Roman tensed and stood up, leaving his station to look at the front counter. Of course, there Randy was, a big smile on his face as he talked to Dolph. Roman hadn't seen Randy in almost a year. They weren't exactly on good terms when Randy left all that time ago, but Roman still felt his heart fluttering a little. He looked good, still as tall and as broad as ever, but he looked like he had more muscle than he ever did. His smile looked a bit brighter, his blue eyes practically twinkling. Wherever he went off to, it had certainly done him good.
When Roman first moved to Chicago with Dean, Randy had been the first person Roman really connected with. Randy was Roman's first actual boyfriend, and the longest-lasting one to date (at nearly five years, but Dean was quickly catching up). They always remained friends, even after they broke up. Randy ended up being between places, going back and fourth between Chicago and St. Louis for nearly two years. By that time, Roman had begun to date Dean, but Randy wasn't a fan of it. He moved to St. Louis permanently, but moved somewhere else soon after.
Randy had these incredible blue eyes, and an amazing smile, and Roman would be lying if he said he wasn't feeling something for the older man. It was just remanents, though, and Roman knew that. Even Randy had admitted to feeling things, too. Randy started making his way further back into the shop, but Roman didn't bother to move. Randy's smile only grew as he caught sight of Roman, prompting a smile to break out on Roman's face as well.
"Jesus, Rome, look at you," Randy said quietly, pulling Roman in for a tight hug. "I missed you."
"I missed you too," Roman said, pulling back slightly to look Randy in the eye. "Where've you been?"
"Uh, wow, let's see," Randy chuckled. "I went to St. Louis, was there for about two months, and then my friend made me go see him in North Carolina, and I met someone, and ended up in Georgia."
"World traveler," Roman commented. "So, who'd you meet?"
"This guy, his name's Cody," Randy said. "He came with me, but he's at the hotel right now."
"Alright. So, you just here to talk, or...?"
"Actually, I have a job for you," Randy guided Roman towards his station, sitting down and rolling up his sleeve. "I wanna get this filled in better."
Roman smiled as he looked down at the familiar rose tattoo on Randy's arm. It was the only thing he had colored on his arm, but the red had always been a little off. Randy had promised Roman years ago that he'd get it fixed up - Roman hated sloppy tattoos - but he apparently never did. He held his arm out towards Roman, the younger man tracing the flower with his finger.
"All these years and it still looks like shit," Roman laughed as Randy punched him again, and a few minutes later, he was filling in the red tattoo.
"Hey, so, how're you and Dean?" Randy asked, obviously accustomed to the sting of getting inked.
"We're good," Roman said, trying to sound as honest as possible.
"Really?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't we be?"
"Well, y'know, with Dean fucking Cena and all that, I thought you'd be a little uncomfortable," Randy shrugged. "You've always been a cool ex. Maybe I'm just thinking out loud."
Roman almost dropped the tattoo gun. He tightened his grip on the tool, willing the sudden shaking of his hands to go away. His eyes started stinging with tears. He'd forgotten about Cena. He was a newer guy at the shop, and Dean only mentioned him in a passing manner every once and a while, so Roman never really though of it. If anything, Roman expected Punk, but he was good enough friends with Phil to know he wouldn't do that to him. That, and Phil was engaged to a girl named AJ.
John Cena. He was pretty good looking, but nothing Dean ever expressed being into, which mad that moment hurt that much more. Was Roman that bad? That Dean had to sleep with someone he had no prior interest in? The one good thing Roman managed to find was the fact that he'd denied Dean the night before. Dean hadn't missed out on sex for a month. Dean had missed out on sex with Roman, because he was too busy with John. Roman's heart started aching.
His man. His best friend. His boyfriend. The guy he'd known for 15 years running. The guy who promised that he'd never cheat, that he was beyond that. They guy who promised him a future. All lies. Dean was just a liar.
"Rome? You alright, baby?"
Roman nodded, taking a deep breath that was too shaky for comfort. "I'm alright, it's just a little bit of a sore subject."
"Yeah, I get that," Randy said. "Couldn't talk about you for a while. I mean, I could talk to you, but if anyone asked, I couldn't."
"Yeah," Roman nodded numbly. "It's just like that..."
"I dunno, man, like, did you see his face? Have you ever looked at him? God, he's so attractive."
Corey chuckled as Seth threw himself back onto the couch, letting out a heavy sigh. Seth was having quite the crisis because of Roman. It was just, his face. And him. Seth hadn't had a boyfriend for nearly two years, and he hadn't even had feelings for anyone for even longer. But Roman had made him feel stuff that he hadn't felt for a while. He wasn't letting himself get too into Roman, though. Seth didn't know what Roman liked, he didn't know if he was with someone or if he wasn't into guys (or just not into Seth). The uncertainty was almost a deal-breaker for Seth, but that only made him want to get to know Roman more.
