✰ ✰

"𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡"

My hand moved freely against the canvas, like every time, my mind went into a daze of nothingness—painting my most creative thoughts.

Art was certainly my speciality, something that had my mind utterly consumed. I loved expressing every emotion through paint and colours, drawing what came to mind.

"Your talent never misses to amaze me," Kara sighed, her head resting on my thigh as she watched me paint.

I giggled and stroked my hand over her head. "How's blondie?" I asked her. It's been a good two weeks since I returned from the hospital. My thigh was much better and I could now stop using the crutches—thank God.

"He's good, he's taking me out this weekend," She wiggled her eyebrows and made a thrusting motion with her hands.

"Jesus," I snorted and shook my head at her motives.

"How about you and Roman?"

I smiled and shrugged. "We're good."

"Well, I'm assuming you guys fucked. Telling by the certain shine you're giving off,"

I dropped my paintbrush in the cup of water and gave her a blank stare. "We did, but we also did something else,"

She rose her eyebrows and curled her arms around her chest. "Yes?"

"We said the famous three words," I grinned and her jaw dropped. "What!" She screamed, crumbling up from the floor.

"How could you not tell me?" She placed her palms on the sides of my cheeks and squeezed them together.

"I did," I said, my voice cut off when she let go. "But I would remember—

"You were wasted," I stated and she made an O shape with her mouth.

"Well, never mind that." She fluttered her hand out and then placed it on her hip, raising a brow.

"How good did he fuck you? Was it like I said? Or was he—

"This is disgusting," Aydan mumbled, racing his eyes back and forth between Kara and me.

"Leave then." Kara propped a hand on her hip and Nicolo snickered next to Aydan.

"Do you guys want to go out tonight?" Nicolo asked, changing the subject completely. I nodded, going back to the canvas and painting.

"Club?" Kara looked at us three.

"Yeah, we'll go to one of 'em in the city," Nicolo then said.

"Are you sure you're okay going out Arabella?" Aydan asked me, all three of them looking at me warily.

I rolled my eyes and dropped my paintbrush into the cup of water. "Guys, I have to eventually get back out there. Plus I went out with Roman last week, I was fine." I shrugged.

"Your dad will send bodyguards though," Kara mentioned and I sighed, rolling my body around the chair to face them.

"I know, it's either that or I don't go," I shrugged and looked over at Nicolo, who seemed to be in deep thought.

"Nico?" I called and he snapped out of whatever daze he was in and faced me. "Hm?"

"What's wrong?"

He shrugged casually and stood up with Aydan. "Nothing. We'll all meet at the club, yes?"

Everyone nodded and the boys left, leaving Kara and me alone. "I'm going to head home and pick an outfit out."

I smiled and got up from the stool. "Okay, love you!" I hugged her tightly and she hugged me back. "Love you more, au revoir,"

Giggling, I sit back down in my seat, now being alone I concentrate entirely on my painting—bracing every image and thought into it.

✰

It's been a good week since I've seen Roman. He's been away on business, local business. We've called every day, and he was finally coming back to our small town tonight.

"I'm going out," I pouted, rocking my legs back and forth from below me.

He asked, shuffling heard from the other side of the line.

"Some club in the city," I mumbled. "Do you want to come past?" Hopefully, I asked, and waited for his reply.

He grumbled, more moving could be heard and I frowned curiously as to what he was doing.

"Roman?" I called, looking over to the staircase where Nicolo descended from.

"You okay?" Glancing to my heels that were a patent black, shining under the dim kitchen light.

He reassured, the sound of a car roaring to life in the background.

His voice went deeper as he spoke quietly, reacting my body to swarm in a pit of butterflies and tingles.

"Okay. Love you," I blushed, glancing back up to my brother who adjusted the watch on his wrist—standing near the threshold.

Smiling, I hung up and hopped off of the counter—grabbing my purse in the process.

"You ready!" I shouted to Nicolo, walking over to him in the process. He looked up at me and nodded. "You're driving,"

"Ew, why," I grumbled, taking his keys off of him and moving out of the house.

"Because I always drive," He complained, following me. Shaking my head, I slide into the car and smirk at the glorious interior of his car.

"Better now ruin my car," Sliding in beside me, he looked at me sternly. Shrugging, I replied.

"It's on you if I do."

His eyes widened and I immediately sped off, grinning widely.

✰

Entering the club, all eyes were pinpointed to us.

