Chapter 10 Amber
AMBER
Sofia began having some issues the following week, and Claire agreed with her Ob-gyn that she should go on bed rest. Unfortunately, it was the same time that Esmeralda’s condition worsened.
Medically, it was a tense time for the Orlovs, and I tried to be as helpful as I could, even having Owen over at Roman’s apartment while Anya and I babysat him, Emily, and Henry together.
Claire came to pick up her son and did a double-take at me. Anya had already left, needing to be online for a class.
“Are you feeling all right?”
I laughed once. “Now that’s an easy way to tell a girl she looks bad.”
She smiled. “You look like you haven’t slept in a week.”
I huffed. “You should’ve seen Roman this morning before he left for a meeting. He forgot to put his shoes on and had mismatched socks.”
She smiled. “Are the twins fussy?”
“When aren’t they?” I joked. With a sigh, I let my shoulders sag. “They’re just always hungry. I think it’s cluster feeding.”
She cringed. “Ooh. Three months. Yeah, that sounds about right. Cluster feeding is the worst.”
“I’m just glad it won’t last forever.”
“No,” she agreed. “It won’t. But it’s rough. Rough on your boobs too. I swear, that was so painful, keeping up with the milk and having sore nipples and—” She quickly smiled. “Well, never mind all that. You’re not dealing with that part of it.”
I kept a little, polite smile on my face. Um, actually, I am. My boobs were sore. My nipples were deliciously raw, too. Not from breastfeeding on demand for twins, but because Roman and I hadn’t stopped at kissing.
Since he’d kissed me on the couch a week ago, I fell headfirst into wanting more.
And more.
And more and more and more.
All that he’d give me.
He was the first man I’d ever kissed, and instead of worrying that he’d notice how inexperienced I was and be turned off by it, he turned it into letting me figure out what I liked.
He was the first man I’d welcomed forbidden touches from. His hands on my breasts, over my pussy, and gripping my ass. Not once did he force me to move at his speed.
And he was the first man I’d fallen into bed with. Literally. Instead of staying in my room, I practically moved into his. To sleep—when the twins allowed.
Slowly opening up to kissing him was the first step, one we tried to enjoy every night. It was for the convenience of it all that I stayed in his room where we had portable cribs for Emily and Henry.
Cluster feeding was seriously no joke.
And having two babies fussing for milk on demand was double the cock block.
“It’ll get better,” Claire advised, taking Owen to go home to her building.
I nodded. “I know it will,” I replied.
And I believed it. Kissing my boss and loving his hands on me was wrong. Humping Roman and savoring his hot mouth on my nipples was taboo.
But it felt so good to let him in. It felt like kismet to cave to this desire I couldn’t turn off for him. For the first time in my life, I felt safer than ever—safe to go for what I truly wanted.
This was a chance for me to choose a man I desired and act on it. Not…
The elevator slid open, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Hey…”
Roman smiled at me, his face lighting up at the sight of me in the kitchen. “Something smells good.”
I nodded. “It should.” This was my favorite recipe I’d found since being here and more or less taking over the household as the nanny.
“Something looks good, too.” He came up behind me, brushing my hair off my neck to press hot kisses there.
“It should.” I couldn’t help the smile on my lips as he braced my back and slid his arm around my stomach, nuzzling my neck.
“I’m not talking about the food,” he whispered in my ear before he spun me around to face him.
I looped my arms around his neck, relishing the delicious heat of a heady kiss that dizzied me. He didn’t let us get too carried away, though. Hearing Emily and Henry’s coos and babbles from where they sat in their baby swings, he smiled against my lips and pulled back.
“How have they been behaving for you today?” he asked. Untying the knot of his tie, he retreated and looked completely at home.
I felt it too.
This contentment. This joy of looking ahead.
“They have not been behaving for me. Don’t let those smiles fool you,” I warned playfully as he went toward them.
I explained how fussy they’d been and he was glad.
“This has to mean they’ll sleep well tonight, then,” he predicted.
I cringed, bringing dinner to the table. “Don’t jinx it.”
He snagged me and pulled me close for a kiss. “I’m waiting for a good night. One where we can both sleep and have energy for other things.”
My cheeks heated and I ducked my head. Me too. One hundred percent.
Hours later, it turned out that he had jinxed our chances of having time together in bed. A storm came through, and the thunder bothered Emily. When the power went out, I couldn’t help but grow nervous.
A generator kicked in not long after the power was out, and I was relieved about that. But the overall stormy darkness cast a gloomy spell over me.
You’re safe here. You’re fine.
