Alyssa chimed in, her voice surprisingly earnest, “You can take mine if you want.”
Roman stepped forward, his hand finding mine, anchoring me in the moment.
“Now we have even more reasons to cuddle, love,” he joked, a playful glint in his eyes.
His light-hearted comment popped the tension like a needle piercing an inflated balloon, leaving behind a sense of relief.
Dad mentioned something about Roman being unexpectedly decent, a sentiment tinged with disbelief.
“Don’t get mad, Sav,” Chloe added, her tone dripping with feigned sweetness. “You know how the floor gets hostile when you’re angry. Dean and I promise not to break your bed.”
That jab hit hard, a reminder of all the times she had turned my vertigo into her punchline. With Chloe, nothing was sacred-especially not pain.
But I wasn’t about to let her win this round, not after flying all the way from Philly.
So, I flashed a smile, one that masked my inner turmoil.
Then, on a sudden impulse, I rose on my toes and pressed my lips against Roman’s.
It wasn’t premeditated, but it certainly was a performance for the ages.
His lips were soft-so incredibly soft and warm. It felt like the first gentle caress of sunlight after a long, frigid winter.
Get a grip, Savannah.
I shifted my weight, heart racing like a wild stallion. “Let’s make Mom and Dad grandparents,” I blurted, my voice a mix of excitement and dread.
“Ew,” Chloe recoiled, her face a picture of exaggerated disgust.
–
“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” Dean muttered under his breath, disbelief etched across his features.
Roman wore a grin that could light up the darkest corners of the room. “Ready whenever you are, love,” he said, his confidence infectious.
“Dinner’s in an hour,” Mom interjected, her voice slightly strained as she wrapped a protective arm around Emily. “I think we’ve all had our fill of gift-giving and tension for now.”
Without a second thought, I grabbed Roman’s hand, and we dashed up the stairs like mischievous children escaping the confines of detention.
“Flora, you prayed for it,” Aunt Janice cackled behind us.
Mom’s voice trailed off, a distant reminder of her admonition about “waiting until the wedding.” I slammed the bedroom door shut, letting out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding as I leaned against it, the weight of the world momentarily lifted.
“You okay, Sav?” Roman asked, sprawled casually on the bed, his presence grounding me.
“No. I want to murder my entire family. Twice. This is me being honest,” I replied, the frustration bubbling to the surface.
Roman flopped onto Chloe’s bed as if he owned the place, one foot still firmly planted on the ground, his arm tucked behind his head in that effortlessly cool way he had.
“You okay, Sav?” he repeated, concern lacing his voice.
I tore my gaze away from him, taking in the familiar chaos of Chloe’s room. The air was thick with the scent of her lavender hair mist and an overwhelming superiority complex that seemed to cling to every surface.
I perched myself on the edge of the bed beside him, feeling a strange comfort in his presence.
Roman leaned closer, his warmth radiating against my skin. “That went well,” he remarked, a hint of sarcasm in his tone.
I shot him a look that could melt steel. “Don’t be smug. I’m one comment away from going full Carrie at prom.”
He reached for my hand, intertwining our fingers on the bed. “I’ll be your alibi, and if things go south, I’ll bail you out,” he promised, his voice laced with sincerity.
A genuine smile broke across my face. “Thank you for agreeing to do this with me.”
His green eyes sparkled with mischief, a playful glint that made my heart flutter. “I’m having fun, love.”
I reclined back, staring up at the ceiling, thoughts swirling like leaves caught in a whirlwind. “You’re weird,” I said, half-joking.
He tilted his head, a smirk dancing on his lips. “You know they all think we’re up to something in here, right? Probably placing bets downstairs.”
I shot a glare at the door, as if it had betrayed me personally. “Screw them. Except Alyssa.”
Roman rolled onto his side, narrowing his eyes in mock offense. “You could’ve given me a heads-up back there. I almost laughed in your face when you kissed me.”
“There was no time,” I retorted. “It was either that or stab Chloe with her own cheekbone.”
“Next time,” he said, inching closer, “we should practice.”
I barely had the chance to raise an eyebrow before he pinned me down on the bed, straddling me with a grin that promised mischief.
With one hand, he held my wrists above my head, while the other slid slowly down my waist, igniting a fire within me.
“Roman?” My breath hitched, caught in the web of anticipation.
“Hi.” He leaned down, his voice dropping to a sultry whisper.
“Hi,” I whispered back, my heart racing.
His mouth brushed against mine, a teasing caress that sent shivers down my spine. Then, he kissed me like he had something to prove.
His lips crashed against mine with a fervor that left no room for hesitation, no scripts to follow. Just raw, unfiltered heat. We battled for dominance, and in the midst of it all, I bit his bottom lip. He groaned, deepening the kiss, his tongue exploring mine as if trying to uncover every secret I had ever kept.
This is fake. This is fake. I chanted silently in my mind.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.