Somehow, the four of us managed to catch all attention—seemingly the lustful gazes.

As we walked through the crowd of intoxicated people, we made it directly to the bar. Theo was seen sitting at the bar, his head turning as Kara wrapped her arms around his neck from behind.

I sat down on the other side of the bar, Nicolo and Aydan coming next to me. My brother ordered drinks for us and I went into a conversation with Aydan.

"I don't want to be single anymore," He dropped his head onto the table and shook it. Laughing, I patted his back and looked around the area.

"You'll get there. As far as I can see, many women have their eyes on you right now."

He sighed and turned his direction directly to the side, gazing over the many eyes. "They only want sex, Bella."

I let out a sad sigh, genuinely feeling bad for him. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I hugged him.

"You'll find someone, just keep searching."

He chuckled and patted my back softly. "Thanks, Bells."

We pulled away and right on time, our drinks were placed in front of us.

I took my drink into my hand, the sunset orange colour catching my attention. All five of us placed our drinks in the middle and we clanked them together, taking our first sip.

Time went fast, Kara and Theo were the first to leave the bar—getting lost in the crowd. Aydan and Nicolo left an hour after.

Then it was only myself left at the bar. I refused to leave, not until Roman made an appearance. By now, it had been over an hour and multiple shots of alcohol had been consumed.

I wasn't drunk, though, I wasn't sober. Just right in between. But I was too far gone to notice the man that sat beside me—not until he decided to place a hand on the brink of my thigh.

Frowning, I shifted my legs away and looked to my left—looking at the young blonde man. "What are you doing?" I mumbled, looking down at the hand on my thigh—moving it off me.

He smirked and twisted his whole body to me, his forearm dropping to the counter in front of my body.

"You're very beautiful," He tilted his head, his bloodshot eyes going over my features. "I know," I replied, turning away from him.

Maybe if I pretend he isn't there then he'll go away.

Yeah, great idea Einstein.

Sipping my fourth drink, I cringe back at the taste but continue to down it. "You have a boyfriend?" The annoying man beside me asked.

"I do," I replied, then looked over at him. "Not that it's any of your business,"

"Hm, sure, sure." He nodded sarcastically, definitely assuming I was lying. "I do," I said again, bringing the drink to my lips again.

"Then where is he?"

I paused, sneaking a glance at the persistent man. "I don't know," I drowned the drink, tossing it onto the table and clenching my hands together.

Suddenly, the presence of the man moving caught all the attention in my body to him. I went tense as he stood behind me, placing a hand on my shoulder and the other on my waist.

Clenching my jaw, he trailed the hand on my shoulder down my neck—slowly. My lips scrunched up in disgust as I tried shrugging it off.

"I don't believe you," He whispered in my ear, and I cringed away at the mere breath of this man on my skin.

"My boyfriend is pretty psycho and he'll be here soon, so I'd get your hands off me if I were you." I stated, grinding my teeth together.

The man chuckled, amused again.

Fuck it. It's his funeral.

"And how psycho is this boyfriend?"

I giggled, looking down at the hand that now reached the pit of my breasts.

"He'll kill you."

The contact that was placed on me was instantly torn off my body as if it were never there in the first place.

Gasps were heard from around me and the loud thud that came from behind me, instantly had my body rolling off the stool and looking towards the commotion.

My eyes widened at the sight of my boyfriend beating the shit out of the man who was previously trying to feel me up.

Fuck, I summoned him.

Roman lunged another punch at him, blood pouring from the guy's mouth as his body went limp.

There were many eyes on the scene in front of me, and not to be one of those but we didn't need any attention at the moment.

Leaning down, I gripped Roman's biceps with both of my hands—attempting to pull him off the guy.

"Roman, come on," I whispered, my voice coming out soft and weak—unintentionally. He glanced over at me, his cold, dark eyes peered into mine and he thankfully slammed the guys head to the floor and removed himself from the guy.

Roman stood to his full height, never once taking his eyes off the guy as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder and began guiding us away from the place.

My eyes connected with Nicolo's and I held my thumb up to let him know I was okay.

He dragged us outside, back into the cool air. I stopped walking once we were on the footpath—Roman turned to me directly, not saying a word as he took me by the waist and scanned my appearance.

"He didn't hurt you?" He asked, his voice deep and cold—a sound so chilling yet so enticing.

