My fingers itch to open it, to read his words, but I don’t. Sighing, I set it down as my drink arrives. The glass of red wine is a welcome distraction, and I take a long swallow of the spicy alcohol.
“Ignoring me won’t get you very far, sweetheart,” a deep voice comes from behind me, and I almost drop the glass on the table. My eyes dart up to find Rome standing there, looking every bit as delicious as the food is going to be.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m not allowed to eat?” he challenges me before ordering his own meal and drink. The moment we’re alone, those intense eyes lock on me. “It’s lunchtime in the city.”
“There is a multitude of restaurants in the city,” I tell him, tipping my chin up in defiance. He brings out something inside me, something I haven’t felt in a long time—craving.
“I love when your sassy mouth challenges me, Elisabet,” he tells me. The waiter sets his drink on the table before making a hasty exit. Even though the restaurant is now packed, all I see his Rome. “But I wish you’d stop fighting this between us.”
“There’s nothing between us,” I tell him in an attempt to sound nonchalant, but the heat that sears me when he reaches for my hand is evidence that my words are a lie. As much as I want to rebuke him, I can’t. He knows it. And I know it too.
“Are you trying to tell me that the hard-on I currently have to hide has nothing to do with you?” His dark brow arches in question, sending heat pooling to my panties. The thought of him being hard right here, in a busy place like this, does things to me.
“You can’t be serious.”
“I’m deadly serious. If you’d like to get a feel, I’ll happily position your hand on my crotch, only that would make my dick even harder, and I may have bigger problems walking out of here.”
“God, you’re terrible.” The gasp falls from my lips, but I can’t stop the laugh that escapes with it.
Rome shrugs. “I can make this easy for you, sweetheart,” he tells me. “You can take me as I am, enjoy the pleasure I’ll bestow on your body, or you can fight it. But let me make one thing clear. I’m not walking away.” There’s confidence in his words, which causes my heart to catapult into my throat. Suddenly, I’m no longer hungry for food, but for Rome and his expert touch.
Thankfully, his food arrives, and we dig into our meals. With every mouthful, I feel Rome’s gaze on mine, burning through me as he regards me. I know he’s watching my every move, and each time he looks at me, it’s as if his hands are all over me.
Maybe it’s because the memory of how he took my body is still roaming around my mind, or perhaps it’s because he’s so close; but every minute in his company is pure torture.
“Are you going to watch me all day?” I finally look at him and set my cutlery down. There’s a smirk slowly curling on his lips. “What?”
He shakes his head. “You need to lower your barriers, sweetheart,” he tells me quickly. “Or I’ll just smash them down.”
“You have a very high regard for yourself, Rome,” I tell him, but I can’t stop the smile that forms on my face.
“I’m allowed to.”
I tip my head to the side. Regarding him through narrowed eyes, I question him, “Why?”
“Because I remember every sound you made when I was inside you. That’s not fake. That wasn’t something you were acting out to finish me off. You felt every inch of me, and you’re sitting there right now, remembering every second of our night together.”
He’s called me out, and my cheeks burn with embarrassment at his words. “You’re annoying.”
“I am,” he agrees. “If you’re done, we can go look at your apartment. I’ve got the keys.” He sits back, pushing his now-empty plate away as he picks up his glass and drains the last of the Coke he ordered. It’s strange to see him drinking soda; he struck me as a beer with lunch kind of guy.
“I thought I had Bianca as my agent?”
“She’s no longer looking after you.” He pushes up and waves his hand at the waiter who brings the bill. I watch as he pays for lunch before he offers me his upturned hand. “Ready?”
“I have my own car here.”
“We’ll collect it later,” he tells me as I slip my hand in his, and we make our way out of the restaurant, and for a moment, it feels good to be taken care of, but just for that moment.
Rome leads me to his car, opens the door, and ushers me inside. The sleek, leather seat swallows me, and I buckle up as he joins me. The car starts, music pumping through the speakers, and I can’t stop the laugh that falls from my lips.