Page 5 of Romi

“I buy run-down properties, do them up, and then sell them for profit,” I said, glancing at her.

She was definitely shocked now.

“Is that so hard to believe?” I asked, with a chuckle as she turned in her seat to look at me better.

“Eh, no, it’s just a shock because I had no idea you were into that. Tell me about it?” Sonia replied, sounding very interested and a little excited by the idea.

Her interested gaze on me and the excitement in her eyes made me want to preen. I had her complete attention, and I liked it. I wanted more. So, I told her all about my latest project, a flat in London. The building work was complete, but I still needed to install a bathroom and decorate it. She seemed very impressed that I was doing most of the work myself, and I couldn’t help but bask in her admiration.

Sonia’s interest spurred me on to continue talking and I told her about the properties I had previously completed, too. I had been involved in this sideline for a few years now and had used the opportunity to learn all I could from the different tradesmen I employed. I really liked working with my hands and creating something beautiful from scratch, just like she did.

Sonia smiled at me, nodding encouragingly as I continued to talk. Her big eyes filled with awe as she hung on my every word, and I practically burst with pride. I loved how Sonia looked at me with renewed respect. I was thrilled when she peppered me with questions about my projects. It felt good to discuss them with someone who had a like-minded interest.

It wasn’t often that I told people about my sideline. I was a private person, and I liked to keep that side of me separate from the Bratva soldier I had been born. Also, I kept it to myself because I wanted it that way. This sideline, these little projects, were entirely my own and had nothing to do with the Bratva or my cousins and their legitimate businesses. I liked that. I enjoyed that I was my own boss and my own man with my own business, and nobody could tell me what to do or not do or how I needed to behave.

When I took on another project, I let myself get lost in the creative process where I could simply be myself without all the baggage that came with the other side of my life. It was also a way for me to establish my own identity beyond being a Rominov. I loved being a Rominov. Still, I was adopted into the family, and despite being totally accepted by them, I had never felt that I really deserved my position in the brotherhood or my share in the family business. I knew that I had worked hard to earn both, but regardless, at times, I still felt like things were handed to me because of who my adopted father was.

So, running my own property development business, however small, gave me a sense of self-worth, ownership, and achievement. It was mine and mine alone, and I enjoyed that. Nevertheless, discussing it with Sonia and seeing her excitement had me wishing it were something we could do together. If only!

Pulling into the driveway of the country Estate where we lived, I sighed. That was a pipe dream and something I shouldn’t even be thinking about, I reminded myself. Even so, I had thoroughly enjoyed our chat and was back to feeling more comfortable in Sonia’s presence. My cock was still sporting a semi, but it was bearable, and I was pleased to be in control again. Maybe things wouldn’t be so difficult after all.

Feeling calmer, I jumped out of the car and rushed around to open the door for Sonia. I offered her my hand to help her out, and as our hands touched, it was as if an electric current passed straight through both of us during the skin-on-skin contact. She gasped. My eyes jerked up to meet hers, and I dropped her hand like it was on fire. I gulped, feeling panicked but unable to move. It seemed neither of us could.

‘Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!’my inner voice was chanting at me. I had a feeling that things had just changed dramatically between us and would never be the same again. I wasn’t quite sure what to think about that, but I knew that if I hadn’t been in trouble before, I was now.

We stood there staring at each other for what felt like ages but were probably no more than a few seconds, unable to tear our gazes away. The air around us practically vibrated with the energy that zinged between us.

Sonia opened her mouth to say something, but before she could get any words out, she was interrupted.

“Sonia!” Nonna’s voice woke us from our trance.

As Nonna pulled Sonia into a tight hug, I took the opportunity to escape. I needed to get away, fast. I grabbed Sonia’s luggage and hurried into the house with it. Leaving the two women behind, I rushed up the stairs, dumped her suitcase in her room and then practically ran to my own room to hide.

As I shut the door and leaned against it, I couldn’t believe what I was doing. I closed my eyes and tried to steady my breath, which was coming out in shallow pants. Oh hell! I was a grown man hiding out in his room to keep from facing the reality that my cousin and I just might have the chemistry I had been dreaming about. Shit!

Running my hands through my hair, I paced from one side of the room to the other. I had thought staying away from Sonia would be bad enough when I believed that my feelings were one-sided, but now, after the way our bodies practically sang from the briefest of touches, everything had become a whole lot worse. Dear God, what was I going to do?

I was,indeed, well and truly screwed.

CHAPTER 4

SONIA

SATURDAY – PRE-GLITZ EVENT

After a restless night, I awoke full of nervous excitement.

All day yesterday, I replayed every part of my interaction with Romi, especially the part where we touched again for the first time in so long. Of course, we’d touched when I’d jumped on him, true, but I was holding his jacket, and his arms around my waist were on top of my clothes, so there was no skin-on-skin contact. When there was, it had been literally electrifying, sending a jolt of fire straight to my core.

All I could think of at the time wasOh my god! What just happened?I knew Romi had felt it, too. That was evident by the way our eyes snapped to one another’s and held in shock. I finally understood the phraselove struck. Every nerve ending in my body seemed to have come alive with that simple touch of his. Oh my! If he could do that with just the brush of his hand on mine, what was it going to be like when we took things further? And, after that touch, I knew it was only a matter of time.

Romi Romivik was mine! Even if he didn’t know it yet, I was determined that he soon would. I jumped up and down on the spot, clapping my hands together and squealing, unable to keep my excitement locked inside any longer.

Just before Nonna shouted my name, interrupting our moment, I was about to ask Romi to meet me later so we could talk more about his projects. I loved hearing all about them, but they also made the perfect excuse to get some alone time with him.

Unfortunately, while Nonna was embracing me, Romi slipped away into the house with my suitcase. I found it in my room later with no sign of the man himself. In fact, he was suspiciously missing for the rest of the evening, and I couldn’t help feeling disappointed about that.

However, I knew he probably had things to do, so I tried hard not to let it affect me too much. After all, the chemistry between us had been undeniable, and it made me think that he might actually be as attracted to me as I was to him. I giggled, feeling elated. I’d thought our reunion had been a complete bust at first, but once Romi started opening up to me about his secret passion, he relaxed, and things took a turn for the better. Then, with that touch, well, I had to admit, that was like the icing on the cake. In retrospect, things couldn’t have gone better. Perhaps seducing Romi wouldn’t be so difficult after all.

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