“You hit me.” I wasn’t sure if he sounded annoyed or surprised.
“You hid in a dark alley and grabbed me. And that is why you have the nickname, psycho.”
He took his hand away from his nose and wiped it tentatively on the back of his hand, smearing blood over the black ink of his tattoos.
“What are you doing here, Roman, and please don’t tell me you just happened to be here?” He didn’t reply, so I carried on talking. “How did you even know I was here?”
He shrugged. “I followed you from work. You shouldn’t be walking around in the dark on your own.” There wasn’t even a hint of remorse in his words.
“You followed me?” I should be surprised, horrified even, but instead, a feeling of warmth spread through me.
“Yes.”
I didn’t want him to see how messed up and needy I was for someone to care about me, or give him ideas that this was in any way normal, so I replied, “Right… and you don’t see anything wrong with that?”
Seconds passed, and he didn’t reply. God, we were as messed up as each other. I rolled my lips to hide my smile. “Goodnight, Roman.” I started walking, and he grabbed me again, but this time I didn’t try to fight him, letting myself crash into his chest.
“I wanted to see you, okay?”
His eyes bounced between mine as he guided us backwards into the alley, the shadows hiding us from anyone who happened to pass. Butterflies flooded my stomach as my back hit the wall.
I sucked in a breath, his familiar scent enveloping me. I should be scared of this man. God, he even smelled of danger, but there was something about him that reassured me, that made me want more.
“Why?” I asked innocently.
He stroked his fingers along my jaw, raking into my hair and gripping tightly, pulling my head back so I had to look up at him. I took him in—those piercing blue eyes, that hard jaw, the beard I wanted to feel against my lips.
“Because, little menace, you’ve plagued my thoughts ever since I laid eyes on you. I can’t tell you how often I’ve thought about you or wondered what it would be like to be close to you. To taste you. To have you cry my name while I did unspeakable things to you. You’re infuriating, and bewitching, and you’re right. I probably am a psycho, but I’m your psycho, and there isn’t a thing I wouldn’t do to keep you safe.”
My heart stopped beating, and time stood still as I let his words settle, but I couldn’t,wouldn’t, let someone sweet-talk me into lowering my defences. I’d never really had anyone to take care of me, and I wouldn’t be starting anytime soon. I was more than capable of taking care of myself. My thoughts hardened my resolve. I was on my own. I was always on my own. “I think I’ve proven I don’t need protecting, Roman.” My words hit just like I wanted them to, but Roman didn’t even flinch.
“And that makes you even hotter, but this isn’t a question or an offer, Hana. It’s a done deal. You were always mine to protect.”
I should have questioned his words, but his lips slamming against mine stole the thoughts from my head, consuming me.
18
ROMAN
My lipson hers unleashed something dormant in me: a fire, an unbridled need, an urge so strong it washed over me like a tsunami, obliterating everything in its path. I tightened my grip in her hair, pinning her body to the wall with mine, a position I seemed to like with her. She submitted, and I took it willingly.
She moaned into my mouth as her hands lifted; one fisting my shirt and the other landing on my hip. Her touch was everything I didn’t know I needed.
I skimmed my tongue over the seam of her mouth and pushed inside, my cock swelling at her taste—peppermint and coffee—as our lips moved together like they’d known each other in every lifetime.
I wasn’t sure how long we kissed; time lost all meaning, mouths devouring, hands grabbing. My cock ached, Hana’s hips rocking against it like she was chasing the same release. By the time I pulled away, we were breathless, lips swollen, chests heaving.
“Have I made you wet, Hana? Is your pussy as desperate for me as I am for it?”
She widened her stance, staring at me defiantly, that bratty attitude back. “Why don’t you find out?”
I let my lips curl into a coy smile. “Really?”
She bit down on her lip and nodded.
I didn’t hesitate, putting some space between us and pushing my hand under the elastic of her leggings into her underwear, cupping her pussy. My jaw locked at my first real touch. I didn’t hesitate, pushing further until my fingers edged her entrance. Just like that first night, she was drenched. I lingered there, building the tension between us, but also savouring the moment. The moment when Hana Monroe finally became mine.
Our eyes locked, and I leaned in, running my nose up the column of her throat as I made her wait for what I knew she wanted by the way she shifted from foot to foot.
