Valentine’s Billionaire Auction

Chapter 34

34

ROMAN

W hen I woke, the first thing I noticed was the scent of vanilla lingering in the air. It wasn’t my cologne or soap—this was her. Kaira. I turned my head slightly, and there she was, curled up beside me, her hair in a halo around her. She looked angelic and peaceful and most importantly like she belonged. Her lips were slightly parted as she breathed so softly I almost forgot she was in bed beside me.

It hit me like a brick: she was still here.

No one stayed. I never let them stay. Yet here she was, her presence filling the space with warmth I hadn’t realized was missing. I clasped my hands behind my head and let my gaze trace her profile, soft in the morning light. For the first time in forever, I felt at peace. I closed my eyes briefly, letting the sensation wash over me.

This felt good.

The blanket had slipped down, exposing her bare shoulder. Instinctively, I reached out and gently pulled it back up, tucking it around her. Kaira stirred, murmuring something incoherent as she shifted closer to me. I leaned in and pressed a kiss to her temple, then to the corner of her mouth. Her eyes fluttered open, and a sleepy smile spread across her face.

“Good morning,” she said, her voice husky with sleep.

“Good morning,” I murmured, kissing her again, this time fully on the lips. Her hand came up to rest against my cheek. She pulled me in closer, her warmth drawing me in like a flame. I wrapped my arm around her and tugged her closer to me. Her silky, soft skin rubbed against mine.

This part of a sleepover was pretty new to me. I never stayed in a woman’s bed long enough to experience the morning after and I sure as hell never invited a woman to stay the night in my bed. I realized I might have been missing out on something. There was a comfort to lying naked in bed the morning after, a closeness.

Kaira melted into my embrace, her fingers running over my chest. I savored the moment. My mind was all over the place. I liked this. A lot. Yes, I would happily fuck her again, but that’s not what I was thinking about. This was what I believe they called intimacy. There was something very satisfying about it. It felt good in a different way.

Kaira let out a long sigh. That sigh held a lot of unspoken things. I knew what was coming. “So… what does this mean?” she asked. “I know that’s not a question you want to hear, but I’m not a hit it and quit it girl. I’m not someone that does no strings. I get that you do, but I can’t. So, I’m going to have to have some boundaries. Expectations.”

I blinked, taken off guard by her directness. The meek little woman I met at the auction was not in this bed. This was a side of Kaira I liked and respected. I liked that she was willing to stick up for herself. But now I had to figure out how to answer that question because I honestly didn’t know.

“I mean, I know this was never supposed to be serious, and we’ve been telling ourselves it’s just for the cameras… but twice now, Roman. It’s starting to feel like more than a contract. I’m sure this is all one-sided but this feels like more than fake. I’m just asking for some guidance here.”

She had a way of cutting straight to the heart of things. I admired her for it. I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. I wasn’t quite as brave as she was when it came to facing my emotions.

“I don’t know what this means yet,” I admitted, meeting her eyes. “All I know is that I’m enjoying this. You. And I want more of it. Is that enough for now? I know it’s not much and you deserve more but I’m starting from a different place in life. This is so far out of my comfort zone.”

Kaira reached up and gently traced the line of my jaw. “I understand. I’m not asking for a commitment or anything like that. I know this started out as an arrangement, but it’s clearly become more than that for both of us. I just want to make sure we’re on the same page, that we both want the same thing, even if we can’t put a label on it yet.”

I covered her hand with mine, marveling at how perfectly it fit. “I want you, Kaira. I want to see where this goes, even if I’m not sure where that is.”

“Can I ask one thing of you?” she asked.

“Sure.”

“I don’t know if you would or are, but if you want to sleep with another woman on the down low to keep the media from finding out, please tell me. I obviously can’t stop you, but I can’t be a side chick or a Tuesday girl.”

“What the hell is a Tuesday girl?”

“Like you stop by my bed on Tuesday and another woman on Wednesday and so on.”

I smirked. “You’ll be my Sunday through Monday girl. I wouldn’t do that. I’m not a saint, but I won’t be bed hopping.”