"You've got it bad, don't you?" Corey asked, crossing his arms over his chest and looking at the man laying on his, well, their couch (Corey had been the one to buy it, and they lived together, but it technically was Corey's).
"He's so pretty," Seth groaned, rolling over and burying his face in the cushions.
"I know, Seth, I've known him for a few months now," Corey patted Seth on the back, standing up and getting his phone off the kitchen counter. "You want his number?"
"What?" Seth's head, hair sticking up messily, popped up from behind the arm of the couch. "You have it?"
"Yeah, dude," Corey said, pulling up Roman's contact. "See?"
Seth took Corey's phone, quickly sending Roman's number to his phone. Corey let out a snort of a laugh, and Seth glared up at him from his spot on the couch. Seth almost immediately sent Roman a text, until logic actually got the better of him. He didn't know Roman. If he texted him out of the blue, it'd be weird. Or would it? Seth began typing a message, but quickly locked his phone and put it on the coffee table. Keep your composure, Seth thought. He works at the same place, just talk to him in person.
"So, what?" Corey asked. "You just wanna get with him or something?"
"What? No," Seth said quickly. "Dude, yeah, he's fucking gorgeous, but he's...sweet. Like, he let me talk. He never told me to shut up. He's-"
"You do know that I know him, right? And I know he's kinda an angel on earth and too nice for his own good."
"Was that a warning?"
"That was me giving you a rundown," Corey said, taking his phone back. "He's a great guy. I'll talk to Dolph and see what I can do for you."
"Thank you," Seth pulled his knees up to his chest, resting his chin on them. His eyes were trained on his phone, but he never reached for it.
"Willpower at its very finest," Corey patted the top of Seth's head and walked back towards his room.
Roman walked into he and Dean's house at 7:45, blissfully forgetful of what he'd found out about earlier that day. Dolph had insisted on them going on a "date," which they did and awful lot, mostly because he could ask Roman uncomfortable questions without getting beat up. Roman explained the whole situation to the other man, and Dolph's only plan was "make him jealous," which, no, was not a good idea. Tempting, but not a good idea. Seth was the one person Dolph recommended, which was no surprise.
It should've hurt more than it did. Roman should've been curled up in a ball surrounded by everything he and Dean ever shared. That's how break-ups worked, right? At least, the cheating kind. Him and Randy had a mutual thing, neither really wanting what the other wanted. But Dean cheated on him. Better yet, he'd lie about it. Roman couldn't help but feel guilty for the way he was feeling. Even if Dean was cheating on him, Roman still felt like he was obligated to care about Dean. And by not feeling any kind of mind-numbing pain that most people feel, Roman felt like he was betraying Dean in some way.
He nearly laughed at the thought. If anything, he'd only benefit from betraying Dean, seeing as the other man had already done it to him. Roman fished his phone out of his pocket, unlocking it and pulling up Dean's contact. Calling him couldn't hurt.
"Hello?"
"Hey, babe," Roman said, making his way up the stairs and into the bedroom. "Where are you?"
"What? Oh, uh..." Clothes were rustling in the background. "Just, uh, just out with Cass and Enzo. These two can't be left alone, you know?"
Lies. "Okay. Do you have time to talk?"
Dean let out a short sigh. "Yeah, of course, baby."
"Awesome," Roman rolled his eyes. "So, guess who I saw today."
"Who?"
"Randy," Dean hated Randy. Between he and Roman dating, and him not wanting Dean and Roman to date. "He's back for a little bit."
"Is that so?" Roman heard footsteps, and a door closing. "What'd he say? Where did he even go?"
"He went to St. Louis, and then North Carolina, and then to Georgia. It seems like a lot to me, but it's Randy," Roman said. "He said he missed me." Last time Roman listened to Dolph, ever. This jealousy stuff just wasn't him.
There were more footsteps, and a door closing, and a car door closing. Wherever Dean was, he was leaving. "I'm leaving these two idiots," Dean muttered. "I want your clothes off. No more Randy, you understand me?"
"Yes, sir," Roman teased.
"God, you're so much," Dean just hung up the phone after that. Roman chuckled.
The jealousy shit wasn't Roman's thing, but it wasn't hard to make Dean jealous. Ever. While Roman was pretty easy-going - he'd quite simply watched his boyfriend cheat on him for nearly a month, for christ's sake - Dean was the complete opposite. At least, when it came to exes. After Roman dated Randy, he had a short fling with a guy named Tyler, and to this day, Dean would still punch his lights out if he came within 10 feet of Roman. Roman had asked Dean about it before, but all he really got out of anything was the word "mine." Understandably so, though. Dean had never had much, let alone a boyfriend or girlfriend as serious as Roman. He couldn't just let someone take that from him.
Roman and Dean had been best friends for fifteen years, pretty much a fifteen year relationship, just without the dating stuff. They bumped heads alot, mainly in the bedroom. But roman knew he wouldn't be happier with anyone else. He could protect Dean, and Dean wanted to be protected. It gave Roman closure. And whatever made Roman happy, evidently made Dean happy. They basically lived for each other.
