The Assistant

Goodnight and Goodbye, Paradise

Roman's heart pounded against his chest, and there was a slight ringing in his ear. Had Valencia really said what he heard, or did he hear what he wished she would say? Valencia's words repeated themselves over and over in his mind. She had to have been joking; of course she was. There was no way a beautiful, intelligent woman like herself would be okay with such an arrangement-right?

"What are you saying, Valencia? Are you still fucking with me?" Roman smirked, trying to keep their conversation light-hearted.

"No," Valencia laughed. "What I'm saying, Roman, is that I want you to be happy, and to be happy, you have to be okay with your sexuality. I'm okay with it, so you should be, too. I'm also saying I'm okay with you still wanting to be with Cassius. You wouldn't have to hide it from me. You are free to be whoever you want as long as it makes you happy. You are free to love whoever you want to love. Whether it's just me, just Cassius, or the both of us together."

"Valencia-" Roman began.

"Besides, we still haven't discussed our relationship. So, I won't force you into something you're uncomfortable with or want. I'm willing to do that if I need to wait for you. There's no rush. We can go from there once you figure out what you want." Valencia looked up at Roman from his shoulder and gave him a reassuring smile.

Roman returned her gaze and stared at her in awe. After a moment, they both turned to the darkened ocean. They listened to the waves crashing against the shore, and the laughter of people blended with the music that came from behind them. Then, Roman heard the most beautiful, husky laugh. He turned to see Cassius playing a drinking game with Eliza and Selene, a game he was getting his ass kicked in. Valencia and Roman laughed and watched them intently.

That's when he knew. It was true. Roman loved Cassius just as much as he loved Valencia. There was no doubt about it, yet the fear of admitting it out loud still outweighed what he felt. Roman hated that his father and their beliefs still had such a strong hold on who he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. For so long, Roman lied to himself, Cassius, and the world-and he was tired of it. Life was too short and too unpredictable to live in fear. After tonight, he'd admit to Cassius that he was in love with him. Roman only wondered if Cassius was willing to share-as Valencia stated-with her.

"You still love him, don't you?" It was more of a statement than a question.

"I do, and I want to tell him, I do-but whenever I think I'm ready to accept it, something inside me stops me from saying what I want. Besides, what would be the point if he doesn't agree to share me with you? Or if the two of you don't get along?" Roman chuckled.

"You worry too much, Roman, and I don't know. I have a feeling he'd be more than okay with it. Something tells me that Cassius and I would get along very well, too," she grinned naughtily.

Roman's brows lifted at what seemed to be a bit of lust set in her eyes. He watched her eyes trail his body from head to toe, wondering if Valencia knew she was biting her lip. Was it possible that he could have them both? The idea of having them in his bed together lit a fire inside him. Limbs intermingled, bodies hot and writhing, and moans of euphoria echoing. It would be heaven. Until then, though, Valencia was the one he wanted to grow closer to right now.

"How about we go up to the suite?" Roman suggested.

"What about them?" Valencia nodded toward their friends.

"They'll be fine. They probably won't even notice that we're gone." Roman laughed. "Come on, we can talk out on the balcony. That way, you can still look at the stars."

"Alright," she smiled, standing and reaching her hand out for Roman's.

They walked hand in hand to the suite. It was a simple gesture, but neither thought it would be something they'd ever do. Valencia was giddy at how perfectly her fingers fit in between Roman's as if they were made just for his hands-then she wondered-would they fit perfectly in Cassius's, too? Her cheeks burned slightly at the thought of having both men, one on each side, hand in hand. It felt perfect.