“Why are you apologizing?” she asked.
“I thought you were lying.”
“You still didn’t believe I was a virgin.”
He shrugged. “I guess I didn’t see the big deal in the test.”
“There has never been anyone.”
“And now that you’re mine, there never will be anyone else.”
“How do you know that?” she asked. “I could have any lover I wanted.”
“No,” he said.
She knew from that voice and that tone that any man she tried to take as a lover would end up dead. “I wouldn’t do it,” she said, rolling her eyes.
“I’m telling Antonio about that one.”
“And I’m telling him about the glare you’re giving me.” Alex glanced at him. “Do you need me to … ugh?” She had no idea what she was doing, or how to ask him if he wanted her to give him an orgasm.
Roman took her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “Already taken care of,” he said.
“It is?”
“I had no choice but to handle it in the bathroom.”
“You were … masturbating?”
He chuckled. “Damn, you’re cute. How come I’ve never noticed this before?” he asked.
“I can’t believe you were doing that.”
“It wasn’t part of the test but just thinking about seeing you naked was enough to drive me crazy.”
Alex rolled onto her side, staring at him. “Will you take any … lovers?” she asked. She bit her lip as she stared at him.
“Do you want me to?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No.”
“Then I won’t.”
“But, what if I don’t … you have desires.”
“And when the time comes, you’ll be ready to deal with them, Alex. If you don’t want me to take lovers, then I won’t, but you’ve got to promise me that you’re going to be ready to allow me to have you. To not hold back and to not be afraid,” he said. “I’ll take my time with you. I’ll love you. I’ll be everything you need me to be.”
“Okay,” she said, and knowing he wouldn’t take another woman, she felt … better. Roman belonged to her now, and she was his, and that felt right to her.