“No,” I said. “I mean it.”
For the first time since she came through my door, Melissa looked like she did not have a comeback ready.
And for some reason, that made me want to see what else I could pull out of her.
So I stood, walked over to where she was sitting, and stopped right in front of her.
Her eyes lifted to mine slowly.
Neither one of us said anything.
I could feel the tension building again, climbing higher and higher, same as it had every time we got too close. But this time it felt different. Heavier. More honest.
Melissa wet her lips, and my eyes dropped to her mouth before I could help it.
When I looked back at her, she was already watching me.
“Roman…” she said, and my name sounded like both a warning and a question.
I bent down just enough to put myself closer to her face, close enough to feel her breath mix with mine.
“I know,” I said softly.
But I did not move back.
Neither did she.
For one long second, I really thought I was about to kiss her.
Hell, I wanted to real bad.
But she had been through enough for one day, and I was not about to take advantage of the emotions sitting all over this moment.
So instead, I lifted my hand and brushed my thumb lightly under her chin.
“You should get some more rest,” I said, my voice rougher than I meant for it to be.
Melissa blinked, and I could see the disappointment she tried to hide before she stood up too fast and smoothed her dress down.
“Yeah,” she said. “I probably should.”
I stepped back and gave her room, even though every part of me wanted to do the opposite.
I walked her to the door in silence. When I opened it, she paused and turned to look at me.
“Thank you,” she said again, and this time it sounded like she meant more than just last night.
I nodded once. “Anytime.”
She held my gaze for another second before walking back across the way to her villa.
I stood there in the doorway watching her the whole time.
And when she disappeared inside, I shut the door, dragged both hands down my face, and let out a breath.
Yeah… I was in trouble and I felt it.
By the time I got back to my villa, my nerves were all over the place.
