The bed was neatly made, the space orderly. The only sign of disarray was a full laundry basket sitting in the corner.
I didn’t release his hand until we reached the side of the bed.
Turning him until he faced away from the mattress, I gently guided him backward until the backs of his knees bumped it.
I kept my hands on him longer than strictly necessary. One was on his waist, the other hovering near his chest like I was afraid he might tip over the wrong way if I let go. Roman stood there obediently, shoulders rising and falling with slow, uneven breaths.
He stared down at me.
It wasn’t with the guarded, assessing look he usually wore, or the careful one he used when Hailey was nearby. This was different.
His gaze dragged over my face like he was seeing me for the very first time.
My stomach flipped.
His eyes were dark, unfocused in a way that felt dangerous. Intense. They lingered on my mouth.
“Roman.” My voice caught. “Sit down.”
He didn’t move.
Instead, his head tilted, brows pulling together as if he were trying to solve a puzzle. He lifted a hand and touched the side of my face, thumb brushing the top of my cheekbone.
What was he doing?
My mouth opened, but no words came out. The skin where his rough, callused fingers touched me was suddenly sensitive.
“You’re very close,” he murmured.
Heat crawled up my neck. “I—I’m making sure you don’t fall over,” I stammered.
His mouth twitched, not quite making it to a smile.
“I won’t fall,” he said slowly, sorrow flickering across his face. “I fell once…and it nearly ruined me.”
My chest tightened, but then his hand moved, distracting me. He pushed back a few strands of hair from my forehead, then his fingers dragged down through the loose tendrils toward the ends.
I swallowed hard. My throat was suddenly very dry. “Roman, you’re sick.”
“Mmm.” The sound rumbled in his chest like a soft purr. “Your hair is so soft…and so golden.”
The room felt smaller suddenly. The sound of my breaths echoed in my ears with the thrum of my pulse. He was delirious. He had to be.
I shifted my weight, meaning to step back, but he followed the movement and leaned forward so we were still the same distance apart. That hand slid from my hair to my shoulder and dragged down my arm.
A shiver went straight down my spine. My palm landed on his chest, and I couldn’t tell whether I wanted to push him away or get closer.
“Tell me, Golden,” he whispered. “Do you shine this bright for everyone?”
I stared at him, eyes wide.Golden?
For a moment, I couldn’t make a sound, but then his fingers brushed the inside of my wrist.Was he trying to hold my hand?
I forced myself to speak. “You’re delirious.”
He grinned, and my heart stuttered. “Maybe.”
I shook my head, trying to clear it. I had to focus.
