Page 75 of Tainted Ties

When I stepped out of the bathroom after freshening up, I didn’t expect to find Roman sitting on my bed, elbows resting on his knees, staring down at the floor.

“You waited for me.”

He looked up, still slouched and I hadn’t noticed the dark rings around his eyes until now.

I know what I want.

His words replayed in my head, sending my heart skipping beats.

When Roman spoke, his voice came out rough. “What are we doing, baby?”

I stood still as a statue, unsure of how to answer him.

“Hm?” he urged on. “Tell me…” He stood, closing the distance between us in slow strides. “Why can’t I get you out of my head?”

His words slammed into me with such force that I didn’t know whether to cry or scream.

He appeared drawn as if it truly pained him to be near me.

I swallowed thickly, unsure of what to do with his confession.

If he was mad at me, then I was mad at him, for the exact same reason. He was the center of every thought I had, and I hated it.

I gathered my wits before answering him, “I don’t know.”

His laugh was a deep rumble, causing my entire body to vibrate from the sound before his hand shot out, wrapping around my neck, and pushing me against the wall, knocking the breath out of me.

Pain seared through my back from the assault, but I didn’t say anything.

Pain numbed all else, a way to dull my thoughts and emotions.

“You don’t know,” he mocked.

Our eyes locked in a silent battle.

Despite his aggression, I saw warmth in the depths of his eyes, a soft contrast to what he was.

I panted as his fingers dug into my skin, unwilling to squirm under his scrutiny.

“Then let me enlighten you,” he rasped. “I don’t only want you; Icraveyou.”

My pulse picked up erratically, heightening my senses, and making me absorb his words intensely.

He couldn’t want me. I was a pawn in his game.He didn’t want me.

Tears threatened to slip free, burning the backs of my eyes. “You’re lying.”

Roman’s thumb caressed the pulse point on my neck as he shook his head. “No,anima mia. You’re the liar here and I hate liars.”

A tear escaped from the corner of my eye and he leaned down, kissing it away, causing another to slip free from his affection.

That familiar wrinkle between his brows appeared in worry.

I couldn’t keep up with him.

One second, he had my throat in a death grip and the next, he kissed my tears away.

When I stayed silent, he slapped the wall beside my head, making me jump and mold into the surface. “Fuck you,Aurora.”

---