“Maybe.”
I catch his hand on my shoulder. “We’re more in-tune than I want to think, Roman.”
“Are we?”
“Here I am thinking about quitting and here you are doing the same.”
He drops the poof and massages my neck. “I’ve never struggled with what to do before, Bambina. I don’t know how to navigate this for us. I’m doing things out of order, keeping secrets from my best friends. I just want things to be simple.”
“Tell me something simple, then. Here. I’ll go first. I really like silly teen dramas. The more paranormal the better.” I murmur.
“I love you.”
I laugh and lift my toes from the water. “That’s simple?”
“Simple and true.” Roman sighs. “I want to marry you, Sophia. I want to marry you the right way, without taking you from the guys, without destroying what we all have together. I love you and I’m willing to wait, but … I want my intentions clear.”
“I appreciate that,” I say honestly. “And we can work on that.”
“On what?”
“On the whole marriage thing … after Holden’s birthday. It’s a conversation with everyone, not just me. Things have to be clear to the guys and they have to be okay with it. All of them, not most.”
I know that Nick and Holden aren’t all about marriage. I know that they won’t care. Gunner will. Especially after all the issues, Bella brought to light in our relationship. I roll over and tug on Roman’s shirt.
“Come in here with me.”
“Bambina.” He chastens despite the smile on his face.
“It’s nice and warm.” I tempt. “And we’re good at talking when we’re close.”
He takes off his shirt and I bite my lip. This is another simple thing. Being close with him is easy. I rub down his body and undo his jeans. Pressing a soft kiss to his abs makes him groan and sigh at the same time.
“I haven’t had enough of you to be satisfied, Sophia.”
“Will you ever?”
“No.” He lets his jeans fall to the ground, then slides into the tub after I make room for him. He hugs me close. “I’m suspicious you’re using me to warm the water.”
“You’re so much more than a pretty face.” I tease.
He laces our fingers together while we watch. “So are you. I know that and so do the guys, so does your father. If you don’t want to work …”
“It’s not that simple.” I lean back to look at him. “But I appreciate that. We should do dinner with the five of us on Thursday. A pre-birthday.”
He chuckles. “Birthdays are so important. How are you going to manage four of them?”
“With absolute dedication and love.” I roll again, stroking over his chest before pressing a kiss to his neck. “The same way I handle you all the rest of the year.”
Romans lips mold to mine as he claims me for himself. Long, steady strokes of his tongue and even gentler touches of his hands. It’s an uneven balance that threatens to make my heart burst.
He draws back and cups my face. “Paris?”
“I’ve wanted to see it since I was little. Something about the history … and maybe a little to do with Beauty and the Beast.”
He chuckles and kisses me again.
I melt against him and we lay in the tub, doing nothing. I rub his side slowly. “Roman … do you get jealous when you’re not included in the naughty fun?”