by Tina Martin
And he loved her.
Loved her as a person. Loved the way she moaned and chewed on her lip. Loved the way his body felt fused to hers. Loved the way she loved him.
“I love you, Derra,” he told her.
“I love you, Rom,” she uttered near shattering in his arms.
He could feel her on the verge of coming apart and so he lengthened his strokes in long, slow painstaking ones, holding her as his possession.
Her screams came as soft gasps at first then got increasingly louder as he quickened his strokes while at the same time taking the opportunity to seize her opened mouth. And then he felt something he’d never felt before – the essence of himself flowing into her body as he threw his head back and groaned. He’d never given a woman this part of him, but he desperately wanted her to have it. And when it seemed to never stop, he groaned louder to contain the magnitude of this feeling. He’d never been spun out of control like this but being with her pushed him way beyond his ideals of how fulfilling lovemaking could actually be.
“Romulus!” she screamed now that he released her mouth, feeling him in every way inside of her.
He held her until the last rumble passed through her body. While her breathing was still out of control, he said, “I’m sorry, Derra.”
“What are you sorry about?” she asked searching for understanding in his face, her breathing still erratic. Their bodies still connected.
“This,” he said, plowing into her so hard, the desk moved a few inches backward.
She held on while he continued driving into her with precise strokes, swimming in desire. She tightened the already tight grip on his arm and held on for dear life, taking those strokes – every lick.
He looked at her and kept going. Kept delivering. Kept giving her what her body needed and in a way he wanted to take her.
She looked at him – saw the determined look in his eyes as he loved her this way. He never lost contact with her face – clamped down on his bottom lip with perfect teeth and increased the rhythm of his strokes.
She screamed again – tears came to her eyes at how good she felt as pleasure ripped through her. And he shattered and cried out for her as he exploded again – his whole body stilled as he tried to get used to this feeling. How on earth had he thought making love to her would be the equivalent to other women he’d encountered? It was the complete opposite. There was no desire in him to leave Siderra or walk away from her and end what they had. She would always be his. Nothing would tear him away from his lover. His best friend. His wife.
“I didn’t want our first time to be in your office, but I couldn’t help myself.”
“You don’t see me complaining,” she said, still catching her breath. “If you get this thing out of me, we can go home and do it again.”
His brows raised. “You’re ready for round three after the pounding I just gave you?”
She blushed. “I’m ready for round three, four, five and six. I’ve needed this for so long, I ain’t turning anything down.”
“Then, what are we waiting for?” he asked, slowly easing out of her and stepping into his boxers. “Tell me what I can help you do to close up?”
“You can start by handing me my clothes.”
He grinned. “Can’t move?”
“No. You hammered me to the desk, remember?”
He laughed, scooping her undergarments and clothes.
Chapter 25
Siderra
It’s not until we’re on the way home that I feel the magnitude of what he’s done to me. We made love, and I’m literally aching for more.
I get more as soon as we’re home. He confines me near the stairs, taking a kiss before carrying me up, laying me out on the bed like a piece of cover. He looks down at me like he’s getting used to his body being on top of mine. Inside of mine.
I welcome his weight – love the feeling of being his. Love the feeling of him being in control. Something as simple as the way he’s looking at me right now has my soul on fire.
“What is it?” I ask, lost in his eyes while he’s buried to the depths of my body. He’s so handsome, sometimes I can hardly stand it.
“Can’t a man admire his own wife?”
“Sure he can,” I say, running my index finger across his lips. He brings his face closer to mine. Our breathing is in sync now. Heavy anticipatory breaths rock our chests. I feel him swell inside of me. I’m curious about how that’s possible for a moment – but he doesn’t give me much time to get in my head about it. He’s beginning with some steady strokes – feels a lot different when I’m lying on my back versus being held up on the corner of my desk. His strokes are different. More targeted. Deeper. His eyes are still locked on me, reading my every expression.
He’s relentless in the pursuit of bringing me pleasure. I can’t think much but I know he’s making love to me not for his own pleasure but because he genuinely loves me. I can see it in his eyes. Feel it seeping through his pores. Feel it when he goes deep while holding my gaze. I whimper while holding on to him, then cry out in a sharp moan when I feel my body convulse beneath him.
And then I feel him thick again right before he releases himself inside of me.
Incredible.
We rest. I’m using his beefy chest for a pillow as I make an attempt to breathe normally again. I find his left hand with my right, interlock our fingers and close my eyes. I’m home.
“Derra.”
“Yes,” I say, squeezing his hand.
“There ain’t gon’ be no more sleeping on the couch. I’m all in now, girl.”
