I heard him moving quickly, the sound of water sloshing as he stepped out, his footsteps echoing on the floor.
“Savannah-“
“Fuck off, Roman!”
He caught up with me in two strides, his grip firm around my wrist, almost desperate.
I twisted away, struggling against him. “Let go. Roman!”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that,” he pleaded, his voice earnest. “Forgive me.”
I shot him a glare, my wrist still ensnared in his hold. “Saying sorry doesn’t always fix things. I’m not some emotional teenager going through a breakup for the first time. I’m an adult, Roman. I expect you to treat me like one. And that includes trusting me to do the right thing.”
With a sharp tug, I freed my wrist from his grasp and walked away, leaving a trail of wet footprints behind me.
I slammed the door shut with more force than necessary, aware that he was right behind me. My robe clung heavily to my damp skin, a constant reminder of the tension between us.
He reached for me again, “Sav-“
I stepped back, my heart racing. “Roman, stop.”
“Alright. Fine,” he said, lifting his hands in a gesture of surrender. “I believe you. Dean got a vasectomy, and Chloe had no idea. I believe you when you say the baby isn’t his. Alright? I believe every damn word you said. You’re right, Savannah. And I was wrong. Is that enough?”
My eyes narrowed, suspicion creeping in. Yet, amidst the turmoil, pride surged within me, a dangerous blend of vindication and ego.
“Am I forgiven now?” he asked, hope flickering in his gaze.
I fought to maintain my earlier anger, even as it threatened to slip away. God, I wanted to look composed, furious, unyielding. But the corners of my mouth betrayed me, twitching with the hint of a smile.
“How can I be sure that you aren’t just saying this to get into my pants?” I challenged, my voice holding a teasing edge.
His lips curved into a slow, devastating smile that made my heart skip. “But you don’t even have any on right now.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks, a mix of anger and reluctant laughter bubbling up. Roman had a knack for stripping away my defenses, sometimes quite literally.
Before I could formulate a response, he wrapped his arms around me from behind, pulling me close.
“I’m still down for you tonight if you’d let me get into your invisible pants,” he whispered in my ear, his breath warm against my skin, sending shivers down my spine.
I couldn’t help the smile that erupted on my face, even as I tried to maintain some semblance of seriousness. “Stop it, Roman. I’m going to stay awake till Chloe gets back. We’re going to have a discussion.”
His presence was intoxicating, hot and burning with the intention of making me melt under his touch. He pulled me deeper against him, and I tilted my neck slightly, granting him permission to continue. He didn’t hesitate.
“And afterwards?” he whispered, his voice low and enticing.
I turned around, and his arms slipped from my waist. “And afterwards, we’re going to sleep.”
I jolted awake, breathless, with a single name echoing in my mind.
“Chloe! Shit!”
The sound of my own voice startled me, cracking like fragile glass as I shot upright in bed. My hands instinctively flew to my face, brushing away the dampness that clung to my skin. My heart raced, pounding against my ribs as if trying to escape.
The room was flooded with bright light, forcing me to squint against its intensity. It felt like I had been pulled from a dream into an unfamiliar reality.
“I’m jealous,” came a voice from my left, smooth and teasing.
I turned my head, my eyes landing on Roman, who lounged casually in a chair beside my bed. He was fully dressed, his damp hair plastered to his forehead in wild strands that hinted at a recent shower. His green eyes sparkled with mischief, a glint that sent a shiver down my spine.
“Shit! I’m so stupid,” I muttered, my hands flying to my hair, tugging at the strands in frustration. “I fell asleep waiting for Chloe to get back.”
Roman leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other, a picture of relaxed amusement. He watched me with an intensity that made me feel like I was the only show in town.
He remained silent, a smirk playing on his lips, which only fueled my irritation.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Why didn’t you wake me up, Roman? You were working all night, weren’t you?”
With a lazy shrug, he replied, “I was trying to get back at you.”
“For what exactly?” I asked, confusion mingling with annoyance.
“You didn’t let me get in your pants.” His tone was dry, but the wicked glint in his eyes made my jaw drop in disbelief. “Yes, so as petty as it sounds, I spent the night watching you sleep as my form of revenge.”
“Are you-are you serious right now?” My voice climbed an octave, disbelief constricting my throat.
His expression was unapologetic, eyes never leaving mine. “Did I stutter? I’m vindictive, Sav,” he replied, tilting his head slightly, as if daring me to challenge him further.
I groaned, a mix of exasperation and temptation swirling within me. I was half-tempted to throw a pillow at his smug face, or perhaps even imagine sticking a dagger in his chest. “Unbelievable,” I muttered, shaking my head.
In a flash, he moved-swift and effortless. The chair scraped against the floor, and suddenly, the mattress dipped as he slid onto the bed beside me, close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating from his damp skin. His voice softened, the teasing edge fading as he leaned closer.
“So we’re even now, love. Besides…” He searched my eyes, his gaze turning serious. “Your sister didn’t get back until a few hours ago. There was quite the commotion downstairs that confirmed my suspicion.” He tilted his head toward the door, as if to emphasize his point.
My heart raced. “What? Really?”
“Yeah,” he confirmed, his expression unreadable.
My pulse quickened, the implications of his words sinking in. “So where was she all night?”
He arched a brow, a hint of annoyance creeping into his voice. “How the fuck am I supposed to know, Sav?”
Before I could respond, he reached beneath his pillow, his hand lingering for a moment as his green eyes remained locked on mine. Then, with a deliberate motion, he pulled something out.
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.