Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Leah
Hands touched me in my dream.
The sensation felt so real—rough fingertips tracing slowly across my collarbone, following the curve of my chest downward, lingering at my waist, then the inside of my thighs.
I let out a muffled moan, half-asleep, my body instinctively moving toward that source of warmth.
God, it felt good. Those hands knew exactly where to touch to make me lose control.
They grazed my ribs, thumbs barely brushing over my already peaked nipples before pulling away with cruel intent, moving instead to knead the hollow of my waist.
I squirmed under the covers, my legs unconsciously closing then spreading, trying to ease that growing ache. The need burned so intense it dragged moans from me even in sleep.
Heat pooled deep in my belly, flowing like lava, setting my whole body on fire.
Then a low voice spoke in my ear.
"Finally awake?"
My eyes snapped open.
A figure loomed above me, that handsome face so close I could see the bloodshot threads in those usually cold dark eyes, desire burning naked in their depths.
Morning light leaked through the curtain gaps, casting shadows across his sharp features.
Still groggy, I struggled to process the information flooding in. Several seconds passed before I finally pieced together my situation.
Roman—who'd stormed out last night—had somehow come back. And he was pressed on top of me.
The cool air between my legs made me glance down.
My nightgown had been pushed up beneath my breasts. My panties had vanished at some point. And Roman's hand rested between my thighs, his fingertips pressing lightly against that spot that made my whole body go weak.
"You—" My face burned instantly. I tried to pull back instinctively, only to realize I was trapped completely in Roman's hold, nowhere to escape.
"Don't move." Roman's voice came low in the darkness, his damp breath washing over my cheek.
I shoved hard at Roman's chest, but couldn't budge him. So I twisted a piece of his pec muscle instead. "What the hell is wrong with you? I was sleeping—"
"Shit. Looks like you need to learn a lesson."
Roman hissed at the pinch, then simply caught both my hands in one of his and pinned them above my head.
I fought to break free, but it was useless.
Jesus. I knew Roman was strong—he was in the mob, after all.
But I hadn't realized the gap between us was this huge. He'd done it without any effort at all.
"Let me go! Roman! I'm not in the mood for your games."
Roman raised an eyebrow, his finger drawing a slow circle right on my clit.
"You're not in the mood? Then why are you this wet, hmm?" As he spoke, his fingertip pressed and dug at that sensitive nub.
My body jolted like I'd been shocked.
Ah, fuck.
I bit my lip to keep from crying out. This man knew a woman's body too damn well. Even with my mind screaming no, my body always went soft and helpless under his touch.
"Mmm..."
A suppressed moan leaked through my teeth.
"See? Your body's honest." Satisfaction colored Roman's voice as his finger began sliding slowly in and out. "Want me to keep going?"
"No." I panted, trying hard to sound firm.
"But your body won't let me leave."
His finger moved in and out at a torturous pace, deliberately slow, like he meant to drive me insane.
"You know what you did in your dream just now, Leah?"
I bit my lip, refusing to answer. But my body squeezed around him honestly, trying to pull his fingers deeper.
"You rubbed against me like a little cat." He bent his head, teeth grazing my earlobe. "Legs wrapped around my waist, hands clawing at my shoulders, grinding your hips against me. And you called my name. In your sleep."
I couldn't be sure if he was telling the truth. I'd always moved around in my sleep.
But God, did I really talk in my dreams? Did I really call his name?
"Enough!" I cut him off, burning with shame.
But my protest had no effect.
Instead, Roman pressed his body down deliberately, closer to me.
Something hard and scorching pressed against my belly. I looked down—Roman was straining against his pants, the tip already showing a damp spot.
Jesus. My face went scarlet, heat spreading to my ears.
"See that?" Roman's voice came out hoarser, laced with forced restraint. "That's what you do to me, Leah. You know how cruel you are? You twist around in my arms, you call my name, and then you won't let me touch you."
Next time I'd tie myself down before sleeping. I swear to God.
"I didn't mean to. Maybe I can sleep on the floor from now on." I stammered, trying to tear my eyes away from that terrifying bulge. And failing.
"Or you could go to the bathroom and take care of it yourself—"
"I want you." He leaned down, tongue sliding over my collarbone. "And you owe me this."
As he spoke those words, Roman thrust his fingers deep inside me, his thumb pressing down on that spot that made my scalp tingle.
"Ah—" I cried out, caught off guard, my back arching off the bed.
