Page 78 of Forbidden Boss (Manhattan Billionaires)

“You’ve given me more than a few.” I laughed at the twinkle in his eye and turned toward the door that Keith opened for me.

“Enjoy your weekend away,” the driver told me quietly, and I smiled at him and squeezed his arm in response. Beyond Keith was the airplane crew including a number of hostesses waiting for us at the top of the stairs. I had a moment of near panic at the sight of the jet, suddenly feeling like an impostor who didn’t belong here at all, but Rome’s presence at my back steadied me. We climbed the steps and entered the jet, and I delighted in the welcome drinks, the snacks, and the gigantic seats and lounge area.

Rome watched my reaction to everything, his lips kicking at the corners. I arched my brows at him, and he shrugged in response. I settled in my seat, and happiness spread through me like warm honey on a slice of toast. It was rare that I was able to read someone else’s expression that way, that I could have whole conversations without uttering a word. But with Rome, it was possible. Sometimes, I could tell the moment he woke up beside me just by the cadence of his breath over my skin.

On the side table beside my seat waited a glass of champagne, some fresh fruit, and a couple of truffles the air crew had brought over. The snacks looked delicious when they set them down, and they were fabulous, but the longer I looked at them, the less I wanted to eat them.

“Still queasy?” Rome asked quietly, his knee nudging mine.

“A little.”

I hadn’t eaten breakfast this morning—or yesterday, come to think of it. It wasn’t entirely rare. I sometimes skipped breakfast and had huge lunches. Or skipped dinner and woke up ravenous. I’d never been set in my routines.

I tried a tiny sip of champagne and grimaced before setting the glass down.

“That bad, huh,” Rome asked sardonically, watching me. “That’s not poor-quality stuff, you know.”

“No, it’s not that,” I said, then tilted my head. “Well, maybe a little. I don’t know.”

Rome’s hand landed on my leg, and he stroked softly. “Try to have some fruit, at least.”

The warmth and worry in his voice made my insides melt to goo. I nodded and nibbled on a strawberry and was glad when it didn’t upset my stomach. Then our glasses and dishes were being whisked away, and we were getting ready for takeoff.

“I’ll tell you what, this is a whole lot better than cattle class,” I said as we reached a cruising altitude, and the cabin crew came through with more menus and snacks. There was a full-size TV across from us, and I discovered my seat had massage features.

Rome grinned at me and nodded at a few items on the menu that the flight attendant hurried to bring to us. I found myself snuggled into his side while he fed me little bits of food, feeling cherished and warm and safe.

“I wish I could tell my girlfriends about this,” I said, wiggling my toes. “Not that it would be anything new for them at this point, but at least I could share it with them.”

Rome went still beside me, then his fingers began to make shapes over my waist and hip. “What have you told them about us?”

“Nothing,” I said. “I’ve signed an NDA, remember?”

“You haven’t even told them we’re seeing each other?”

I sat up and frowned at him. “I wasn’t going to lie to them. They’re my friends!”

He answered my frown with one of his own. “But it’s not a lie.”

“Notnow. But it would have been before. And now… How would I explain?”

“You’d tell them you work for me and are also sleeping with me, and you’re deliriously happy about it all.”

I pursed my lips and gave him a flat look, which made him grin.

“Is that a lie?”

“Not technically, no.”

“What about untechnically?”

“Then yes, it is a lie. Because there’s still… I still am your companion, Rome. Officially.”

“Unofficially too,” he noted.

I nodded. This whole thing was confusing. “I just haven’t spoken to them about it yet, is all.”

“Are you embarrassed of me?” There was a note in Rome’s voice—a hesitation I’d never heard before. An edge of vulnerability that was completely at odds with the confident man he was.

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