Chapter 32 #2
I walk inside Roman’s new home and gasp.
“Wow,” I murmur, looking around. “This is incredible.” The ceilings are high.
The furnishings and décor are elegant and sleek, yet warm and homey.
The general theme appears to be “Southern California, beachy elegance” mixed with “sports hero.” There’s abstract art on the walls in beach-evoking colors, along with framed jerseys and photos and memorabilia scattered throughout.
And of course, given the house’s proximity to the ocean, there are lots of large windows providing panoramic views as far as the eye can see.
“I barely know my way around the place, honestly, so it’ll be the blind leading the blind here—but I’ll try to give you a tour, if you’d like.”
I laugh. “Lead on.”
Roman takes my hand and off we go, exploring all the rooms of the sprawling house: a stunning gourmet kitchen that’s so big, it needs two islands; a trophy room; an office; a home gym; a home theater; a darling bedroom for Maverick; a game room; several guest rooms; and on and on.
Eventually, we make our way to Roman’s bedroom suite, and it’s so lovely, I feel inspired to twirl across the expansive floor.
Laughing at my exuberance, Roman says, “I’m open to changing anything, if you want.”
I stop twirling to stare at him. Roman’s comment felt like a record scratch to me. He wouldn’t have said it if he’s only intending for me to stay two weeks, right?
“No, everything is absolutely perfect,” I manage, even though my throat feels like it’s closing up.
Roman exhales with relief. “Glad you think so, too.”
I bite my lip. “If I wind up staying with you longer than two weeks, the only thing I’d change is putting a framed photo of my mother somewhere.”
“If?” Roman looks deeply confused. “You’re not already planning to stay here longer than two weeks?”
I fidget while gathering my courage. “You said Maverick will be away for two weeks, so I’ve been assuming . . .”
I stop talking when Roman’s expression morphs into one of pure shock.
“As far as I’m concerned, you’re home,” he says. “I only mentioned Maverick being gone for two weeks to emphasize the point that we’d be able to settle into our new life together, at first, without him being here.”
Relief floods me. And then joy. I’ve been feeling ready to throw my love at Roman with both hands, without an ounce of hesitation. But still, I’m not too far gone to know that’s batshit crazy, given our timeline. I haven’t known him all that long, even though it feels like a lifetime.
Roman steps forward. “You flew here with me, not knowing that I want you here with me for good?”
For good. It’s a shocking phrase. One that’s a synonym for forever, in my book. As in, Roman never wants me to go away. My brain isn’t firing on all pistons right now, though, so I’m not sure if my definition of his word choice matches Roman’s.
“Oh my God, Iris.” Roman wraps me in a bear hug. “You’re home, baby. I never want you to leave.” He kisses the top of my head before leaning back and sliding his fingertip underneath my chin. “I was miserable without you. I felt like I was missing a limb.”
Tears prick my eyes. “I felt the same way. Wherever you are, that’s where I want to be.”
“I feel the same way.”
He leans down and kisses me, and sexual arousal instantly consumes me.
I take a deep breath to muster my courage and ask, “So, are we finally gonna have sex or what?”
Roman chuckles. “You noticed that, huh?”
I giggle with him. “Was it some kind of master plan or a simple matter of logistics?”
“It was a master plan, helped along by logistics.”
“Why, though?”
“Going in, I knew sex with you was fire—the best sex of my life. So, I promised myself I’d hold off while in Orchard Blossom to make sure whatever decision I made came from my heart and head, and not my dick.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Decision? About what?”
“You’re here, Iris. I think that’s pretty clear.”
“Not necessarily.” My heart is thumping. Say it, Roman. Please. Say it first.
His Adam’s apple bobs. “You’ve got my whole heart, Iris, right along with my whole dick—which, by the way, is so fucking hard for you, I’m in physical pain.”
It’s not an “I love you.” But given how horny I’m feeling, it will have to do for now.
“I’m right there with you. Let’s put an end to our torture.
” Smiling wickedly, I pull him to me, and we kiss passionately.
And a moment later, we’re naked and ravenously making out in his large, luxurious bed.
In record time, I’m wet and throbbing for him—aching for him to burrow inside me—and based on the river of slick wetness on Roman’s tip, he’s plainly aching for me in the same way.
“I’m on the pill,” I whisper breathlessly. Now that I’m here to stay, I want to feel Roman inside me with nothing between us.
With a guttural groan, Roman guides me on top of him, and I take every inch of him inside me. As Roman’s body stretches and fills mine, we both react loudly to the primal sensation.
