“Saw her when I was getting ice last night. The hickeys gave it away … and hearing Chase.” He chuckles. “So she’s going to see him again, right?”
“She says no.” I shrug. “She doesn’t like to get in relationships. She prefers to focus on school and then get her needs met when she has time.”
“Well, I’m betting they hook up at least one more time.” He says.
“Betting? What are we betting?” I ask, excited.
“Oral.”
“Ooh, no losers. My favorite kind of bet.” I shake his hand.
It feels like hours of goodbyes and thank yous before getting to go back to the hotel room. I finally flop on the bed and feel the aching in my thighs. I don’t know if it’s from dancing, posing for pictures, sex, or all of the above.
All I know is I’m ready for a nap. Roman looks like a damn good pillow when he takes his shirt off. Laying there in just boxers, his jaw with the lightest sprinkling of a five o’clock shadow. His dark hair a mess and so much skin on display. I slide in next to him and rest my head on his chest.
He runs his fingers through my hair. “Bambina.”
“Amore,” I purr before kissing his chest. “Did you mean what you said about being married on paper?”
“I did.” He says evenly. “The fact that you agreed to it, that you chose me …”
Gunner is still downstairs saying the longest goodbye ever to his parents and Holden is in the shower. Nick is unaccounted for. Roman exhales. “I know that we’re sharing you and you keep things as equal as possible, but all the ways we’ve been forced together – Bella, your dad’s comments, the assumptions – it made me wonder if they were picking on me because I wasn’t good enough.”
“No, Roman.” I kiss him softly. “I love you. You’re so important to me, so sure, so good, and always giving me more than I think to ask for.”
He cups my face. “And you’re the only woman in the world that doesn’t need to ask me for my time and attention. I am more than happy to give it.”
“All I want is as much of you as youcangive. Just you is all that I need, Amore.”
NICK
Ilinger with Leif, Chase, and Hunter for a moment. Leif thanks us for the invite and says he needs to make sure that everything is set for their flight home. Hunter grumbles something about Chase being a snake and joins Leif.
I arch an eyebrow. “Anything I should know?”
“That maid of honor is a vixen,” Chase says with a cocky smile. “And I was more than happy to indulge her rough and needy side.”
I don’t know how to begin to approach that. I swallow. “I hope you both had a good time.”
“I make a habit of satisfying my women. I bet she’ll come back for more.” He elbows me and glances over at the guys. “I better head out before Hunter gets twice as pissed. Hopefully, we can all get together soon for a double date of sorts.”
After he heads out, I wave to my parents again, telling them to enjoy Paris and I go back upstairs. Sophie and Roman are all curled up and Sophie’s almost asleep. Roman tells her a story about his Nonna dropping Massimo when he wouldn’t stop squirming in her arms when they were kids and I see her lips turn up as she nuzzles closer to him.
“Nap time?” I guess.
He nods. “I feel like we’ve already had a full day.”
Honestly, I agree. Talking to everyone, the sex, the painting, everything has been … a lot. I lay on the other side of Sophie and yawn. “Let’s take it easy today then.”
“And do all the exploring tomorrow.” I agree.
“Tomorrow?” Holden asks, now paint-free. “For what?”
“Anything outside this hotel room,” I answer.
He nods. “We can put room service to the test, and make the most of the balcony.”
The door bursts open and Sophie looks around in confusion as Gunner comes whistling into the room. “I missed my family. I definitely want to see them more often.”