Total pages in book: 184
Estimated words: 188108 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 941(@200wpm)___ 752(@250wpm)___ 627(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 188108 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 941(@200wpm)___ 752(@250wpm)___ 627(@300wpm)
“I understand. Your work is important.”
Leaning down, he kissed her. “Such a good girl.”
Except she wasn’t.
48
Roman paced up and down the room.
Alexei and Salem would be getting ready to board the plane by now. The flight was going to be over twelve hours with one stop.
He should rest.
He should do something other than pace up and down his office.
A knock on his door had him turning. “Come in.”
“Would you mind opening the door?” Tamsyn asked. “I have a tray.”
He leapt across the room and opened the door for her. She smiled as she walked inside. “I won’t stay long. I just brought you some dinner. It isn’t much since I can’t cook, as you know. I just heated up some cans of soup. There wasn’t a lot in the cupboard, so I mixed a couple of them. I hope it tastes okay. Oh, and toast with butter. That, I can do!”
“I’m sure it will be fine,” he said as he took the tray from her. The soup was an alarming shade of brown, though. “Have you eaten?”
“Me? Uh, no. I don’t think so.”
He sighed. Shit. He should have been paying closer attention. He was in charge of her while the other two were away. “When did you last eat?”
“Umm. You know, maybe I should go and clean up the kitchen.”
He held up an arm as she tried to step past him.
“I made you up an eating schedule for a reason,” he said sternly. “It’s pinned to the fridge so you can see it. With a list of healthy snacks you could eat.”
“Yes, but who really eats five times a day?” she complained. “It’s so much. I don’t have the time or the belly for it.”
“You should eat that much. And frankly, I’d be happy if you ate three meals. Sit at my desk, you’re eating with me.”
Only the soup really was sludge.
He didn’t want to insult her, though. So he moved his chair around to sit next to her.
“Do you think they’re okay? Salem and Alexei?” she asked, sounding anxious. “They said that they couldn’t give me specifics . . . I just want to know they’re okay.”
“Hey, they’re fine. They’re about to board a plane. They’ll probably message once they’re in the air. Okay?”
She nodded.
Relief filled him that he was able to reassure her.
He stirred the soup and took a sip. And his mouth immediately became a fire pit.
Holy shit.
“Oh, I forgot to mention that I put some chili powder in the soup. Is it okay?” she asked.
He raced over to his small fridge and grabbed a bottle of water, gulping it down.
“Oh no! Is it that hot? Spicy hot? Wait, I don’t think you should drink water. Have you got any other drinks in there?” She got up and searched through his fridge. “Chocolate milk! This will work better.”
He drank the chocolate milk down as she watched on worriedly.
“That’s better,” he said.
“I’m so sorry! God, I’m so stupid. I should never have put that chili in. Who does that? Immpphhh.”
Her words mumbled together as Roman took her by surprise and grabbed her shoulders with his hands, pressing his lips to hers.
That was such a non-Roman gesture that it took her completely by surprise and the kiss was over before she could even properly react.
“Oh no.”
“Oh no, what?” he asked.
“I didn’t kiss you back. I was too surprised. Oh, I’m such an immpphhhh.”
There he went again, kissing her. But this time, he ran his tongue along her lips and she opened them, allowing his tongue into her mouth.
A sigh of pleasure escaped her.
Roman might not have much experience, but he could kiss.
He placed his hand gently on the back of her neck as he deepened the kiss. When he drew back, he placed his forehead against hers as they both breathed heavily.
“I never really understood the point of kissing until I kissed you,” he said.
“You’re an amazing kisser,” she told him.
“Really?” He stared down at her. “Are you sure?”
“Very sure. When you kiss me, the rest of the world disappears. It’s like I don’t have any worries or concerns because you’ve made them go away.”
“I always want to do that,” he told her. “I don’t ever want you to worry about anything.”
She smiled sadly. “Not really possible, is it?”
“It should be,” he replied fiercely. “We should be able to make your life free of stress and worry. I want to do that.”
God, it was a nice dream.
“Maybe we’ll start with a few kisses. Come.” He took her hand and led her into his bedroom.
Her heart raced. What was happening right now? Was he . . . did he want to have sex?
Stopping at the end of the bed, he cupped her face. “Do you want this? Tell me now if you don’t.”
“I want all of this. Every piece. Please,” she said breathlessly.