Be With Me

by Gabrielle Sands

"Fuck the ...

"Romolo, delete it!"

"Like hell."

The quicker I got what I wanted, the quicker I could be done with her. I didn’t feel like myself in her vicinity, and I didn’t fucking like it.

"Romolo,"

"Just give it to me."

“...

her breasts pressed against my cheek. I had to bi...

"Romolo, p...

I clenched the back of her barely there dress with my fist and thought hard about whether I wanted to pull her away from me or tug her even closer.

Mia Morales had infected my black heart with a virus that compelled me to do right by her. Fuck knows if I’d ever recover.

She’d expected me to get something useful from Mia, but all I had to show for my efforts was a stolen tube of lip gloss and a newly rediscovered conscience. I couldn’t fucking stomach the thought of hurting that girl anymore. She’d done something to me. I didn’t like these feelings. I didn’t like feeling. Period.

I slid a hand into my trouser pocket and wrapped my fingers around the stolen lip gloss tube. I should’ve thrown it away earlier. Tried to. Couldn’t do it.

We didn’t speak for the rest of the evening. But I spent the entire goddamn night watching her.

The thought of it—of touching someone who wasn’t her—made my stomach turn. If they didn’t look like her, smell like her, moan like her…I didn’t fucking want them.

For everyone else watching, Mia was a side character given a few minutes to say her piece before the cameras zoomed back in on her father. But for me? She was the star of the fucking show.

It took me a few seconds to notice something was off.

Her skin looked ashy. Her smile wasn’t quite right. Strained. Like she had to work extra hard to keep it there. She lifted a hand and pressed her fingers to her temple. A bad, bad feeling crawled up my spine. She swayed.

I couldn’t deny it anymore. I. Wanted. Her.

I was done sustaining myself on glimpses through windows and memories that wouldn’t let me sleep. I wanted the real thing. I wanted us in the same room, breathing the same air, having a fucking conversation. And then I wanted more. So much more. I wanted everything she’d give me. Even if it wouldn't be her all.

How the fuck was I going to pull this off when she was constantly surrounded by her father’s people? I had no idea. The only thing I was sure of was that I was done staying away.

But there was nothing rational about how I felt about her.

I had no right to feel possessiveness. Jealousy. He wasn’t mine. All we had was this one night.

Even if this night was a reckless mistake, it was the best damn mistake I’d ever made.

“I guess this is goodbye, then.”

“I’m not done with you yet, Berry.”

“We agreed on one night.”

"You fell asleep halfway through."

"So did...

"Don't tell me you don’t want this."

"It’s not about what I want."

"Why not?”

“For once, Mia, why can’t it be all about ...

"Look at⁠—"

“No.”

“What are you even asking for? Specifically.”

“More time.”

“More time to be w...

I’d come here with a plan—an entire fucking plan—to make sure she'd keep seeing me.

I'd relished our night together. And I wanted more. More rough kisses. More mind-shattering sex. More him. More. More. More.

“I’ll drive you,”

“You don’t have to. I can take the train.”

“I said, I’ll drive you. Wh...

“On Madison A...

“Rom, I’m probably going to be up all night working on this. If you’re hoping we can still⁠—

“Jesus, Mia.”

“Just let me fucking ...

“I didn’t realize sleeping with you came with ad...

“It doesn’t. But you’re the first woman I've fucked who has a tendency to pass out when she’s anxious or stressed. You cracking your head open while getting off the 6 train would ...

“Thank you,”