“Thank you,” she said. “I never thought I’d be so happy that an asshole like you is into me.”

I chuckled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “And I never thought an angel like you would give an ass like me a shot.”

“As long as you know what’s up,” she teased, leaning in for another kiss.

Kaira pulled back, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “So, what are your plans for the day?”

I grinned, my hands sliding down to her hips. “Well, Miss Kaira, I was thinking we could start the day right here in this bed.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Oh really? And what did you have in mind?”

“I have a few ideas,” I murmured, pulling her closer.

Kaira laughed. “I’m all ears.”

I let myself get lost in her for a moment, savoring the way she tasted, the way she felt.

Eventually, we dragged ourselves out of bed and into the shower. It was a slow, teasing affair that had us both laughing and stealing kisses under the warm spray. I couldn’t keep my hands off her. She didn’t seem to mind. By the time we emerged, the tension in my chest—the tension I always carried—felt like it had melted away entirely. I felt like a whole new man.

Kaira grabbed one of my shirts to wear, the fabric practically swallowing her. She glanced at herself in the mirror, tugging at the hem. “This looks ridiculous.”

“You look amazing,” I said. “But if you go downstairs in just that, the staff will know exactly what happened.”

She arched a brow at me, her lips curving into a smirk. “And do you care?”

The question hung in the air between us, and for a moment, I thought about it. Did I care? About the whispers or the knowing looks?

I surprised myself by shaking my head. “No. I don’t. But I’d prefer I was the only one peeking at your ass.”

She grinned and disappeared into her room, emerging a few minutes later wearing leggings beneath the oversized shirt. It wasn’t much different, but it was enough to keep things relatively modest.

“Come on, I’ll make you breakfast,” she said.

“I have a cook.”

“And I happen to know he doesn’t come in this early,” she said. “And if he is in there, I’m kicking him out. I’m making breakfast.”

“Lead the way.”

I managed to start coffee, pretty much the extent of my culinary skills. Kaira rummaged through the cabinets like she owned the place, pulling out eggs, bread, and a block of cheese. I sipped my coffee, leaned back, and enjoyed the show.

“We’re making French toast and scrambled eggs,” she declared.

“Are we?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said firmly, pointing a spatula at me. “And you’re helping.”

She was mesmerizing.

Before I realized it, I was watching her the way my father used to watch my mother—like nothing else in the world mattered. That realization hit me hard, but instead of pulling away, I let myself sink into it.

This felt right.

“Tell me what to do,” I said.

Kaira glanced at me, a soft smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Why don’t you start by grating some cheese for the eggs?”

I nodded, setting down my coffee mug and moving to the counter where she had a block of sharp cheddar waiting. As I began to carefully run the cheese over the grater, I couldn’t help but steal glances at Kaira as she expertly cracked eggs into a bowl and whisked them together.

“Do you do a lot of cooking?” I asked.

“I wouldn’t say a lot and I don’t know if it’s called cooking,” she said. “Usually, it’s whatever is in the pantry and typically involves pasta. Pasta is cheap and you can dress it up a hundred different ways.”

I nodded, even though I really had no idea. I had never bought myself food beyond using my app to order something for delivery.

I couldn’t help but feel a sense of wonder. This was so far removed from my normal routine, yet it felt so natural. There was an intimacy to it that I didn’t want to analyze too closely.

It wasn’t long before our breakfast was done. We sat at the kitchen island to enjoy our meal. The food was simple but delicious. The company was even better. Kaira told me about the plot of the book she was working on, her face lighting up as she spoke. I could see the passion in her eyes, the excitement that came with creating something entirely her own.

“You should’ve been a writer,” I said, sipping my coffee. “I mean I know that’s what you want to be, but I think you could have already had a couple bestsellers under your belt.”

She laughed. “I don’t know about that. It’s a commitment. I haven’t been ready to make that commitment.”

“Trust me, I know all about the fear of committing.”

We both laughed.

By the time we finished eating, I felt more relaxed than I had in years. Kaira looked at me.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked.

“Just how much I’m enjoying this. You. Us.”

“Me too.”