Chapter 37 The Library
The Library
Roman
I watched Isla the entire time we were apart. I mean, she had to expect it, right?
I knew she visited her ex at his work, and I tailed her to their little drinks date and fuck, I almost blew his brains out when he touched her hand, but then…I wanted to see what would happen.
It was obvious—she didn’t want him to touch her, moving away from the dive he took toward her lips.
My good girl.
My anger dissipated after I saw her recoil, but if he fucking laid a finger on her again, good guy Thomas would end up six feet underground.
Isla looked incredible. As beautiful as ever. The night was warm, and she wore a light blue dress, the hem ending mid-thigh. I longed to lift it up and kiss every inch of her body.
That mane of luscious brown hair flowed freely, her aura glowing. She stood out from the crowd, and I fucking missed her so much.
I couldn’t stop myself. I hugged her even though she said no, even though she asked me to stop. I had no strength in me to let her go. She wanted it too; this stupid breakup was killing us both.
I took her to a library—any library would do—there was something I had to show her. I picked a small branch, having done the preliminary research already. I got a library card and an account that day.
Isla was so apprehensive. She was distant, silent, cold, and refused to look at me. This was not the woman who used to melt at my touch.
The little library branch was tucked away on a small street, and I obviously had no key to get in, so I withdrew my gun and shot through the lock on one of the back doors. Again, I’d done the research; there were cameras only at the front.
"What the fuck, Roman!?” Isla jumped as soon as the silenced shot sounded. “I really don't want to end up in jail! What are you doing?!" Stunned, she eyed the gun with wide eyes, so I hid it out of her sight.
Pure, innocent Isla. My girl.
I grabbed her hand—so familiar and delicate—and tried to pull her inside, but she stood planted to the ground, ripping her hand out of mine.
"I don't want to break into a library!" she whispered loudly. Fuck. She was such a good, law-abiding citizen.
"Come on. This is just a little mischief, nothing serious. We're not breaking into FBI headquarters." I shot her a reassuring smile, but she wouldn’t budge.
Isla was visibly torn. She obviously wanted to know what I so desperately wanted to show her that I broke into a library but didn't want to trespass. She chewed her lip and looked inside the dark hallway just beyond the door.
"Trust me. I never deceived you." I spoke honestly, and she knew I was right. Neither she nor I knew about our connection, and I had never lied to her.
Slowly, she slid her hand into mine. I didn’t know what came over me, but I imagined her doing that on our wedding day.
Wow. I was so painfully, incredibly, stupidly in love with her.
Down the dark hallway we went, my hand in hers, my heart pummeling my insides. I approached an ancient computer and turned it on while Isla looked around the dark library, nervously fidgeting with her purse.
"We working on a school project or something?” She crossed her arms. “What is this?
" She was trying to sound annoyed; I could tell.
I smiled instead of indulging her with an answer and signed in with my brand-new library card.
Then, I pulled out a chair for her, and without even sparing me a glance, she sat down right on the edge.
I leaned over her to type what I needed, getting hit with her addictive scent. God, she smelled impossibly delicious. She was right in between my arms and underneath my face—right where she belonged—always with me.
"You didn't believe me when I said your dad used the same tactics,” I murmured, adding to the mystery. “You think it's just me, but I only played by the rules." Finally, I pulled up the article and slowly leaned back, giving her the opportunity to read the screen.
The article was about the owners of Ander C I was sure there was a camera around somewhere.
"No,” I stated, certain that she was wrong.
“You will come back to me…and we will be together, Isla.
You're just mad now. I understand. But our love…cannot be broken.” I took another small step closer, the space between us heating up by a few degrees.
“I will marry you. We will have a family.
And we will be together…until the end of our days. "
I was so close I could smell the divine scent of her skin…see the innocence and purity in her eyes. And when my fingers grazed her neck, her eyes fluttered closed, succumbing to the moment.
It felt like a decade had passed since I’d touched her. Being so close to her, touching her once more zinged all of me awake. Fuck, my cock pumped with blood, straining against the zipper, and I was itching to have my hands all over her.
"S-stop..." she stammered weakly, but instead of pulling back, she slightly leaned in.
"Do you really want me to stop?" I challenged her quietly. "Or are you just saying that because you're mad your dad and I are both criminals?"
Just like me, Isla was losing all willpower. My fingers slid further into her hair, and as if on cue, I heard that heavenly moan. "I h-hate you..." she whispered, eyebrows furrowed.
"Mhm, yes. Hate me, moya devochka."
"Don't...don't call me that." She stepped even closer, now pressing herself against my chest, not daring to open her eyes. "I'm not your girlfriend anymore." She continued to deny everything.
