by Cathryn Fox
I end the call and fight off the unease circling my stomach. I grab my laptop and do a search on restaurants. I find one not too far, make a reservation and head upstairs to get ready. I want to look nice for Roman tonight. I find my prettiest dress, spend a long time on my hair and makeup, and when I finally emerge from the room, Roman is coming in through the front door.
I hurry down the stairs and his gaze lifts to take me in. The heat in his eyes is like a visual caress over the tingling spot between my legs. My God, the man is addictive.
He drops his briefcase and stalks toward me. “You look beautiful.” He slides his arm around me, and like a damn caveman drags me to him.
“Have I ever told you how much I like when you touch me like this, all rough and hungry and impatient?”
His lips quirk. “You didn’t need to. But we have a problem.”
I stiffen. “Does it have something to do with Richard?”
“No,” he says, and I relax into his touch. “It has something to do with me wanting you naked so I can put my dick in you.”
I laugh.
“Not a laughing matter, Peyton,” he growls, and rubs his growing erection against my stomach.
“No, not a laughing matter at all,” I say, my voice husky as his lips find mine. “And I suppose we have a few minutes,” I say, stepping back. He reaches for me, but I dodge him.
“What are you doing?”
“I was thinking. We do have about a half hour before our reservation, and if you’re fast—”
“I can be fast,” he says, and I bite my lip to stop my chuckle as my entire body heats up.
I move to the back of the sofa. “I guess if we need to do this quickly, it’s a good thing I don’t have any panties on to get in my way.”
Raw need shimmers around him like an aura. “You’re kidding me.”
“Would I kid about something like that?” I lean over the sofa and lift my dress, exposing my body to him.
“Shit, Peyton. I’ll take over your job every day if it means I get to come home to this.”
I laugh. “Roman?”
I glance at him over my shoulder and my body quakes as he licks his lips, his eyes zeroing in on my sex as I spread my legs. “Yeah?”
“I believe you said something about bending me over a table and burying yourself inside me.” The sound of his zipper releasing curls around me. “This isn’t a table but...” I swallow as his crown breaches my wet sex, and my fingers curl into the fabric of the sofa as he powers into me. “Oh my God.”
He pumps and grips my hips for leverage, burying himself to the hilt. I love the way he loves my body, the impatience in his touch like he can’t get enough of me, like he can’t get deep enough. I know the feeling.
“Jesus, girl, why are you so hot and wet?”
“Maybe because I was thinking about you thrusting into me like this all day.”
He pants and grunts, his hot breath on my flesh as he slams into me. “Were you home touching yourself, wishing it was my cock inside you?”
“I wanted to, but I wanted to save my orgasm for you.”
“You want to come, Peyton. You want to come for me?”
“Uh-huh,” is all I can manage to say as he rides me, fast and hard, blunt strokes meant to get the job done. There’s no choreographed moves with this man, no time for the finesse this afternoon. No, he’s here on a mission, his sole focus on getting us both off. Damned if I don’t like that.
I’m so slick and aroused, he slides in and out of me smoothly, the skin-on-skin friction creating an even deeper intimacy between us. After the night we forgot to use a condom, there was no sense going back.
“Yes,” he groans, his body all muscle and power as he takes me hard and fast. He slides a hand around me and touches me where I need it most. I jerk against his probing fingers, and a groan tumbles from my throat. “You like that, babe? You like when I take you from behind like this?”
“Yessss,” I hiss.
“Tonight, when we go out, you’re going to sit there all sweet and prim but we’ll both know you’ll still be feeling me inside you.”
“Roman,” I cry out, and he leans in and digs his teeth into my neck. The second he does, I feel myself lose all control, chanting his name over and over as I come.
“Oh shit,” he moans against my flesh, and his hands go back to my hips. With each hard thrust we work toward his orgasm now, and I move with him, my sex muscles clenching and unclenching around his hardness. His breath catches, his fingers bruise my hips, and I let loose a cry as he fills me with his hot release. He pulses inside me, his muscles hard against my soft flesh as he rides out the bliss. As I revel in the pleasure coursing through me, he falls over my back.
“Peyton, Jesus,” he says as he pants against my flesh. “I loved coming home to this,” he adds, and nibbles my ear.
“I loved it, too,” I say, my heart hitching, warning me to be careful here, not to let this man into sealed-off places, even though it’s too late for that. I’m in big trouble here.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Roman
I GLANCE AROUND the cozy Italian restaurant in the middle of downtown St. Julian’s. “You picked my favorite restaurant, you know.”
Peyton lifts her head from the menu and her smile slays me. “Really?”
“It’s almost like you know me.”
She cocks her head. “I know some things.”
I lean toward her and lightly rub my fingers over her wrist. “I know things, too.”
Her smile is warm and her eyes are steeped in desire when she asks, “Did you spend a lot of time in Malta?”
“When we were kids, we vacationed here. My family owns property.”
Her jaw drops open. “The villa. It’s yours, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asks.
I let loose an exasperated sigh. “You really have to ask that?”
“Yes.”
