20. Your Woman
CHAPTER TWENTY
your woman
IMOGEN
It’s been a while since I’ve been this hung-up on someone. No matter what I do or where I go, I keep finding Roman Burke.
Or he keeps finding me.
I finish up in the shower and shut the water off, stepping out to dry myself off with one of his big fluffy towels. I stare at myself in the mirror and wonder what the fuck I’m doing here as the remnants of my makeup linger beneath my eyes. I should have just texted Piper, but instead I let my boss carry me back to his apartment like a damsel in distress.
I want him.
I root through my purse, finding a frayed hair tie and pulling my hair back before I change into the soft shorts and giant sweater that Roman gave me. The clothes are so big that I have to push the sleeves up to use my hands, but they’ll do for now.
By the time I head back into the living room, Roman has a first aid kit set out and ready, along with a couple of ice packs. I hobble to the couch, trying not to wince as I ease myself down, and he crouches in front of me without a word.
“Give me your foot.”
I extend my leg and he gently cradles my heel, running a damp cotton ball over the deep cut on my big toe.
“Does it hurt?” He asks.
“Yeah, but it’s fine. I’ve had worse.”
I didn’t realize how badly the skin was split until now. It stings a little, but the pain fades within a few seconds.
“You’ve gotta stop wearing shoes that are too small for you.”
“They look good, though.”
He smiles.
“You know, I’ve heard a lot of women say the same thing.”
“About my shoes?” I ask. “That’s awfully nice of them.”
He snorts as he bandages me up, one warm hand sliding up my calf as he checks my foot for any other nicks and cuts. I can’t help but let out a gentle, contented sigh, my eyes closing as his fingers work the muscle.
“Hurt?”
“No,” I murmur. “Feels good after being in those heels all night.”
Warmth trickles down my spine as my muscles start to relax. I know this is weird, and he probably knows we shouldn’t be doing this, but I’m not one to turn down a free massage. With those hands? He could charge good money.
I open my eyes to find him staring at me, lips parted, and his eyes brimming with desire. He doesn’t drop my leg, in fact, his fingers glide a little higher.
“Funny how we keep ending up like this,” he says softly.
There’s no point in beating around the bush. We either do this, or we end it. There’s no room in between, and we both know it.
“You never emailed me back. About transferring to another professor.”
“Is that what you want to talk about right now?”
God , his voice, velvety and rich like caramel or honey. Or both. Either way I could drown in it.
“I think we should, considering I haven’t stopped thinking about us in that pantry for the past month.”
“You haven’t?”
I shake my head slowly; he almost sounds proud of himself.
His gaze rests on my thighs and he takes a breath.
Fuck the rules. Fuck the administration. I want this man, and I want him now.
“We shouldn’t be doing this,” he sighs.
“You keep saying that, but that’s not the vibe I’m getting from you right now.”
His eyes flash with regret, but the look is quickly overshadowed by something dark and sinful; something I want to press tight against my chest and hold onto.
“You make it sound like I don’t—” He shakes his head, turning away from me to look out the window. “Forget it.”
I reach out and grasp his chin, forcing him to look me in the eye.
“Say what you need to say, but you’re going to look at me when you say it,” I reply, my voice soft but commanding.
His hand slides higher up my leg, like he’s trying to savor what little time we have before he finally cuts me out of his life.
“You make it sound like I don’t want you,” he finally manages to choke out.
I say nothing, the silence clawing at him until he caves.
“The reason I haven’t sent you another email is because I never talked to anyone about transferring you.”
“Why not?”
“I wanted to be careful about it, take it slow so that no one would get suspicious. I was worried that your brother could find out, that the department could find out, but…”
“But what?”
I grin, flames burning inside me as I watch his pupils expand and feel his calloused palms gliding higher until one hand slips between my legs.
“But everyone keeps secrets.”
Oh, shit. Are we doing this? He could turn on a dime. He has before.
“Can you keep a secret, cowboy?”
“That depends on you, darlin’. What do you want to do?”
Breath passes between us, and that fire grows hotter by the second. I try not to rock against his hand, but it feels so good to give in.
“Take me to bed.”
His lips hover over mine, curling into a wicked grin as his fingers brush against my clit.
“I want to be in charge tonight.”
It’s a welcome surprise, although I was looking forward to tormenting him a little.
“Do you know how? To dom, I mean.”
“I’m a researcher, aren’t I?” He asks, his smile growing wider by the second.
“Clever boy,” I whisper, trying my best to stay composed as he increases the pressure of his fingers. “What are you waiting for, then?”
“Be a good girl and ask nicely.”
I bat my eyelashes, half-mocking him as I press a kiss to his lips.
“ Please take me to bed, sir?”
Roman pulls his fingers from my aching pussy and licks them clean, all while refusing to take his eyes off of me. Pent up desire makes me shiver as he stands, grasping me by the waist and hauling me over his shoulder in one fluid motion.
“Roman!”
He gives my ass a rough smack and I yelp.
“You like that, huh?” He asks, his voice laced with a dash of arrogance.
He carries me to his bedroom, tossing me onto the bed before kicking the door closed and peeling off his t-shirt. My mouth hangs open in complete awe of the confidence that’s flooded into him. His shoulders are pulled back, his head held high, and he’s staring at me with a hunger that I haven’t seen since that night in the pantry.
Slowly, I spread my legs, playing with the drawstring on my shorts.
“I’ve been thinking,” he rumbles as he takes a step towards me.
“About?”
“What kind of dom I would be.”
Roman’s voice is what I’d imagine an expensive glass of brandy sounds like.
“And what conclusion did you come to?”
He slowly unbuckles his belt and slips it out of the loops, his eyes fixed on mine as he flips it in half and drags the leather across his palm. I’ve never wanted to shove my hand down my pants so fast.
“I think I’m someone who gets off on getting people off.” He smirks.
“A pleasure dom.”
“That sounds right. But with that in mind, I need some information from you, darlin’.”
His muscles ripple as I watch him squeeze the stiff leather in his hands, his eyes darting around as he contemplates how he’s going to use it on me.
“And what information is that?”
“I want to know exactly how you’d like to be fucked tonight.”
He towers over me, stepping closer.
“Nice and sweet like a good girl, or spanked and fucked stupid like a dirty little slut.”
How much research did he do? He’s a natural.
Roman slowly drapes the belt across the back of my neck. He holds it there gingerly, even tenderly, as he stares down and pulls me closer to him.
“Do you like to be spanked?”
“Of course.”
“Good, because you’re going to be bent over my knee tonight.”
His eyes are electric, searing away whatever willpower I might have had left. I want this man to fucking destroy me.
“So what’s our safe word?”
“Tonight, I was thinking strawberry,” he grins.
“Strawberry?” I ask, raising a brow.
“It’s what you tasted like that first night. Can’t get it out of my head.”
Roman sits on the edge of the bed, his back to me, patting his thigh with the belt still in his hand. I can see his expression in the full length mirror across the room, and I can tell he’s hungry. All he has to do is inject a little bit of that authoritative presence and I’m putty in his hands.
“Come here and tell me what else you want,” he purrs.
For a second, I don’t want to move. I just want to stare at him, imposing and confident, even statuesque as he sits bathed in moonlight. I knew this side of him existed, and I wonder how long he’s been fantasizing about doing something like this. Slowly, I crawl across the bed toward him, snaking my arms around his waist and staring at him in the mirror.
“Start with your hand first so you can feel how hard you have to hit me.”
“I can do that,” he murmurs.
I reach down and squeeze his cock through his pants, savoring the deep rumbling growl in his chest that makes me ache.
“I want praise,” I purr. “Lots of it. Things like: you’re doing so well , good girl , that’s my girl . Understand?”
He nods.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good girl. First, I want you to strip. Let me see all of you.”
I roll off the bed and stand in front of him, letting my hair down and shaking it out. Roman watches with rapt attention, blush creeping down his neck as he grips the edge of the bed.
I decide to give him a show, tossing my sweater onto the floor and taking a step toward him, lingering just out of reach. I’m fucking loving the power I have over him as his fingers twitch and his eyes dance all around me. I slowly peel off my shorts, turning around and bending over to give him a nice view of my pussy as I slide them down.
When I lift myself back up I find Roman staring at me like it’s the first time he’s ever seen me naked. My nipples pebble and goosebumps rise on my skin as he licks his lips.
“You’re so goddamn beautiful,” he whispers.
I take another step toward him, running my hand through his hair.
“Look who’s talking, cowboy.”
Roman grabs me by the waist, the cool metal of the buckle pushed against my skin. He presses his lips to my stomach, kissing his way up and nipping at my breasts. It’s been too long since I’ve felt his hands on my body, and I fully give in to him, to the temptation, to all of it.
“Lay across my lap.”
I follow his command immediately, crawling back onto the bed and laying across him. He briefly caresses my ass before moving between my legs and beginning to tease my pussy.
“How many do you want to start with?”
I wiggle my hips, breathing in deep as I ready myself for what’s to come.
“Three with your hand, and then three with the belt.”
He gives my ass a rough squeeze as he lets out a growl from deep inside.
“Start counting.”