Blunt as ever. It should bother me that he doesn’t give a shit about her finding out, but instead, it’s … it’s hot. My body breaks out in goosebumps, and I squeeze my thighs together to try and get some kind of control.
“Well … I am. I don’t want her knowing.”
Roman chuckles and purrs something in Italian. I don’t have to speak the language to know it’s dirty. He motions me forward with a finger. When I don’t move, he arches an eyebrow. “Come here, Bambina.”
“Or what?”
“Feeling disobedient today?” He cocks his head to the side.
“Maybe I am.”
“Then I’ll wait until tonight when I can bend you over, spank you, edge you until you beg me to let you come, and fuck you so hard that our neighbors hear you.”
I swallow hard. Of course, Roman is the first one to take off the kid gloves. When I don’t answer, he walks around his desk and leans on the front of it. It takes everything in me to stay sitting. I’m drawn to him like a magnet, want to touch him, to give in to him, to feel him against me, inside of me.
I can see the pulse in his neck, and I know that if I look lower than his belt, I’ll find him hard. Roman crosses his arms and arches an eyebrow at me. “Done eye fucking me already?”
“I’m serious, though. I don’t want her to know.”
“Okay. There are ways to keep you quiet. Fun ways.”
“And we still have to deal with my dad.”
“I’m more focused on you, Sophie.”
I look away. Of course, he is. Roman gently strokes along my jaw before turning my chin to face him. “I mean it. Your dad can hate me. He’ll get over it. Are you okay right now? Knowing that he’s pissed, knowing that he knows. Are you okay with your mom moving in? Are you okay with all the other shit that might hit the fan?”
An answer is on my tongue. Yes. I’m an adult. I can handle the consequences of my own actions. But it sticks and won’t make it past my lips. When I try again, a different answer comes out. “No.”
“Then we need to fix that, don’t we? Because I’m not going to touch you until I know that you want it, are okay with the consequences, and won’t be thinking about anything but me.”
Shivering, I nod slowly. I don’t know what part I’m agreeing to because it honestly all sounds amazing. I clear my throat and try to refocus. “My mom moving in is going to be harder than anything.”
“That’s the main issue?”
“Yes.” I nod.
Roman leans forward, cupping my chin in his big, calloused hand until I’m ready to melt against him. Fuck everything else. Fuck the world. Roman looking at me like I’m the only thing important despite being at work is insane, and I don’t want to let that expression escape his face.
“Are you worried that any of us are going to want her more than you? I can tell you right now that’s not going to happen, Bambina.”
“I’m worried she’ll want you, and when she’s turned down, she’ll start wondering why … or she’ll see the way you look at me.” Is the truth always this easy.
Roman kisses me softly, his lips molding to mine with just the tease of his wicked tongue. I press forward even as he draws back. “And if she finds out, will it be the end of the world? I think she’ll be more focused on your father, eager to be by his side. Emotions to give up easy.”
“Maybe.”
“I can’t change how I look at you.” He whispers, pressing his forehead to mine. “I can’t control it. Not touching you is already going to kill me.”
“Roman.” I run my hand over his until I kiss his palm.
He groans and takes a slow breath. “We’ll do what we can, but Sophie, I’m not patient. Let’s fix all those worries in your mind. I’ll address them all.”
“Might take a while,” I warn.
“I’m in it for the long haul. Haven’t I proven that?” He kisses me again softly. “I thought I made it really clear in Italy, or when we got back, or in any of the moments we’ve shared since the first time I kissed you.”
Right now does more to prove his point than anything. He just holds me, promises to help me fix things, isn’t making a move to strip me or fuck me on his desk. When the hell did this get so real?