At least, that's what Roman thought.
10 minutes later, Dean was walking into the house, while Roman laying down completely naked, just like his boyfriend had said. Dean made his way into the bedroom sans-shirt and struggling to get his belt off, especially when he caught sight of Roman. Even when he was very obviously angry, he stopped altogether just to stare at Roman; his cheeks pink, lips parted, and Roman couldn't help but smirk. Dean managed to fumble the rest of his clothes off and get on the bed in less than a minute. As he got on the bed, Dean went right ahead and pushed Roman's knees up toward his shoulders.
"They're gonna be up there anyways," Dean said, leaning down and kissing Roman as he simultaneously reached up onto the nightstand for the lube. "I love you so much, you know that? Randy doesn't deserve you."
Roman nodded breathlessly, feeling Dean almost hesitate before he pushed a finger into Roman. Even Dean groaned at the feeling. Roman pressed the side of his face into the pillow, Dean already pushing in a second finger. That night wasn't a night for wasting time, and Roman knew it. Dean was going to rush, and he was going to get Roman as soon as he could. It was the same way the night Roman and Dean had ran into Tyler at a bar. Soon Dean was thrusting three fingers inside of Roman, just barely missing his prostate. Roman groaned every time Dean was right there, but not there, making Dean chuckle quietly.
"Think you're ready?" Dean asked, kissing the inside of Roman's thigh.
Roman nodded. "Please."
"What was that?" A shit-eating grin plastered itself onto Dean's face, and Roman, in his mostly lust-ridden haze, rolled his eyes.
"Please," Roman whined. "Fuck me before I kick you out of bed."
Dean laughed and slathered a bit more lube on his - oh, wow, completely neglected - cock, lining himself up with Roman's hole. He pushed in slowly, pressing little kisses all over Roman's face as he went. Thanks to going over a month without bottoming, Roman was insanely tight (Dean could hardly breathe, it felt so good), but Dean could also see the older man wincing beneath him. He stopped when he was fully inside of his boyfriend, watching as Roman's eyes fluttered open and then back closed, mouth opening in a moan.
"Good god, Rome..." Dean groaned, slowly pulling out of Roman before thrusting back in. "You're so fucking perfect..."
Roman felt his face heating up. He'd missed that feeling so much; Dean inside of him, filling him uo to the point where it was almost too good, but Roman always managed. And Dean, no matter what kind of mood he was in, always made sure Roman was comfortable. His thrusts got a little faster and harder, making Roman arch up involuntarily as the head of Dean's cock just barely brushed over his spot. He gripped Dean's hair in one hand, his other gripping Dean's shoulder hard enough to leave a mark. Dean leaned down and pressed his lips to Roman's in a messy kiss that was mostly just teeth and tongue and Dean's thrusts making Roman move under him.
"Harder," Roman mumbled against Dean's lips, his hands moving to hold Dean's face. "Fuck me like you mean it."
Dean was the one groaning that time, leaning down and burying his face in Roman's neck as he sped up his thrusts. And he hit Roman's spot every single time. "I love you."
"I love you too," Roman moaned, wrapping his legs around Dean's slim waist. "I'm so close."
"Me too, baby," Dean started stroking Roman at a fast and sloppy pace, feeling it throb in his hand. "Let me see you let go."
With that, Roman did. He let out a moan loud enough to have them kicked out of a hotel, his nails inadvertently sinking into Dean's sides. His cum shot out and splattered he and dean's stomachs. Dean's thrusts faltered for the slightest moment and he was coming as well, biting down on Roman's shoulder in an attempt to muffle his own moan. After a few minutes, Dean lifted himself off of Roman and padded over to the bathroom, coming back with a damn washcloth and cleaning Roman up. He threw the cloth somewhere near the bathroom and climbed back in bed with Roman.
"You good?" Dean asked, laying his head on Roman's chest.
"Fantastic," Roman said, a tired smile on his face as he carded a hand through Dean's hair. "So, Randy gets you that wound up, huh?"
"Shut up."
"Okay, I was just gonna tell you that I'm going to lunch with him tomorrow."
"I will stay home and fuck you all day if it means keeping you away frm him," Dean didn't even lift his head up.
"I was kidding," Roman tugged lightly on one of Dean's curls. "I love you, and you only."
Dean's arm tightened around Roman's waist as he pressed a kiss to Roman's neck. "I love you too."
Dean dozed off within minutes, leaving Roman awake and alone with his thoughts. He wasn't Dean's only. But Dean was his, and at least he had that. His phone buzzed on the side table and he reached over to get it. For a split second he though whoever was texting him was insane, but it was only 9:30, and, evidently, the perfect time for Dolph to text him.
seth's up for a date, if you're interested
the truth is revealed! dean's a cheater! seth's got a crush on roman! this chapter was the first one to actually give me writer's block! yay! reviews are welcome!