William used to laugh at me for being scared of storms and the darkness.
But he’s not here anymore. I’ll never have to deal with him again.
I sat in his bed after calming Emily back to sleep. Staring at the windows, I hugged my knees to my chest, not willing to wake up Roman for his comfort.
He’d give it to me. He’d offer to hold me and spoon me. But he was too spent, so tired from working most of the day with meetings.
He’s safe. He’ll keep me safe.
I heaved out a deep breath and watched Emily and Henry sleep. Their peaceful little faces were visible with the little light coming from the window. My eyes had acclimated to the darkness, but I just couldn’t relax enough to sleep.
You’re safe, Amber.
William’s not here.
The storm will pass.
Everything is—
I narrowed my eyes, detecting movement in the living room. I hadn’t closed the bedroom door after I came back from the kitchen, getting another bottle for Emily.
Out in the darkness, someone ran across the room. It was nothing but a blur of a shadow, a figure merging into the black void behind the couch.
Panic kicked in. My heart hammered as I sucked in a deep breath.
Someone was out there!
Someone had broken in!
Fight or flight registered, heightening my senses. Even though fear locked me down, I reached out to grab Roman’s arm. Hard. I dug my nails in, waking him immediately.
“Wh—” I didn’t let go of his arm as he shot upright.
But I twisted to cover my other hand over his mouth.
My fingers trembled as I released his arm.
Pointing to the living room, I hoped he could understand without speaking.
I didn’t want to risk waking the twins. And I didn’t want to reveal to the intruders that we were awake.
He caught on. Narrowing his eyes as he studied my face, he turned his head to strain to see.
I lowered my hand and mouthed that someone had broken in.
That was all it took for him to take action. He reached into his nightstand and grabbed a gun.
Stunned, I reared back at the weapon in his hand. Yes, there were guards all around here, but Roman… with a gun? I hadn’t seen him dangerous like this before.
He stood, unlocking his phone and tossing it to me. Not once did he take his eyes off the open door.
“Call Sergei,” he mouthed.
I nodded, picking it up.
“Stay with them,” he mouthed again.
I didn’t need to ask. He meant Emily and Henry. And he didn’t need to tell me. I loved those little ones and I would never hesitate to protect them.
Scared for Roman to go out there, I noticed his calm. His defensive demeanor. The rigid strength and stealth that he moved with like this wasn’t the first time he’d had to fight someone. As if the need to be violent wasn’t new to him.
He exited the room and closed the door after him, likely to further protect me and the babies. My heart banged against my ribs. My lungs couldn’t suck in enough air. But I refused to lose my cool. I couldn’t hyperventilate or go weak. Not now.
If it were just me here, that would’ve been different. I’d suffered through men breaking into my room before. Long ago. But the twins needed me. Emily and Henry were in here, and I would be damned if I let my previous fears and pains color my judgment or hold me back from keeping them safe.
I called Sergei, whispering that someone had broken in.
“Roman’s out there now. He told me to call you.”
“On it.” He disconnected the call with that curt confirmation.
Relief trickled in that help would be on the way. An army would show up. Guards. Lorne. Sergei and Andre and the others. George and Oleg and… There were too many to remember. I mixed up names often with how big the Orlov organization was.
I was alone to defend the twins in the bedroom, but Roman wouldn’t be alone out there for long. Sergei would come. The others would rush to assist.
Still, as I stood by the babies sleeping away, I crouched like I was an animal preparing to dart away or attack in self-defense, bracing with my knees bent and my muscles tense in case the door was busted in and I’d need to fend off some intruder.
No sounds came from the living room. The rest of the penthouse was as quiet as it was before I woke up and saw that intruder in the distance.
But in this panicked state, with all these worries and questions and dreadful thoughts swirling in my mind, I couldn’t tell if that was good or bad.
No voices reached me.
Nor did any thuds or smacks of fists against flesh.
No shouted warnings or strings of profanity that would indicate a scuffle or argument.
With my stomach twisted in knots, I didn’t know if the quiet was a positive sign or a bad one. If Roman was okay. Or wounded. Or in pain at all.
My God!
I can’t take this!
The suspense ate away at me as I waited for a signal that all was right again.
I’d faced danger before. I’d been stuck in a horribly violent situation before. And I didn’t wish it on anyone, especially not the strong man I was coming to see as my savior, the mysterious man who seemed to be my ticket to happiness.
Furrowing my brow as I looked down at the twins sleeping, I swallowed hard and prayed that Roman would come to the door and let me know the situation was under control.
Please. Please be okay.
I need you to be okay, Roman.