"You like it, don't you? Be honest with yourself." Roman watched my reaction with satisfaction, his fingers pumping in a steady rhythm, hitting that spot that made me tremble with every stroke. "Look, you're squeezing me, gripping me, begging for more."
"Oh... God..." The intense pleasure made my hips lift involuntarily, starting to meet his movements.
I couldn't deny it anymore. I loved Roman's touch.
Then a wild kiss crashed down on me.
It was fierce, almost desperate with hunger.
His tongue pushed into my mouth, sweeping over my teeth, my palate, wrapping around my tongue and sucking hard. I let out a muffled whimper, my hands climbing up his shoulders without thinking.
Roman's hands roamed my body—from shoulders to waist, from thighs to breasts. Every inch of skin he touched ignited, burning me alive.
"Roman..." I gasped his name.
He finally released my lips. We both panted hard, foreheads pressed together.
"Leah," Roman murmured against my mouth, his voice raw. "Tell me to stop."
"Mmm... no."
"Tell me—"
"Don't." I wrapped my arms around his neck, deepening the kiss myself. "Don't stop."
Roman let out a low growl, then bent his head and took my nipple in his mouth.
"Ah!" I cried out, unprepared.
His tongue circled that sensitive peak, teeth nibbling lightly, then sucking hard.
His other hand wasn't idle either, roughly kneading my other breast, thumb and forefinger pinching and pulling at the nipple.
"Roman, too... too rough," I moaned weakly, feeling my brain start to melt.
I must have lost my mind.
I'd been mad at him just hours ago, and now I was moaning like a slut beneath him.
But I couldn't help it. His hand slipped under my nightgown. I arched my body to meet him, letting his fingers enter me again.
"Ah, Roman..." I moaned, calling his name.
Then I suddenly remembered—Maria's room was just across the hall.
"Maria!" I pushed at his shoulder, panting. "She'll hear! We need to be quiet—"
Roman paused and looked down at me. A mischievous glint flickered in those eyes, a truly relaxed smile I'd never seen before.
"Maria left yesterday, baby." He bent to bite my earlobe, amusement in his voice. "She said she didn't want to disturb us."
My face went scarlet. "Guess she didn't suspect us at all."
"Mm-hmm." He captured my lips, his thumb circling that sensitive spot at the same time. "So you can scream all you want. It's just us here."
The words had barely left his mouth before he thrust into me fully.
"Fuck, Roman!" I couldn't hold back the scream that tore from my throat. My hands clutched at his shoulders as he filled me completely, stretching me to the point of pain and pleasure blurring together.
He didn't give me time to adjust. His hips pulled back and slammed forward again, setting a brutal rhythm that had me gasping for air. Each powerful thrust made his thick cock drag along my slick inner walls, his heavy balls slapping against my skin with wet, rhythmic smacks.
"That's it," he growled against my neck, his hot breath sending shivers down my spine. "Let me hear you."
I couldn't have stayed quiet if I tried. Every thrust dragged sounds from me—moans, gasps, his name spilling from my lips over and over. My pussy clenched greedily around him, coating his shaft with more arousal as he stretched me wide.
"Roman, oh God, please..."
"Please what?" He angled his hips, hitting that spot inside, grinding deliberately against it before pulling back and driving in harder.
"I-I can't..." My nails dug into his back as the pressure built inside me, winding tighter and tighter. Sweat slicked our bodies, making his chest slide against my breasts with every impact.
"Babe, you can. You crave this." His thumb found my clit, rubbing in firm, slick circles that matched his thrusts. "Come for me, Leah. Come on my cock."
The combination shattered me. My orgasm crashed through me in waves, my body convulsing around him as I screamed his name, inner muscles pulsing and milking his length desperately.
He fucked me through it, prolonging the pleasure with deep, steady strokes until I thought I might pass out, my juices dripping down his thighs.
When I finally came down, I collapsed boneless against the mattress, utterly spent. But Roman was still hard inside me, still pulsing with need, his cock twitching against my oversensitive walls.
"Jesus," I panted, feeling my face heat despite everything we'd just done. I reached down between us tentatively. "I could use my mouth..."
"No." Roman pulled out and lay on his back beside me. His cock stood rigid against his stomach, flushed and glistening with our combined fluids. "I want you to ride me."
My eyes widened. "Roman, I don't think I can—"
"You can." His hands gripped my waist, lifting me effortlessly to straddle him. "Take what you want."
I thought about his confession today, about everything he'd told me. About being vulnerable with me.
