I wasn’t sure whether it mattered, but I needed to know. “And the woman from that night?”
His eyes met mine. “Nothing happened. I just wanted you to think it did, so you’d let go. I couldn’t touch her or anyone else. I haven’t touched anyone else.”
I placed my hand on his jaw and pulled his mouth back to mine.
“Are you mine?” I whispered against his lips.
“If you’re mine,” he replied before I kissed him again.
I was definitely his.
I was releasedfrom the hospital a week and a half later. Roman had a meeting I knew was important with a rifle company, and I insisted he attend, even though he wanted to cancel and stay at my side.
Given how much my parents had been doing for me and how tired they looked, I insisted on riding with Monica, who had come to see me. She was more than willing to drive me back to Roman’s.
One of the positive things that came out of this mess was Roman bonding with my parents again. He’d even shown them photos of Sophia, which made my mom cry, and promised he’d bring her over to visit them soon. This made my heart swell, and my parents looked like a weight had been lifted from their shoulders.
Luckily, Sophia was at daycare when I arrived back at Roman’s, so she couldn’t give away my little secret.
Monica winked at me and saidGood luckbefore she left me in my room. I was so sore, and the pain from my healing ribs was still making breathing hurt, but overall, I was a lot better than I had been. My headache had subsided substantially, too. Iwanted to be here to see Roman, but I knew the couch wasn’t a good idea right now.
I heard footsteps on the stairs a few hours later, and my door creaked open.
I’m glad you’re back, but you’re in the wrong bed,” he said softly as he stepped into my old bedroom.
I smiled tiredly at him. “I didn’t want to be in the way.”
“You will never be in the way,” he said, coming to me.
He pushed the blankets down, bent, and scooped me up against him, carrying me from my bed to his room. He set me on the mattress, his mouth landing on mine as he climbed up and covered my body with his—careful not to let any of his weight press against me. It had been too long since I’d had him inside me, and it felt like I could explode just from feeling him against me again.
I tried to remove his shirt with my one good hand, but I couldn’t get it off. He pulled away, chuckling as he removed it himself. Tossing it onto the floor, he bent back down to kiss me as his fingers went to unbutton my shirt. When he got the final button undone, his lips moved down my chin and neck. He leaned back, taking in my bruised body. I saw a flash of pain on his face, but he wiped it away a second later and moved his eyes back to mine.
“You’re beautiful, baby,” he whispered. “But I’m not going to fuck you.”
“What? Why?” I sputtered out, reaching weakly for him with my one good hand.”
He chuckled softly and kissed the top of my hand.
“You’re hurt and need to recover before we get to all that.”
“I-I can still do it,” I argued weakly.
“No.” He kissed me gently. “Rest. I’m going to make us something to eat.”
“But you took off my shirt…”
He laughed, his eyes lighting up.
“What can I say? I like looking at you.” He pulled away and covered me gently. “I’ll be back with food.”
I grunted, which only made him laugh again before he left me.
I couldn’t stay mad at him. Roman had a way of making me love him even more.
And that was saying something.
FORTY-ONE
