Page 24 of Three Hearts Hideaway

Finally, the hidden panel opened. He couldn’t keep the smile off his face as he watched her silently tip-toe into the hallway, so she wouldn’t disturb Logan or him. She’d changed out of the clothes she wore by the fire. Now in a skimpy pink tank top and those goddamn booty shorts she seemed to like to sleep in, he could hardly contain himself.

When she noticed him in the threshold to his bedroom, she jumped and her hand flew to her chest. “You scared the hell outof me, Roman.” She blew out a calming breath. “What are you doing?”

Roman strode toward her, his heartbeat pounding in his ears. Now or never. “I was waiting for you.”

“Is something wrong?” she asked, her eyes widening with concern as he stopped in front of her. “Did I mess up the backsplash install? Because the grout was being particularly difficult, but I swear I?—”

“Ava, stop.” He kept his voice soft, but firm. “You haven’t done anything wrong.” He took a step closer to her. “You’ve been nothing but wonderful.”

“Oh.” Her gaze explored his face. “What is it then? Is there something else you need me to take care of?”

He pushed her against the wall. A sharp intake of breath left her lips. Trailing a finger across her collar bone, he looked her in the eyes, never breaking their gaze. “Let me take care of you, love. I’m dying to show you how good we can be.”

“We barely know each other, Roman. Should we be doing this?” Ava asked softly, but she didn’t draw back.

He saw the rise and fall of her chest quicken. She definitely wanted this, but she needed to get out of her head. He needed to show her she had nothing to be ashamed of. Nothing to be embarrassed about. Ava was allowed to want him. It didn’t matter that it had been less than a week.

He felt the heat between them every time they were together. Every time he touched her arm or brushed aside her hair. Every time she playfully pushed his shoulder. When she was grinding on his cock and they were both fully clothed.

“That doesn’t matter.” He placed one arm on the wall beside her. “We know enough to recognize we’re attracted to each other. We know we work well together. And you know I’ll take care of you.”

Leaning down, he ran his lips across the side of her neck. She tipped her head ever-so-slightly to the side to give him better access.

“Tell me you want this too,” he breathed in her ear.

“I want this.”

With those words, he bit down on the crook of her neck, and she gave a sharp cry. He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tight as he licked into her mouth.

Ava’s lips parted for him hungrily. Her breathing became ragged against his mouth, and her hands flew into his hair. His tongue danced with hers, and the sweet taste of her was enough to make him weak in the knees. She tugged at his shirt, urging him to deepen the kiss.

Hoisting her legs around his waist, he carried her toward his bedroom. Her ass was round and firm in his hands. He couldn’t wait to see it bare.

“Tell me what you want, Ava,” he whispered against her mouth in between kisses. “I’ll do anything you want. Try anything. Give you anything.”

She was quiet. In her head again.

“There’s no shame here. It’s just me and you. Let me help you explore.”

Ava nodded. Slowly at first, then with more confidence. “Okay.”

“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to you, love. Or let you do to me.” He walked her over to his bed and laid her down gently. “To be honest, I’ve been dying to get you in my bed from the moment I saw you sitting at my bar.”

Staring at him, she seemed shocked. “Really?”

“Are you kidding? Your full lips. Those striking blue eyes. That firm fucking ass. You’re a total smokeshow.” He nipped at her bottom lip.

She blushed at his words. “And you weren’t…um…you weren’t freaked out by all the things on the voice message?”

She looked so earnest he couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

“God, Ava.” He nuzzled her neck, inhaling her heady lavender scent. “No part of me was freaked out.”

Her hands pushed at his chest, and he lifted himself to meet her gaze.

“No part at all?”

Roman’s hand moved to his belt, unbuckling it and pulling it out of the belt loops slowly. He grasped her hands and placed them above her head. “None.” He laced the belt around her wrists like the voice message had mentioned. “It made me want to do every one of those things to you.”

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