Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Roman sat by the pool, staring up at the stars, thinking about that kiss on the pier. Despite telling himself it was wrong, he couldn’t keep his hands off her.
Not touching her, not kissing her, was like trying not to breathe. He couldn’t do it. She was passionate and vibrant, more than he ever dreamed. And that kiss… he couldn’t get it off his mind.
He had kissed a lot of women in his life, possibly upward of a hundred.
There was an indefinable chemistry in a kiss that felt more intimate than sex.
He had found over the course of his adult life that a kiss determined the path of a relationship.
Some of the women he had dated had never made it past the kissing phase.
Other women, some he hadn’t been particularly attracted to physically, their kiss just did it for him.
But none of them even held a candle to the way he had felt with Irina. It was like she had poured part of herself into him, imprinted herself on his heart, tattooed her touch on his skin.
He flexed the fingers of his left hand. He could still feel the heat of her flesh where she had tucked her small fingers into his on the walk back.
The simple silver ring glinted in the moonlight, and he rubbed his thumb over the smooth metal.
He felt their time together ticking away, but he wasn’t ready to let her go.
Soon enough, she would go back to the real world, back to her friends and the life of fame she adored.
He wasn’t stupid; he knew he didn’t fit into that kind of life.
He wasn’t the kind of man she needed. The reality was like a slap to the face.
Somewhere along the line, he had really come to care for her.
As soon as they got back to the house, they had gone their separate ways; Irina went inside while he had retreated out here to think.
Behind him, he heard the soft scrape of the sliding door open then close again.
His ears perked up, and he held his breath as heat flared in his chest. It was as if his thoughts had conjured her, lured her to him.
Did she want him as badly as he wanted her? He hoped so.
Silent as a cat, Irina approached. She didn’t say a word as she nudged his legs farther apart and settled between his thighs on the chaise lounge, then snuggled in close to him. The sweater she had worn earlier was gone, and she shivered slightly at the coolness of the evening.
“Cold?” His voice was low and raspy, full of relief that she had searched him out.
Grasping his wrists, she lifted his arms and wrapped them around her. “Not anymore.”
Tightening his hold, he pulled her even closer, wishing they were skin to skin. They remained that way for several minutes, enjoying the quiet night and the feel of each other.
He tore his gaze away from the stars dotting the sky to the beautiful woman in front of him.
His chin grazed the sleek slope of her shoulder, and he dipped his head, brushing his lips over her skin.
Irina tipped her head slightly to the side, giving him carte blanche.
Her scent invaded his nostrils, wrapping around him and pulling him under, drawing him further under whatever spell she had managed to weave over him.
He dropped kisses up the base of her neck and bit down lightly, holding her as a shiver racked her body. He pulled her more tightly to him and brushed his nose over the shell of her ear before taking the lobe between his teeth and giving a gentle tug.
A soft sound escaped her throat, and he reluctantly released her flesh.
Irina leaned slightly to one side and turned to him.
He met her gaze, darkened in the moonlight.
Her blue eyes were liquid fire as she stared up at him, and he couldn’t resist the temptation.
Dipping his head, he brushed his mouth over hers.
Her lips parted, and he deepened the kiss, possessing her mouth, taking what was his.
Breathing hard, he pulled back to examine her. “You’re so gorgeous.”
His right hand still rested on her stomach, and he could feel her muscles contract as she arched into him.
Desire curled through him, sealing his fate.
He knew he had no right to claim her, to touch her, but he couldn’t help himself.
It was as if she was made for him. He wanted her, needed her like his next breath of air.
He cupped her face. “If we do this… you’re all mine. No one else sees this part of you but me.”
“Only you,” she whispered.
Right answer. She was all his, every single inch of her.
He rearranged her in his arms, and she clutched at his neck as he stood and carried her toward the door.
Somehow he managed to maneuver them inside and lock up before he carried her through the darkened bungalow to the bedroom.
He halted next to the bed, still holding her, dreading letting her go. “Tell me to stop.”
Her face lifted to his, open and vulnerable in the moonlight. She shook her head, her words a whisper. “Not now. Not when I finally got you to see me.”
“I’ve always seen you.” He propped a knee on the bed, then lay her back and grasped the fabric of her dress. Her hips lifted to aid him, and he yanked it down her thighs, then dropped it to the floor before reaching for her again, desperate to feel her. “I swear I can’t wait one more second.”
“Me, either.” She struggled to sit up, then her hands were on him, pulling at his shirt. He ducked his head, allowing her to pull it over and toss it to the floor.
He pulled his wallet from his back pocket and extracted a single condom. “I’ve only got one, so we’d better make it last.”
She shook her head and yanked open the drawer of the nightstand. “I’ve got us covered.”
His eyes darted uncomprehendingly to the brand-new, unopened box of condoms. He knew they weren’t in there the first day when he had searched everything.
All of a sudden, he remembered her strange interaction with the delivery boy who had brought their groceries.
His gaze slid back to hers. “You ordered those.”
He didn’t know if it was an accusation or a compliment, but she nodded, her tongue swiping over her lower lip.
He crawled over her, forcing her to her back. “You planned this?”
She smiled. “Hey, a girl can hope.”
Her words were breathless, but they rang with total honesty. He dipped his head and kissed her hard. She clutched desperately at his head, and their mouths and tongues tangled until they were both panting for breath, hearts racing.
He broke the kiss and met her pretty blue gaze. “I hope you’re ready for what you’ve started… because you’re mine now.”