"No," I replied, smiling up at him as he still scanned my appearance, lightly rubbing his hand up and down the curve of my hip.

"He touched you, Sì?," Looking into my eyes, he intensely gazed at me—my gaze faltering.

"He did," I nodded once, shifting on my feet. Suddenly, his arms wrapped around my waist and he pulled me to his chest—my cheek pressing against it.

"You didn't have to beat the life out of him," I mumbled, wrapping my arms around his back and hugging him closer.

He chuckled darkly, it wasn't an amused laugh more like a dry one. "I did," He replied, his hands on my hips pulling me away from his chest to face him.

"I warned him," I shrugged casually, smiling up at him and he only smirked, leaning down to peck my lips.

"You okay?" He pulled away, staring me down. "Yup! Now that you're here," I lightly tilted my head to the side and he chuckled, wrapping his arm around my neck—pulling me to his side.

"You've been drinking?" He rose one arched eyebrow up, starting to lead us down the lit street. "Yeah," I sighed, beginning to feel my legs get a tad heavier.

"Tired?"

I glanced at him and shrugged. "Not really, my legs are though." I smiled mischievously. Rolling his eyes, he swiftly leaned down and wrapped one arm around my waist, tucking the other behind my legs and lifting me into his arms.

Laughing, I wrapped my arms around his neck as he carried me. "You're the best," I kissed his cheek and he smirked lightly. "I know,"

"Don't get too cocky now," I bit the inside of my cheek, containing my hopeless giggles as he glanced at me warningly. "Where are we going?" I rose my eyebrows, wiggling them as he shook his head and rounded a corner.

"Hungry?" He asked, pulling into a small late-night cafe. I grinned and placed a hand on my stomach. "Always."

Strolling to a table, he placed me back down onto the floor and I gripped his arms to stabilise myself. He pulled my chair out for me, making me smile internally at his manners.

He sat down opposite me, body sinking into the seat. My eyes flashed towards his dried bloody hands, they played with the menus mindlessly. "You should clean them," I pointed out, looking back up to his face—only to see his eyes on me already.

"What do you want?" He nodded towards the menu he placed in front of me, completely ignoring my question. I frowned, nevertheless looked down at the menu.

Strawberry cheesecake sounds like heaven right now...

Maybe hot cocoa too.

Mhm, definitely.

"Can you get me the strawberry cheesecake and a hot cocoa, please?" I gave him an innocent smile to which he nodded once too in response, emotionlessly standing and going to the counter.

From my seat, I watched as he towered over the short woman behind the register, noting how her gaze remained on him—preferably his attractive biceps. I got it, he was hot—not even hot, Godly if you must.

Too bad he's mine, bitch lays a single hand on him, it's getting chopped off.

Psycho bitch...

Hush.

As she brought the cheesecake out for me and placed it on a plate, she pushed it towards Roman, making sure to keep her palm on his as he lifted it off the table.

He strolled back over, eyes fixed on me, dropping the plate in front of me and kissing the side of my head, instantly bringing a smile to my face.

"Your drink is coming," He said, sitting back down and relaxing again in his seat. "Thanks, Roman," I smiled, cutting into the delicious cake and devouring it.

My hot cocoa came shortly after, I was nearly finished with my cheesecake as it did. Roman hadn't spoken the entire time, merely just observing me eat.

I was far too absorbed in my food to even react to his intense stare, though as I neared the end, I finally spoke up.

"Do you have something to say?" I rose a brow, sipping the last of my hot drink. He switched his gaze to my eyes, leaning forward with a tilt of his head after.

"I do." His deep voice had blessed my ears once more, the sound ever so soothing to my soul.

Placing the cup down, I shuffled in the chair and faced him properly to give him my full attention.

"Okay." I confirmed, nodding my head for him to continue—utterly curious to his next words.

He licked his lips, the action casually catching my attention, simply arousing me in ways.

I followed the movement of his hand reaching out for mine, placing my palm on top of his as he traced my star tattoo that matched with his.

"Arabella," He said, using my full name—which was rare. I frowned instantly.

"You're not breaking up with me are you?" My heart beating rapidly and he tensed, his face went hard and cold as he shook his head once.

"No," He said, coldly as he stared intensely at me. "Never."

I nodded my head and closed my eyes, reopening them after breathing in for a few seconds.

"Okay, what is it then?"

Tilting his head to the side, he ran his thumb over my palm as he spoke.

"Will you move in with me?"