“You would have argued with me.” I stretch my legs out beneath the table. “You always argue with me.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Yeah, you do.”
She lifts her chin. “I don’t argue about everything.”
Grinning, I lean back into my chair.
“What?”
“You’re arguing about not arguing with me.”
She laughs. “Okay, I’ll give you that. Seriously, I didn’t know you spent time here, or owned property, and I appreciate you letting me use your villa, but I still plan to pay you for helping me out.”
I arch a brow at her. “You think I’m going to let you do that?”
She glares at me, those lush lips pinched into a fine line. “Roman...”
“It’s not been a hardship, Peyton.”
Her demeanor changes, softens. “Yeah, it’s kind of been fun.” She sets her left hand on the table and eyes the ring on her finger, and I don’t miss that look of longing in her eyes.
The hostess leads two people to a table behind us, and I go quiet until they’re seated. I lean toward Peyton, my words for her ears only. “Any more thoughts about what I suggested earlier?”
Her shoulders tighten. “You mean getting married?”
“I just don’t think we should risk anyone finding out.”
Is that why you’re asking, Roman?
Is that the only reason you’re pushing for this?
She frowns. “I know what you’re saying. We’ve come this far, and Richard’s wife is obviously the kind of woman to play dirty, to make sure her husband succeeds.”
The server comes back to take our orders, and as I glance over the menu, I notice Peyton keeps looking beyond me, like she sees someone she knows. I casually look over my shoulder after handing the menu back.
“What’s going on back there?�
� I ask.
“I’m not sure. Two girls over there keep looking at me and whispering back and forth.”
“You know them?”
“No, maybe they know you.”
I touch her hand. “Maybe, but I’m here with you tonight, and you’re the only one I want to talk to.”
I pull my hands back when the server comes with our bottle of wine. He pours some into my glass, I taste it and nod. Once he’s gone, I say, “I’m glad you’re feeling better. I was pretty worried about you.”
Her smile is sweet, grateful. “Thanks for taking care of me all night. I’m just glad whatever it was passed.”
“I had a talk with Richard.”
She toys with the stem on her wineglass. “He told me you did.”
“I don’t trust that guy. I still think he was behind whatever made you ill.”
She sets her napkin on the table. “I’m going to make a quick trip to the ladies’ room. I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll be right here.”
I pull my phone from my pocket and check messages as I wait for her to return. There are a few from my sisters, and one from my team at Hard Wear. I read it quickly, but it’s something I can deal with later. I put my phone away and pour another splash of wine into our glasses as the server returns with bread. The warm scent fills my senses. I look toward the hall leading to the washrooms. What is taking Peyton so long? A knot coils in my stomach. Jesus, I hope she’s not sick again. I’m about to stand, go to her, when she comes from the hall, her face a little pale.
What the hell?
She hurries to her chair. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, that girl who was staring followed me to the bathroom. She asked who I was to you. I told her you were my husband, and she said you were old friends.”
I turn and see the woman coming from the bathroom, headed our way. Holy shit. Here comes trouble.
Anna’s eyes go wide, and she holds her arms out to me, a big surprised smile on her face. I stand and bring her in for a hug.
“Anna, it’s so nice to see you. It’s been a long time.”
“Too long, clearly,” she says, her gaze going from me to Peyton, back to me again. “I saw you two earlier, and let me say, it comes as quite a surprise to find out you’re married. Lucy never said a word to me about it.”
My throat tightens. “It was a fast ceremony, and we’ve been keeping things quiet.”
Her dark eyes narrow in on me, and my stomach twists. “Are you saying your family doesn’t know?”
I smooth my hand over my tie. “We prefer to keep it that way, for now.”
She laughs, but it holds no humor. “Oh, Roman, what kind of mess have you gotten yourself into?”
“No mess at all.” I force a laugh. “You know my family. They wouldn’t give the newlyweds a minute to themselves. We’ll tell them when we’re ready.”
“Yes, I suppose you will,” she says, and casts Peyton a glance. “It was lovely meeting you, Peyton. Let’s see if you can keep his interest. He tires of relationships very easily. Prepare yourself.” Before Peyton can respond, Anna flips her long black hair over her shoulder and saunters away.
I sit back down and blow out a breath. “Shit.”
“This isn’t good, is it?”
“No.”
“What happened between you two?”
“We dated but we were teenagers. She’s a friend of Lucy’s and has chased me forever. I was never really that interested, but Lucy wanted me to take her out, so I did. It was brief, and I broke it off before she could think we were going somewhere with it. I’m pretty sure she was more interested in my family name than me.”
“I think she hates you.” She gives a low, slow whistle. “If looks could kill.”
“I know.” I rub the knot in the back of my neck, tension tightening my muscles. “Trouble is coming, Peyton.”
“Trouble?”
“Trouble in the name of Aurora, Lucy, Maria, Emma and Bianca.”
She leans toward me, clutching her napkin. “You think she’s going to tell your sisters?”
“Is she on her phone?”
