His gaze sharpened, a flicker of intrigue lighting up his eyes. “Keep talking.”
“Maybe a little bandage play. Role-play, knife play. Whips and leathers. Perhaps even… submission?” I bit back a smile, reveling in the shock that danced across his features.
His voice dipped, taking on a rough, low timbre. “Submission? You’re playing with fire there.”
“Fire’s the only thing keeping us warm in this arrangement,” I shot back defiantly, my heart racing at the challenge in his eyes.
We locked gazes for what felt like an eternity, the air between us thick with unspoken words-need, denial, accusation.
There was an undercurrent of something else, too-a grudging admiration, perhaps, and that familiar electric hum that always seemed to ignite between us when we pushed each other to the brink.
I cleared my throat, breaking the tension first, feeling the heat of his gaze still boring into me. The thought of what must be swirling in his mind sent shivers down my spine.
How had I managed to survive five years without feeling this attraction to him? Had I really been so blind?
My mind raced, desperately seeking a way to diffuse the palpable tension that hung in the air, his eyes still locked on me.
I snapped my fingers in front of his face. “Earth to Roman.”
He blinked, shaking his head as if coming out of a trance. Finally, he leaned forward, his expression turning serious. “Alright. Back to the problem at hand. If Dean’s going to run his mouth, we need to ensure he only says what we want him to say.”
A smile curved my lips, the thrill of strategy igniting a spark within me. “Now you’re speaking my language. What do you have in mind?”
Roman rose from his seat, the intensity in his demeanor shifting as he began to pace like a seasoned lecturer addressing a rapt audience. The atmosphere morphed around us, and for a fleeting moment, I felt as if I had been transported into a lecture hall, surrounded by rows of eager students.
“I’m starting to piece things together here, Sav.” He halted abruptly, turning on his heel to face me, his gaze steady and infuriatingly composed. “He comes to me, showing off that video and hurling these outrageous accusations your way. Then, he struts over to you, brandishing that list like it’s the Holy Grail. Are you catching my drift?”
My mind surged into overdrive, racing faster than the most caffeinated conspiracy theorist at three in the morning. Each detail I recalled fell into place like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, revealing a picture that was all too clear.
“He’s trying to tear us apart,” I blurted out, the realization hitting me like a cold wave.
“Exactly,” Roman’s voice lowered, taking on a dark, resolute tone. “That son of a bitch.”
How dare Dean stoop to such despicable tactics? The more I mulled over his actions, the more my anger bubbled to the surface. This was beneath him, a vile maneuver that sickened me. It was infuriating to think he would resort to such underhanded schemes just to see me unhappy.
The bitterness of my thoughts left a sour taste in my mouth.
Dean had always had a knack for manipulation, but this felt different-more personal, more toxic. And after that outrageous proposal he had thrown my way earlier? It was as if he was practically daring me to unleash chaos upon him.
“Let’s get even, Roman,” I declared, the fire of determination igniting within me.
He stared at me, a look of disbelief etched across his features as if my words were incomprehensible. I felt the need to repeat myself, my voice firmer this time.
His brows knitted together, “You can’t be serious, can you?”
“I am serious.” I straightened my posture, locking my gaze with his so he could see the conviction in my eyes. “If he’s trying to rip us apart, then we’ll turn the tables and dismantle his plans first. He needs to experience the consequences of his actions.”
Roman remained frozen, his expression one of shock, as if I had just suggested we form a cult or something equally outrageous.
“Say something, Roman,” I urged, the tension in the air thickening.
“You can’t really be suggesting what I think you’re suggesting… Savannah, take a breath and think this through. Don’t act impulsively. I’ll get the tape from him and destroy any copies he may have made. If he even made any,” he added, his voice laced with caution.
“And how do you plan to get your hands on that? Dean is crafty. He won’t just hand it over without a fight. I know him too well.” I insisted, my frustration bubbling over. “He doesn’t part with anything unless he’s got ten more copies stashed away.”
He clenched his jaw, frustration evident in his posture. “You used to know him,” he corrected me, “that’s in the past. Even if he has more hidden away, I’ll track them down and obliterate them too.”
“Whatever!” I shot back, my voice rising. “The point is that we’re going to strike him with his own venom.”
His lips curled into a humorless semblance of a smile. “So you’re proposing what? Let me guess, I’ll seduce the bride while you work your charm on the groom? Is that the plan?”
I nodded vigorously, pacing back and forth, “Exactly. It’s bound to work because he can hardly resist-“
“I refuse to be part of this,” Roman interjected firmly.
I halted mid-step, my heart sinking. “What?”
“I said, I won’t ruin your sister’s wedding just so you can settle a score with your ex who has clearly made his choice. There are far more dignified ways to get back at that snake without compromising your self-respect,” he said, his voice sharp.
I stumbled back, the weight of his words hitting me hard, as if they had physical force. “What? You can’t do this to me! You’re my best friend. You’re supposed to support me!”
“Well, I won’t. I’m not going to get close to your sister just so you can latch onto her fiancé and blow everything apart.” He ran a hand through his hair in frustration, “It’s not going to happen. Not now, not ever. Am I just a joke to you?”
I shook my head vehemently, “That’s not what I meant at all.”
“Well, you didn’t have to say it out loud. How could you even entertain the thought of doing something so degrading?” He shook his head in disbelief. “I’m not helping you with this. Count me out.”
I grasped his arm firmly, determination coursing through me. “Yes, Roman. You’re going to help me with this.”
His response was swift, tinged with disbelief. “You heard me right. That’s a ludicrous plan you’re trying to set in motion. Your sister’s wedding is just three days away. Do you even comprehend the chaos you’re about to unleash?”
Frustration bubbled within me. “Why are you reacting like this? Why do you care so much?”
“Because you’re not thinking clearly, Sav.” His voice was sharp, cutting through the tension in the air. “You’re consumed by anger and jealousy, and it’s blinding you. Your ex, the one who broke your heart, is still going to walk down that damn aisle and slip that ring onto your sister’s finger.”
His words felt like a physical blow, sending a wave of nausea through me. “And guess what? You’re going to stand right beside her, plastering on a smile as if you’re genuinely happy for her, even while you’re plotting her untimely demise. That’s the reality you’re facing.”
He took hold of my shoulders, not with force but with a firm grip that demanded my attention. His gaze was intense, dark and unwavering, as if he was searching for a glimmer of understanding in my eyes. “Do you understand me?”
I nodded, feeling the weight of his authority settle heavily within me.
“Words, Savannah,” he insisted, his tone leaving no room for ambiguity.
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.