She presses the heel of her palms to her eyes. “What then, Roman? What do you want from me? Why did you bring me here?”
“What do you want fromme, Jahlani?”
“I—” Her hands fall to her sides, and she takes in his dark expression. “I don’t know.”
Need. Want. Mine.
He walks forward, grabbing her arms.
“You’re sweet to my mom, my sister, mykid, but then you push me away. I’m confused. Help me out here.”
She looks up at him with wide eyes. “I’m sorry,” she says weakly.
He sighs, intertwining their fingers, drawing her in to follow behind him. They move in silence down the hallway to his bedroom. He pauses at the door, turning to face her.
“This conversation isn’t over. We’re going in here, we’re changing, we’re brushing our teeth, and then we’re going to sleep and talk in the morning—because I can’t spend another night apart from you. We’ve both had a lot to drink, and I don’t think you’re ready to hear what I have to say tonight. Okay?”
She blinks. “Okay.”
He exhales, turning back around to push the door open. For the next several minutes, they do exactly as he said. He drops clothes into a neat pile on the bed for her before moving out to give her privacy. When she’s changed, she meets him in the bathroom and waits patiently as he unwraps the toothbrush for her. Their eyes meet at least twelve times (not that she’s counting) in the mirror as they complete the most mundane human tasks that have somehow become some of the most intimate in the past fifteen minutes together.
When they slip under the covers, he asks her if she wants the lights on or off, and as they disappear into the darkness, she isn’t sure who reaches for who first, but her legs become twisted with his and her arms get trapped against his chest.
His heart thrashes loudly and the sound of their breathing becomes its own symphony.
Just as she’s about to drift off, his voice rumbles against her ear.
“There’s nothing going on between me and her,” he says. “Not since you, and even before then.”
“Okay.”
“There’s just you, Jahlani. I only see you.”
She shifts against him, body warming, her leg tightening against his, the familiar urge seeping through.
“Roman.” She breathes heavily into his chest. “What are we doing?”
“Going to sleep.”
“Right.”
He tightens his arms around her when she shifts again to get more comfortable. “We both drank tonight,” he murmurs.
“I’m not drunk,” she grumbles into his chest, her body starting to relax.
“I know. I’m just waiting for you to catch up.”
CHAPTER 28
SAFE ZONE
JAHLANI
As the amber sun strikes through the windows, Jahlani curses herself for not remembering to shut them last night before Roman dragged her against his chest. With a groan, she burrows herself further into his pillow, inhaling the subtle aroma.
“You’re grouchy in the morning. Why am I not surprised?” he asks, his voice heavy.
She turns to face him, her eyes squinting in an attempt to block the light. He shakes his head, getting up to draw the curtains in. Her head slumps down and she mumbles out a “thank you,” turning her face back into his pillow.