She looks over my shoulder and grimaces. “Yeah, looks like she’s texting.” I shake my head, my appetite gone as Peyton wrings her cloth napkin. “Want to get out of here?” Peyton asks.
“Only if you do.”
“Why don’t we get our food to go and eat at the park. Somewhere private?”
“Okay.” I call the server over and tell him our change of plans. Ten minutes later we’re walking the downtown streets and heading to the park for a picnic. My phone has been going off in my pocket for the last five minutes, but I just ignore it. I can’t answer them until I figure out what it is I’m going to say. We grab a seat at a picnic table, and I hand Peyton her take-out container with her penne chicken. I settle in beside her and I dig into my ravioli as she stabs a piece of pasta.
With her fork halfway to her mouth, Peyton says, “You’re going to have to answer them, Roman.”
“I know, but I’m going to need a full stomach for the wrath that is about to come down on me.” She nods and my mind races as we eat in silence for a few more minutes. The sun dips lower in the sky, and the streetlights begin to flicker on.
“This food is delicious,” Peyton says, breaking the quiet.
“I know, right? That’s why it’s my favorite.”
She lifts her head when a family of four saunters by. A smile touches her mouth. “Your family has other properties here in Malta?”
I nod. “I have some really fond memories from my childhood here.”
Her smile widens and she sets her fork down and pushes her container away. “That’s so nice.”
“Come on, let’s walk.” I gather up our trash and dump it into a nearby garbage can.
We head down the street, busy with tourists, and pass by all the lovely outdoor cafés. We stop by an alleyway and I gesture with a nod. “This is my old stomping grounds. Right there, that’s where I lost my virginity,” I tell her with a smirk.
Her brow arches. “Really?”
“Yup.”
“Romantic.”
I laugh at that. “I was seventeen.”
Her arm slides through mine as we walk, and I’m not even sure she realized she did it. Being together like this is just so natural for both of us. “Young.”
I give her a wink and hold her tighter. “She was eighteen.”
“Ooh, a cougar,” she teases, and I laugh, leading her to the walkway along the bay. We stop and stare out at all the boats bobbing in the water. She inhales, breathing in the salty air, and lets it out slowly. “I love it here.”
“I do, too,” I say, and give her a little bump with my body.
“What made you stay in the States when you could have this every day?” she asks, and waves her arms around.
“I needed to be away from my family for a while.” She looks down at her feet and my gut squeezes. Christ, this woman would do anything for a family and I spent years running away from mine. “Sometimes it’s nice to go where you can be under the radar, you know,” I add. “Somewhere where your every move isn’t scrutinized.”
She nods. “I can understand that.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m under the radar. People don’t really notice me.” I go completely still as she continues to walk. The second she realizes I’m not beside her she turns. “What?”
I shake my head, taking pleasure in her thick, auburn hair, the warmth and honesty in her green eyes, and the way that sexy dress hugs all her curves.
“You have no idea how beautiful you are, do you?”
She shrugs at the comment. “You don’t have to say that.”
“When you walk into a room, all heads turn, Peyton. You don’t even know.”
She looks away t
o gaze out over the water. A visible shiver moves through her, and I close the distance. I shrug out of my jacket and drape it over her. “I spent so many years trying to be invisible, Roman.”
My throat practically closes over as pain grips my heart. I put my arms around her and pull her in. I press a kiss to the top of her head. “I know.”
“If I didn’t cause any trouble, if they rarely saw me...” She goes quiet for a long time, and I just hold her quivering body to mine, tucking her safely beneath my arms so no one else can hurt her. “I...” Her voice hitches, and she adds, “I guess I figured if I was small and invisible, they wouldn’t be so quick to get rid of me.”
Jesus, I hate that her childhood was so damn brutal and her scars are still so raw. “No one is going to hurt you anymore, Peyton. I won’t let them.”
She puts her hand on my chest, and her eyes are watery when she lifts her gaze to mine. “My very own knight in shining armor,” she says.
I chuckle. “I thought you didn’t believe in fairy tales.”
“I don’t,” she says so quietly, so softly I almost missed it. I hug her tighter when a hard quiver racks her body.
“We should get you home. You’re freezing.”
I make a move to go but she stops me. “We should end this, Roman. I don’t want your sisters angry or hurt, and you’ve...you’ve helped enough.”
“No,” I say so forcefully, her eyes widen. “I’m seeing this through to the end. I told you that right from the beginning and I’m a man of my word.”
Really, Roman. Is that the only reason you can’t walk away from this?
“But your sisters—”
“I’ll deal with them.” I put my arm around her and we hurry back to the villa. Once inside I carry her shivering body up the stairs to the shower. “We need to warm you up.” I peel the zipper down on her dress, and there is something so completely open and honest about this sweet, vulnerable woman as she stands there stark naked, gazing up at me, I could fucking sob. The world might not have wanted her, but I sure as hell do.
I’m in love with her. So lost in her, I’ll never find my way out. Not that I want to. I might have been engaged, but this is the only woman who’s ever truly mattered to my heart. I strip down and help her into the shower, ignoring my pinging phone for the time being. Right now, Peyton needs my attention.