"Just be my good girl tonight, then. No Roman. No Isla. Just a good girl and her daddy." I had absolutely no plan in my head. I was simply melting beside her, unable to keep my hands away and powerless in front of her.
"Roman..."
"No. No Roman. What are you going to call me tonight, Angel?
" Shamelessly, I pushed further. "Tell me.
Tell me what you're going to call me." My lips grazed the shell of her ear, my body and mind on fire.
Illuminated by the computer screen, I watched large goosebumps skitter across her skin as she struggled to breathe.
"Daddy..." She finally said it, so quietly it was almost nonexistent. Fuck. I'd never wanted to hear that word more.
"That's right, baby." I somehow managed to respond, my eyes roaming her angelic face, so close, so close to her sweet lips. She shot her eyes open, burning with lust.
Gently, and so apprehensive, I touched my lips to hers and heard her teeny tiny little moan. I breathed her in, and her hands landed on my chest—right where they belonged.
Isla answered my kiss back. There was never a happier moment before in my life. Never had I experienced such feelings of joy.
Isla would come back to me. I was sure of it.
As if afraid this moment would somehow dissipate, I kissed her so slowly, my mind ascending into heaven. Both of our breaths mixing together, her tongue made it inside my mouth, and I leaned in, pressing her against me. Mine. Mine—she would always be mine! I was so happy, I was ready to cry.
I stepped forward, and she stumbled back, her shoulders drawing upward and my hands already on her back. I helped her hop onto the desk, my lips traveling down her jaw. And then her neck…her long neck that was made for my caresses.
Oh God, she slid her fingers into my hair, just like before. With unsteady fingers, I slipped her dress off her shoulders, unveiling the fragile white lace of her bra—an illusion of her purity, concealing nothing. This was too much; she felt like the first girl I’d ever touched.
My eyes roamed around her body, her breasts popping out of her dress, and I breathed in deeply, trying to hold myself back.
My gaze shot up into hers, but she was already watching me, her plump bottom lip between her teeth. She spread her legs further, wrapping them around me.
"I'm also petrified." She assured me so uncertainly. But she was right—I really was scared. Scared to touch her, to be beside her. Her words at the airport had pierced my heart so deeply that I couldn’t believe this was reality and not some cruel trick.
But the sweet reality was suddenly interrupted when a noise sounded—a door being unlocked somewhere at the entrance of the library. Our heads whipped around to the front door, just in time to see a security guard about to step inside and catch us right in the act.
Without hesitation, Isla fixed her dress and quickly jumped off the table, but it was too late for us to run—the man had walked in. She pushed down on my shoulders, and I obeyed, crouching close to the floor with her.
She clasped her hand on her mouth, unable to stop the giggles spilling out of her. What a contrast to her attitude when we were breaking in.
"Hello?!" The man called out loudly somewhere in the darkness. From underneath the table, we watched him take long strides in the opposite direction.
There was no time to waste. My hand in hers, I pulled her after me, hurrying toward the back door. The man called again, and to my absolute shock, Isla halted mid-step, turned around, and loudly shouted in his direction. "Hello!"
His flashlight was on us within half a second.
"Oh shit! Run!" She cackled and pulled me toward the door while I stood there like an idiot, watching what was happening.
The man said something else, but Isla ran with my hand in hers, laughing loudly. Just before disappearing down the dark hallway to escape outside, she turned around and pushed over a cart of books, blocking the path of the security guard.
Who was this secret rulebreaker?!
“This way!” She let my hand go when we were outside, and we sprinted down an alleyway. As soon as we were out of view of the library, Isla stopped and leaned on her knees to catch her breath, her joyous laughter the most wonderful sound in the world.
"Are you crazy? Are you actually trying to get us arrested?" I heaved deep breaths in while she giggled again.
"Maybe. I'd come visit you in prison." She swayed lightly, throwing me a small wink. Fuck. What was she doing to me!
I could only muster a chuckle, my eyes glued to her but unable to find any words to respond. My mind was mush beside her again, just like when I first met her.
"The orange jumpsuit would really be a change from your regular black and white wardrobe. I wonder how quickly one could take it off." She was now openly putting on a show for me. Dramatically, she looked up as if thinking it over, her finger at her lips.
I took a step closer, but she didn't move, instead leaning against the brick wall, her smile wide and daring.
"You'd have to be my wife for that kind of visit."
Suddenly, those words seemed so silly. Why the fuck wasn't she?! I loved her beyond measure; I was going to propose the night everything went to shit. But Isla shook her head, her careless laughter replaced by a wistful smile. "You're not marriage material, Roman."
The words hit me over the head like a hammer, the sentiment throwing me into deep confusion and anger. What?!
"I would really like to hear your arguments for that thesis." She better fucking explain herself.