drugs on campus for at least a year. His parents knew about it, at least about the using, but they didn't want to wreck his swimming eligibility by putting him in rehab in the middle of the season."
"Did you know about any of this before the assault at my place Jagger?"
He sighed. "I'm not going to lie to you. I knew a little about what Ethan was into. Everybody did, but I had no idea he was involved with dealers like that."
When I thought back to certain conversations between Ethan and I, certain nights out, there were definitely red flags. Every time I thought something was off between us, it was probably because he was high, and I just didn't know what being high looked like. I didn't even start really drinking wine until well after I turned twenty-one.
"Do you think they'll come after me again ... those men?"
Jagger picked up one of my hands gently. "No. They weren't after you. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. They followed him to your house, but they didn't target you specifically. Plus they got their pound of flesh already. They wanted to teach Ethan a lesson and they did. It's over. Don't worry." He says sweetly.
A soft ballad starts playing through a Bluetooth speaker in Roman's living room which snaps me back to reality.
"I think you'll like this Duchess."
Roman turns and hands me a cream colored mug with gold around the rim. It's hot to the touch. I sip it carefully, so I won't burn my tongue. It's absolutely delicious like I knew it would be. I still don't say much of anything, because there's a heart wrenching song playing through his sound system that I find myself listening attentively to. I'm not familiar with the group, but they are provocatively singing of seduction, passion, and pain.
"How is it?" Roman asks as he sits down carefully next to me with a matching mug of his own. "As good as Java's?"
When he relaxes on the couch next to me, Mr. Tibbs finally relaxes and goes to lie down in what seems to be his special corner of the room. Thank God.
"Better. It's delicious."
He nods with satisfaction, takes a sip from his mug, then carefully places it down on the coffee table. I can't help but stare at his hands when he does. They're big and strong like the rest of Roman, and they're very close to the hem of my flouncy skirt. So I press my knees together even tighter. He's being too polite. Too nice. I don't trust it. I don't trust myself.
"I want to know something Duchess." He holds my eyes steady with his own.
I swallow hard. "What is it?"
"This."
He takes his hand and glides it slowly under my skirt and between my legs while never taking his eyes off of me.
"Open." He commands softly and I obey.
His fingers gently rub across the seam of the lace trim of my bikini panties several times and then as my eyelids grow heavy, they carefully slide the crotch of my panties to the side. By this point my eyes are closed for probably several reasons. One being that I can't believe that I'm allowing him to do this ... again. Another being that it feels so good that I wish he'd never stop.
Suddenly his fingers stop moving and like a switch my lids flick open.
"First I need you to hand me the mug," he instructs me in a very thick voice. So I place it on the side table as he nods in approval.
"Second I need you to keep your eyes wide open and on me."
I swallow slowly as if there's a thick piece of caramel candy sliding down my throat.
"Third–" Then his fingers start methodically moving again up and around but never directly against my clit. "You're soaking wet."
I instinctively clamp my legs shut. He stops moving his fingers again and smiles.
"It's ok. I was just checking Duchess."
The smug bastard slides the crotch of my panties back in its rightful position and gives the top of my pussy two soft pats before sliding my skirt back in place. If it's even humanly possible, I got even wetter and my throat tighter.
He stands up and holds his hand out to mine.
"Let's dance."
What. The. Frack.
I don't even know how I can possibly dance to an emotionally charged song like this after what just happened. He's playing head games with me. I may not be the most experienced player on the block, but I know when I'm outmatched.