What the hell just happened?
11
MILA
My insides shake so violently, I lean against the window looking out over the city for support. My hand is pressed to my throat, feeling my pulse racing. The look in that man's eyes was terrifying, and I knew what he was going to do before he did it. Roman's orders were the trigger that sprang the trap.
"How did you know?" he says, pacing the room, and I don't know how to articulate it.
I press my eyes closed, pushing my fingertips against my eyelids to hold them shut as tears well up and burn. I can't cry. I won't let him see me break down, but the mental imagery is so vivid, I can't shake the heavy emotions storming through my mind.
He stood so close to me and yet I did nothing. The angry man with the weapon I had a suspicion about, but I said nothing. And my father… oh, God.
"Papa!" I shouted, but it was too late.
The man pulled the gun, and the boom seemed to follow the impact, as if the crimson stain blooming on my father's chest had preceded the gunshot.
"Papa, no!" I fell to my feet, pressing the heels of both hands to his wound, but his eyes fluttered and his body went limp instantly. There was no saving him…
There was no saving him, not a shot in hell that I could've done anything because I reacted too slowly and?—
"Mila!" I hear, and Roman is here, snapping his fingers in front of my face as I lower my hands, thankful that no tears leak down my cheeks. "Are you okay?"
I shake my head, mouth flapping like a fish gulping water, and stare up at him wide-eyed and dazed. My mouth won't form words at all, and blinking back the tears will only last so long.
When Roman curls his fingers around the back of my neck and pulls me toward himself, I let him take me in. His thick arms wrap around me and hold me tight, squeezing me against his body as I tremble from shock. And I admit he has a calming effect on me.
He's so strong, and his embrace is anchoring. I find myself able to take several deep breaths and force the tears back, then find his hand cradling my cheek. He pulls back, using his thumb to nudge my jaw higher so that I'm forced to lift my head and look into his eyes. The shock of it all is still rippling through my body, but I'm calmer.
"Why did you do that? You saw that he was acting strange, but you didn’t have to warn me. Why did you warn me?"
Roman's eyes search mine, and I think honestly about that question. I don't feel right talking about Papa or the way he died right now. Roman and I aren't friends. He's barely my boss. So I have no other reason than to say, "It was the right thing to do." I swallow hard and continue. "When you see something and you know it's not right, and you do nothing, then you are part of the problem. If that man had harmed someone, I'd never forgive myself."
He blinks a few times, shaking his head like he's marveling at my answer, but isn't it the right answer? Wouldn't he have done the same thing? We are all given choices in life, for good and for bad, and to do the right thing should never be a hard choice.
What I expect is for him to thank me, maybe, or reassure himself that I’m okay.
What he does is something else entirely.
Roman dips his head, leaning in closer to me, and hovers with his mouth only centimeters from mine. His hot breath dusts my cheeks and my lips, and it makes my pulse flutter in my throat, right where the heel of his palm brushes my neck. He's gentle, not rushing as his lips brush over mine, then he pulls back and meets my eyes.
"Mila, you saved my life…"
"I…"
"Is this okay?" He lingers there, so close I can taste him, and I'm not sure what to say. I feel a sudden surge of attraction again, much like the other day when he touched my cheek gently, but why? Yes, he's handsome, but this situation is already complicated enough. And as far as I know, he's hoping to marry Sofi or Sabine. Which makes this all the more confusing.
But I'm stupid and driven by some strange and weird urge to feel his lips against mine again. It may be the fact that a lunatic just pulled a gun on us and Roman dived on top of me to save me, or it may be because all my life, I hoped for a fairy tale ending where the charming prince would save the day and sweep me off my feet, but I nod.
This time, when his lips brush against mine, there's heat in it, and hunger. Roman's grip tightens as his mouth crushes mine, parting my lips to search my mouth with his tongue. I'm helpless, hands hovering in the air at my sides in surrender because I'm not sure where to put them as he steals my breath and makes my heart hammer against my ribs.
When he starts backing me toward the table, I let him. My feet fumble for a second and I find my hands going to his lapels, grabbing them for balance, and he must take it as my being hungry for more because the kiss deepens and his other hand grips my waist.
The edge of the table hits the back of my thighs and I gasp against his mouth. Roman's hands slide down to grip my hips and he lifts me onto the surface in one smooth motion, stepping between my legs as his mouth never leaves mine.
"You saved my life…" His voice is rough as he kisses down my jaw to my neck. It's so intimidating and yet I don't want him to stop.
"No, I just…." My fingers are still clutching his lapels and I feel my body coming alive. My groin is aching and I’m finding it hard to breathe.
