Stevens-Journey [Brac Pack 20] by Lynn Hagen Read Free Book Online

rubber room? “I can explain it to you when we get home. I’ll need more than five minutes,” Roman said as he pulled in front of the resource center. He wanted to kill Dommy for putting doubts in his head about Steven. One look at the black-haired beauty would tell anyone that Steven wasn’t worldly. Sure, he had gotten into a bit of a mess with his ex-boyfriend, but that didn’t make him a whore.
    The word echoed in his brain, making him pissed all over again.
    Why couldn’t Dommy grow up?
    “Thank you for the ride.” Steven reached for the door. Roman unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned over the center console, stopping Steven from jumping out.
    “Wait.” He gently curled his fingers around Steven’s arm. “Are we cool?”

    Steven’s Journey
    41
    Steven turned his gorgeous green eyes up at Roman, a look of longing reflecting in the depth of them. “I’m confused as hell. I don’t know what to think right now.”
    Roman could understand that. It must be frightening as hell to run from an abuser to people you didn’t even know. Now he was asking Steven to deal with his confession without any explanation. Roman didn’t want to start their relationship off with tension between them.
    “I never asked. How did your appointment go today?” Steven sat back slowly, his face changed from hesitation to a smile. Roman’s cock perked right up at such a beautiful sight.
    “Better than I expected. I thought I would have to look at ink blots or something. I like Thomas.”
    Roman chuckled. “It’s just counseling. They save the ink blots for the really insane.” He could see Steven relaxing. “Did it help?”
    “The counseling? Yeah, I think it did. Although David has only struck me twice, I—” Steven’s eyes widened as he curled his lips in and looked out of the truck window.
    “You can talk to me, Steven. I promise not to repeat anything or judge you.” He wanted to pull Steven into his lap and comfort him, but he knew Steven wouldn’t welcome that right now.
    Steven bit his bottom lip, glancing down at the seat. ”I’d like to, Roman. But I’ve been burned once.”
    Roman could fully understand where Steven was coming from.
    “Just remember the offer is always open.” He patted Steven’s arm.
    “Come on, I bought us some lunch.”
    Steven jumped down from the truck, closing the door as he met Roman on the other side. “I can’t take it from you. I don’t have any money to pay you back.” Steven lowered his head as he shoved his hands into his pockets and kicked the toe of his shoe on the sidewalk.
    Roman tugged at Steven’s arm until his mate removed his hand from his pocket. He grabbed Steven’s hand, pulling him toward the resource center. “I don’t want to have any more talks about money. If 42
    Lynn Hagen
    I buy or do something for you, it’s because I want to, not because I’m looking to get paid back. Now wait right here.”
    “I don’t feel right letting you do stuff for me,” Steven grumbled as Roman walked into the resource center and grabbed their Styrofoam lunches.
    “Is Steven with you?” Taylor asked.
    “Yeah, I’m talking him over to the gazebo for lunch.” Roman shot back out of the door, seeing that Steven had stayed put. He held the plastic bag up. “Hungry?”
    “Starved,” Steven said, rubbing his flat belly.
    Roman laughed, pointing over to the gazebo. “Then let’s go eat.” He grabbed Steven’s hand again as they walked over to the park. The humidity was high, but there was a nice breeze blowing by that helped.
    Roman sat the containers on the bench and then pulled them out of the bag. “I wasn’t sure what you ate, so I got two specials. I think it was burgers and fries.” Roman cursed when he realized they didn’t have anything to drink. “I’m going to run over to the diner for sodas.
    What would you like?”
    Steven sat on the bench, looking at the lunches with hunger in his eyes. “Anything is fine.”
    Roman ran across the street, making