I positioned myself above him, then slowly sank down. We both groaned as I took him inch by inch. From this angle he felt even deeper, filling me completely. My thighs trembled as I adjusted to the fullness, feeling him throb deep inside my core.
"Fuck, Leah." Roman's hands tightened on my hips, his jaw clenched. "You feel incredible."
I started to move, rolling my hips in slow circles before lifting and dropping back down. His hands guided my movements, helping me find a rhythm. But God, my legs were already shaking from exhaustion.
"I can't," I gasped, my pace faltering. "Roman, I'm too tired..."
"I've got you."
His hands locked on my waist in a bruising grip. Then he took over, using his strength to lift and lower me on his cock while thrusting up to meet me. The force of it made me cry out, my hands bracing on his chest for balance as he impaled me repeatedly, the wet squelching sounds filling the room.
"Yes, oh fuck, Roman—" I was practically sobbing from the intensity, another orgasm building impossibly fast.
"That's my girl," he groaned, his rhythm becoming erratic. "Come with me. Come on, baby."
His thumb pressed against my clit and I shattered again, screaming as the pleasure ripped through me. I felt Roman tense beneath me, heard his rough groan as he came, filling me with heat, his cock pulsing thick ropes deep inside.
My body gave out completely. I collapsed forward onto his chest, unable to hold myself up another second. My heart hammered against his, our skin slick with sweat.
Roman's arms came around me immediately, holding me close. He pressed a kiss to the top of my head, his chest rising and falling rapidly beneath my cheek.
After the aftershocks of pleasure faded, the room fell into dead silence—just two drumming heartbeats and ragged breathing that hadn't quite settled.
I was exhausted. All I wanted was to sleep.
But in the dimness, Roman suddenly spoke.
"About last night. I'm sorry."
"What?" I turned my head in surprise to look at Roman. Never would I have expected him to apologize to me.
"I'm sorry, Leah. I should have apologized first. I overreacted about Irina."
"Oh, that. It's okay," I said softly. "Everyone has things they don't want to talk about. It's normal."
I meant it.
Ever since I'd moved in, I'd been curious about what Irina had done to make Roman avoid the subject so completely. Had she cheated? Had she done something to break his heart?
But after seeing his reaction this afternoon, I'd decided to swallow all those questions. Everyone has wounds they don't want picked open.
Nothing strange about that.
"Actually," Roman paused, "it's not really a secret."
"I just... got played, that's all."
Got played?
That was surprising—almost unbelievable. What kind of woman could have played Roman?
I froze for a second, then immediately pushed myself up from his arms, propping myself on my elbow to look at him.
Roman's voice came again.
"I should have known from the start. Irina was a chess piece Dmitri planted—a spy assigned to seduce me and gather intelligence."
In the weak light, I stared at Roman blankly. His eyes seemed empty, but somehow I felt my heart ache.
"But I didn't. As Pakhan, I fell in love like some lovesick kid. Ha." He smiled bitterly. "We were married three years, Leah." His voice cracked. "She slept beside me every night. She gave me Mira. And I... I had no fucking clue she was a spy."
I opened my mouth, but no sound came out.
A spy? An undercover agent?
All the pieces clicked into place in my mind—Roman's cold face when Dmitri came to the estate, Emily's hesitation when mentioning Irina, Mira's severe mutism.
It all made sense now.
"We got betrayed too many times. Always walked into ambushes." Roman's voice grew colder. "The joke is, to make her feel safe, I never told her about the ambushes I survived. I thought I was protecting her. Turns out..."
"Roman..."
Roman smiled bitterly, the expression twisted with pain.
"So now you understand?"
I felt my heart clench. Roman had been betrayed by the person he trusted most—his bedside companion.
The woman he'd married, who'd given him a daughter, who'd slept beside him for three years—she'd been a lie from beginning to end. She didn't love him. Didn't love their child. She'd just been following Dmitri's orders.
And Roman...
This man who commanded New York's underworld, who made everyone tremble—he'd once given his heart completely to a woman. And she'd stomped it into the ground and ground it to powder.
Before I realized what I was doing, I'd rolled over and thrown myself on top of Roman.
"Leah, you don't need to pity me. I don't need it," Roman said stiffly.
I didn't speak. I just held him, squeezed him as tight as I could, buried my face in the crook of his neck, breathing in his familiar warmth and scent.
"I know," I said quietly. "You don't need anyone's pity. I just... wanted to hold you."
In the dim light, I held him silently.
Roman was unusually compliant, letting me. His body gradually relaxed, his arms slowly circling my waist.