I smile against his chest. “Sounds good to me.”
He threads his fingers through my hair. “You’re amazing. I can’t believe I was so worried. I don’t want to sound all mushy but—”
“No, I want you to sound mushy. You can be vulnerable with me, Rom. I know that’s difficult for you.”
“It is,” he admits.
“But you have to learn how to be that way now that we’re one. A team. So be vulnerable.”
“Okay, baby,” he says. “This is me being vulnerable. I want to say thank you.”
“For what?” I ask.
“For never leaving my side through it all. For loving me despite my many flaws. For just being you. For always being a part of me and my family. And I’m sorry it took almost losing you to realize how important you are to me. But I promise you something that I resolved in my heart the day I asked you to marry me. I will always be true to you. You will never have to question my love. I no longer live for my happiness. I live for yours.”
I sit up to look at him. “I love it when you talk mushy to me.”
He smiles. “I meant everything I said.”
“I know. I love you, Romulus.”
“I love you, Siderra.”
I leave a kiss on his lips, then lay my head on his chest again.
Epilogue
Siderra had packed her bags the day after Romulus told her about their honeymoon plans. Two weeks later, they were ready to leave, but first, the family wanted to come by to spend the evening with them before their early morning flight.
Bernadette embraced Siderra and said, “You’re going to fit in just fine with us St. Claire woman. You’ve already shown a determined spirit with the most complicated of my sons. I always knew you two would end up together.”
“You did?”
“I did. I could see it every time you looked at him. You had that same look I had when I used to look at Mason and wish he was mine. But, you got him now and that’s all that matters.”
“I do, and I’m never letting him go, Mrs. Bernadette.”
“That’s Mama Bernadette to you now, daughter-in-law.”
Siderra smiled warmly.
Bernadette took her by the hands and said, “You two go on this honeymoon and have the time of your lives. You deserve it.”
“Thank you.”
“Romulus,” Regal said patting him on the shoulder.
“What�
�s up, Regal?”
“How’s the transition from friends to lovers been?” Regal asked.
“Why do you want to know?”
“Just curious, you know, in case I want to try something like that one day since I’m the last man standing. Is it different having a woman up in your crib?”
Ramsey chuckled as he approached them. “I hear you starting already, Regal.”
“He ain’t got nothing else to do since Felicity’s not here,” Royal said.
“I was simply asking Rom a question. Y’all married men gotta give a brother some advice. Won’t be long before somebody comes along and try to snatch up your boy.”
Romulus chuckled, his gaze never leaving Siderra. He counted it a blessing to have her as a part of his life—a permanent part that he didn’t have to worry about being taken away. She was his.
“A better question is, how does it feel to marry the woman you know was made just for you?” Ramsey asked him.
“It feels good.” Romulus smiled. “It feels real good.”
“So you don’t feel like she’s crowding your space?” Regal asked.
“Not at all. My space would feel empty if she wasn’t in it.”
“That’s how you know you got the right one,” Royal said.
“Are y’all packed and ready to go?” Royal asked.
“Yep…packed and ready.”
“Ay, do me a favor,” Regal said.
“What’s that?”
“Don’t stay in the hotel the whole time. We need to put some space in between these babies.”
Ramsey shook his head. “Why must you concern yourself with married people’s business?”
“I’m just saying,” Regal said. “We’re still trying to get used to pretty, little Rianne being around. One grandbaby at a time.”
“It may be a little too late for that, anyway,” Romulus said. “We probably already got something brewing. It’s hard for me to keep my hands off of her,” he said, watching Siderra from across the room.
Ramsey smiled, slapping hands with his brother.
Royal smirked.
Regal looked shocked.
“It’s not official, but I have a feeling,” Romulus said.
He looked over at Siderra again, watching her smile back at him. In her, he saw his future. His children. He saw the love they would share. He anticipated the journey of their lives, continuing from when they were two friends in college, and now, man and wife. He broke away from his brothers to walk across the room to her.
Siderra glanced up at him and chewed on her lip as he approached. In him, she saw the man that had always been by her side. The man that had changed for her. She saw the father of her children – the man who would always and forever be her best friend.
“Can I steal her for a moment ladies?”
“Of course,” Gemma said, all smiles.
When Gianna and Gemma walked away, he asked, “Are you enjoying yourself?”
“I am. What about you?”
“Definitely.”
“I saw you looking at me.”
He smiled. “Guilty as charged. In my defense, you are so beautiful, I can’t help but stare.”
Siderra blushed. “Oh. Stop it.”
“I mean that. Hey, you know we can boot them out early so we can have one last rendezvous before our flight leaves.”
