Page 177 of Dark Romeo

JULIANNA

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We lay under a blanket, naked, squashed together on the bed that barely fit the two of us. I was sated and warm and happier in this tomb-like room with Roman by my side than anywhere else without him. The dawn began to spill into the room. We would have to face the world soon. But not yet.

“Why did you break up with me?” I traced his hard, muscled chest with my finger.

He stiffened. “Does it matter?”

“It does to me. You’re still engaged to her.”

“Rosaline,” he growled under his breath.

I gave him silence, the space to speak. He inhaled long and loud before he spoke. “Rosaline knew about you. She said she saw me leaving my apartment late one night and followed me. I led her straight to you,” he said through gritted teeth.

I traced his jaw and it softened.

Roman turned his dark eyes towards me with a look so intense that my breath caught in my throat. “First, she threatened to come clean about her lies as my alibi. When that didn’t work, she threatened to expose you if I didn’t marry her. I couldn’t let her ruin you.”

I knew there was a reason. I just thought it had been his father who had forced him into a sham of a marriage. I made a face. “So you broke up with me instead of talking to me about it.”

He grimaced. “When you put it that way, it doesn’t sound very smart.”

I rolled my eyes. “Understatement of the century.”

“Okay, I was an idiot.”

“About so many things.”

He tugged me closer so I was sprawled over his body, his warm, hard body under the length of mine causing the lick of desire to rush through me. I could feel him stirring against my hip. “It probably won’t be the last time I act like a fool.”

“Are you telling me that I better get used to it?”

“How long are you planning to stick around?”

I shrugged. “Just for always or so.”

His fingers tightened around me. “Always?”

“Always.” I brushed my nose against his as we made a cave with our breaths and sighed happily as the world was shut out for just a little longer. “I don’t want to live without you. I tried but I can’t. I’m done trying,” I said, repeating words he once said to me.

He let out a low growl and kissed me with an intensity that told me he wanted “always” too. Before I could deepen the kiss, he pulled back and gave me a sad smile. “It’s a beautiful dream. But it’s just a dream, Jules. You’re still a detective. I’m still a Tyrell.”

“What if it didn’t have to be?”

He flinched. “What do you mean?”

“Remember when you asked me if I wanted to run away to Paris with you?”

He licked his lips. And nodded.

“Does that offer still stand?”

His eyes widened. He opened his mouth, then closed it. For once, Roman Tyrell was speechless.

Was he trying to figure out a way to let me down gently? I sniffed. “It’s not that hard a question, Roman.”

He shook his head, still looking dazed. “That offer was never retracted. But Jules, your career, your father…” All the reasons why I told him I couldn’t leave Verona.

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