He’s got one hand cupping my breast and the other rubbing my clit in slow circles as I move slowly on top of him, gazing into his eyes with every gyration.
In this position, he’s reaching new depths inside me, literally and figuratively.
So much so, I’m seeing stars. Talk about getting scrambled. Damn.
As my pleasure rises and my body grinds on top of his, Roman whispers all kinds of dirty talk into my ear.
He tells me how gorgeous I am. How amazing I feel.
He says I’m tight, warm, and wet. That he’s waited a lifetime to get to feel this “heaven” again.
It’s all hot, hot, hot, of course. A complete turn-on.
But it’s what Roman says when I’m teetering on the edge of an orgasm that gets me going the most: “I love you, baby.”
At the sound of the words I’ve been dying to hear, my body releases forcefully. “I love you, too,” I grit out, as my orgasm consumes me.
As pleasure rockets through me, Roman shudders violently and releases inside me with a loud roar that sends goosebumps skating across my skin.
When his body stops quaking, Roman takes a moment to collect himself before pulling me to his face for a long, deep kiss.
When our kiss finally ends, he presses his forehead to mine and smiles from ear to ear.
“This house feels like a home, now that you’re here.
” He nuzzles his nose to mine. “I love you, Iris.”
Love. Elation. Joy. All of them have been slamming into me like a tsunami, ever since he said those magic words. “Even when you’re not having an orgasm?” I tease.
Roman laughs. “All the time.”
I kiss his cheek. “That’s good, because it would have been highly inconvenient to have to stroke your dick every single time I wanted to hear you say, ‘I love you.’ I mean, I would have done it. Don’t get me wrong. But how exhausting.”
Roman chuckles and runs a fingertip down my naked back. “Trust me, you’ll be hearing it a lot, every day. No dick stroking required.”
I touch his stubbled cheek. “I’ve been dying to say it to you. I just didn’t want to say it first.”
“I’ve been dying to say it, too.”
I bite my lip, trying to decide if I should risk dampening the mood by asking the question that’s been on the tip of my tongue ever since I laid eyes on Vanessa at the airport. Finally, I decide there’s no time like the present, especially now that we’ve exchanged “I love yous.”
I slide off Roman and lie down on my back. “How come it didn’t work out with you and Vanessa?”
Roman lies next to me and pulls me close. “Is that why you were quiet in the car—because you were wondering about that?”
I nod sheepishly.
“Why didn’t you ask me then?”
“I didn’t want you to think I’m jealous. I’m not. I’m confused. She’s stunning and she seems nice, too—and you have a child together. So, why not at least try to make it work with her? Did you? If so, what happened?”
Roman strokes my hair and looks deeply into my eyes.
“No, I never tried to make it work with her. Vanessa is a good person. Mostly. At her core.” He chuckles.
“But she’s very money driven. I mean, so am I, so I guess I can’t fault her for that.
But . . .” He pauses to think. “I guess the easiest way to explain it is: She’s not you.
I didn’t know it then, but I’ve been waiting for you my whole life, Iris.
Waiting to feel like I feel when I’m with you.
Somehow, my heart has always known you were out there somewhere.
I just needed to be patient and wait for you to show up. ”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. That was an incredibly romantic speech, but I can’t help thinking it’s not the full truth.
And full honesty is what I’m after here so I can release any and all anxiety about this topic and hurtle myself, headlong, into my new life with Roman.
Why didn’t he ask Vanessa to move in with him, like he’s asked me, as soon as he found out she was carrying his child?
Or, hell, maybe he did, and it didn’t work out?
Roman laughs at whatever skepticism he’s seeing on my face. “You think I’m full of shit?”
“No, I . . . I appreciate the sentiment. That was a romantic thing to say. But I’m not looking for platitudes.
I really want to understand why you didn’t at least try to make it work with the mother of your child.
She’s gorgeous, Roman. I’m sorry to keep probing here, but if I don’t ask you about this now, and get an answer that makes sense to me, I think I’ll lose my nerve and always wonder. ”
Roman inhales a long, deep breath while running a hand down his face.
“Okay, first off, ‘losing your nerve’ to ask me about anything isn’t an option anymore, okay?
Anything that’s on your mind, ask me. Don’t wonder.
Don’t guess. I’m not Brandon, okay? I’m not a manipulative, gaslighting, insecure bastard who’s gonna try to make you feel small and worthless just so I can feel big and important. ”