Siderra chuckled. “Rom, you’ll have me all to yourself for two weeks.”
“What’s your point, baby? You know I can’t get enough of you.”
Siderra wrapped her arms around him, inhaling the scent of the man she loved – one she thought she’d never have –but now he was all hers – mind, body and soul.
Romulus leaned down, kissed her lips then said, “I love you, Siderra St. Claire.”
“And I love you, Romulus St. Claire,” she replied, fully wrapped in his embrace.
~*~
Reading Group Guide
ROMULUS (A St. Claire Novel)
In the opening, Romulus expresses his concerns to Dr. Langston about being unable to connect with his feelings. Do you understand his struggle?
Why do you think it’s so difficult for Siderra to tell Romulus how she feels about him?
Do you agree with Romulus’ tactic of waiting until he’s emotionally prepared to date Siderra?
What is your first impression of Jamar? Is he a good match for Siderra?
Felicity tells Siderra that she’s using Jamar as a placeholder. What are your thoughts? Is Felicity right?
Is Romulus’ obvious jealousy a turnoff?
When Romulus and Siderra get their friendship back on track, they share dinner together during taco night. Do you think Romulus intended to kiss her, or was it something that just happened?
When Siderra and Romulus’ friendship comes to ahead, she gives him a piece of her mind. Do you think she handled this the right way?
Do you understand Romulus’ reluctance to be intimate with Siderra?
Does being friends first add a better foundation to a marriage?
Thank you for reading, Romulus (A St. Claire Novel). I truly hope you’ve enjoyed it. If so, please take a moment to support me and my work by:
-Writing a brief review on the website where you purchased your book.
-Subscribing to my new releases email so you’ll know what’s coming next.
-Liking my Facebook page.
-And please visit my website: www.tinamartin.net
Thank you for your support!
Do you want to know how Ramsey St. Claire and Gianna Jacobsen initially met? If so, get The Boardwalk Bakery Series, consisting of the books: Baked With Love, Baked With Love 2 and Baked With Love 3.
Want to read Royal and Gemma’s story? Get Royal (A St. Claire Novel) today!
Discover other books by Tina Martin:
St. Claire Series
*All books in this series are standalone novels and are full, complete stories. Read them in any order.
Royal
Ramsey
Romulus
The Boardwalk Bakery Romance
*This is a continuation series that must be read in order.
Baked With Love
Baked With Love 2
Baked With Love 3
The Marriage Chronicles
*This is a continuation series that must be read in order.
Life’s A Beach
Falling Out
War, Then Love
The Blackstone Family Series
*All books in this series are standalone novels and are full, complete stories. Read them in any order.
Evenings With Bryson
Leaving Barringer
Forever Us: Barringer and Calista Blackstone (A short story follow-up to Leaving Barringer. You must read Leaving Barringer before reading this short story)
The Things Everson Lost
A Lennox in Love Series
*All books in this series are standalone novellas and are full, complete stories. Read them in any order.
Claiming You
Making You My Business
Wishing That I Was Yours
Caught in the Storm with a Lennox (A Short Story Prequel to Claiming You)
Before You Say I Do
Mine By Default Mini-Series:
*This is a continuation series that must be read in order.
Been In Love With You, Book 1
When Hearts Cry, Book 2
You Belong To Me, Book 3
When I Call You Mine, Book 4
Who Do You Love?, Book 5
Forever Mine, Book 6
The Champion Brothers Series:
*All books in this series are standalone novels and are full, complete stories. Read them in any order.
His Paradise Wife
When A Champion Wants You
The Best Thing He Never Knew He Needed
Wives And Champions
The Way Champions Love
His By Spring
The Accidental Series:
*This is a continuation series that must be read in order.
Accidental Deception, Book 1
Accidental Heartbreak, Book 2
Accidental Lovers, Book 3
What Donovan Wants, Book 4
Dying To Love Her Series:
*This is a continuation series that must be read in order.
Dying To Love Her
Dying To Love Her 2
Dying To Love Her 3
The Alexander Series:
*Books 1-4 must be read in order. Books 5, 6,7 and can be read in any order as a standalone books.
The Millionaire’s Arranged Marriage, Book 1
Watch Me Take Your Girl, Book 2
Her Premarital Ex, Book 3
The Object of His Obsession, Book 4
Dilvan’s Redemption, Book 5
His Charity Challenge, Book 6 (Heshan Alexander and Charity Eason)
Different Tastes, Book 7 (An Alexander Spin-off novel. Tamera Alexander’s Story)
As Long As We Got Love, Book 8 (Family Novel)
Non-Series Titles:
