“I saw you,” he admitted. It was hard to tell her, but he needed to get it out. She pulled back, looking at him in confusion. “When your grandfather gave his speech, they zoomed in with the spotlight on your table. You were laughing, leaning over him to whisper something in his ear, and I was jealous. I was embarrassed because there was the girl I’d been sleeping with. She was at an important family event with some other guy, when she’d filled most of my waking hours for the last five weeks. The only time you mentioned it was to make sure I wasn’t going, and I thought you were ashamed of me. You always said you only wanted sex, and you didn’t want to be linked as a member of the club, but before then I never assumed it was because you were ashamed. It pissed me off, and then I saw you kiss him on the cheek. I should have talked to you, but I couldn’t see straight.”
“It meant nothing, less than nothing.”
“I’m starting to get that, but it doesn’t excuse what happened in the hallway outside the bathroom.”
“I was a bitch. I wanted to hurt you the same way you’d just hurt me, and I knew the one way to do it was to pretend I didn’t know you.”
He scoffed; she sure as shit had him pegged. “Well, your bullseye was a direct hit.”
“I know.” She put her arms around his neck. “I wanted to take it back as soon as it happened. I told my grandfather after you left I did know you, and we’d been seeing each other for a while. It was easier than saying how I really knew you. Then I waited all the next day for you to text me, figuring I could explain and apologize, but you never called me.”
“Did you expect me to? Would you?”
“No,” she admitted. “And I was going to leave you alone, let you have your space, but I couldn’t do it. As each day passed, I found myself missing you more and more. I picked up my phone to text you several times a day but talked myself out of it. Today, after I got through snapping at my assistant for probably the hundredth time since that night, she sat me down and told me to fix whatever broke last week. And it’s you. I helped break us.”
“You weren’t alone.” He kissed her lips, unable to stop himself. She was there, they were talking, and they were going to work it out. “I had some part in what went down.” They sat there, basking in each other, and he felt complete for the first time in a while.
“What do we do now?” Her question broke the solemnity of the moment, and he held her tighter, not wanting to let her go.
“Whatever we want.” He moved his hand into her hair, pulling her head back so she was looking him in the eye.
She took a deep breath as though fortifying herself before she stated her wishes. His gut clenched, figuring this was it. This was the moment where she told him she only wanted to have sex with him and they should lay off anything more. “I would like to try to give this a shot.”
Hope was a fickle thing; once it took root, it refused to be dislodged unless there was no other answer. “What does that mean?”
“It means I like you, and I want to see what could happen if we saw each other outside the club as a couple, not just friends.”
“As a date?” he asked, just to make sure she was positive.
“Yes.” She smiled, the first genuine one since she’d come in here.
“Baby, you have no idea what you just did to me.” He grabbed the sides of her face, kissing her while she laughed at him, pulling her down to the bed and showing her how happy she made him.
This is everything, he thought with a smile when he kissed her. Alexandra was a balm to his soul, exactly what he was looking for when he didn’t even know he was searching. She deepened the kiss, her arms going around his neck, and he couldn’t believe his good fortune. He’d spent a week moping around like a child whose favorite toy was taken away until he couldn’t stand his own company, believing they couldn’t fix what happened. He’d missed her, having gone from seeing her several times a week to nothing, and the burn in his soul had been like a physical ache, as though he couldn’t breathe without her. Which probably made him the biggest pussy, but she was in his arms so he could care less.
“Missed you.” Her voice cracked as she ran her hands through his hair while he kissed her neck. He pulled back, his hauntingly green eyes staring into hers, the corners of his lips tipping up at the corners.
The intensity in her gaze burned through his very soul. “I’ll take care of you.” She turned her face, but Roman refused to allow her to run away, tipping her head back so he could stare into her beautiful brown eyes again. His tried to convey all the feelings he wanted to say but didn’t; the wanting, the longing, the determination shining bright, the lust, and even love breaking through his defenses. She was his, and he knew it. He believed love would be more jarring, a flash in the pants you recognized as soon as you felt it, but it was a slow merging of souls he sought to reaffirm through their lovemaking.
“I’ll take care of you,” he repeated. She nodded, feeling the emotions so close to the surface from their earlier conversation threatening to spill over. His lips met hers, sealing the promise he’d made seconds before. She moved her legs, creating a space for him so he could lie between them. He broke the kiss, trailing his lips down her neck, teasing her. This was different than before, when they’d come together with slapping thighs and quick orgasms. He was making love to her, saying with his body what he couldn’t with his lips.
He took her three times, and each one was better than the rest. The first time in the club because he couldn’t keep his hands off her. He’d talked to Quinn while she snoozed for a bit, apologizing for being an ass. Quinn took it in stride, joking they could name their firstborn after him. Roman wasn’t sure they were ready for all that, but he did escort her to his house when she awoke. The next day was Sunday, and he was angling to spend a day with his girl since neither had to work. She could never leave again, not after everything they’d gone through. If something else came up, they would weather it together. And when she turned to him that night, burrowing closer as though she couldn’t get enough, Roman thanked God she’d come into his life.
***
Alexandra turned right then left, studying the grey wrap dress she’d accented with peach accessories. It was perfect for dinner with her family. She’d called them ahead of time, alerting them she was bringing Roman to dinner and to be on their best behavior, but the hamsters running around in her stomach refused to get the message. Roman would be there any minute to escort her. She’d lied to her grandfather when they last saw each other. Her grandfather had been understanding, but she’d felt pained every time she remembered how much she’d hurt Roman.
Roman was an integral part of her life, and Alexandra wanted her family’s support. She grabbed her clutch when the bell rang, checking her reflection once more before she greeted him. Roman in a polo and jeans was hot, but Roman in a suit was killer. Her ovaries melted when he leaned in to kiss her, and complimenting her on her outfit.
They made their way to his SUV, not speaking. The silence should have been comfortable, but the tension was ratcheted up to an eight.
“Babe.” She stopped him from fidgeting with the radio with her hand on his. Roman looked at her sheepishly.
“Sorry. There aren’t any good songs tonight.”
“Of course.” She rubbed his arm, accepting the lie. “You know they’re going to love you.” Like I love you, she added silently, and would tell you if I wasn’t a coward. She couldn’t say when it happened, it was more like a notch locking into place, but she no longer denied it. Now if only she could tell him.
“If you say so,” he mumbled, keeping his eyes on the road.
“I know so. And you’re going to try and be on your best behavior. I understand your feelings toward my dad, but this is my family and they had nothing to do with what went on.”
“My feelings toward your dad will not color my attitude toward your family.”
“Are you sure?” He’d addressed her worst fear, although he hadn’t treated her differently.