Page 84 of Tainted Ties

He inched back. “Why?”

I swallowed against the tightness in my throat, finding the courage to say what I needed to. “Because I don’t think I’ll be able to say it back.”

His gaze traveled the length of my face, hand caressing the strands of my hair before leaning down and locking eyes with me. “I’m desperately in love with you,” he proclaimed with a pained smile.

Hearing him say it aloud was different, rendering me speechless.

Those six words seeped into me, becoming a part of me. “You love me?” I asked in wonder.

“Infinitely,” he murmured. “And if all you ever did was hate me, I’d die a happy man knowing you feltsomethingfor me.”

Chapter30

Aurora

And then, I was sucked back into myreality.

“Either you come willingly, or I will send Pip to get you.”

“No,”I rushed out, my heart skipping a beat. “We both know you sending someone over here would end badly.”

“I know,” my father said indifferently. “Figure out a way to come to the house. We have much to discuss.”

I hung up the phone and turned off the faucet that had been running to drown out my voice.

Roman didn’t know I was on the phone with my father, and I wouldn’t tell him either.

It had been weeks since he confessed his love to me and while I hadn’t said it back to him, I had these strong emotions for him that I wasn’t ready to name.

A part of me feared that if I did and something terrible happened, I would be left with irreversible pain.

A knock came through the door, startling me in place.

“Aurora, I’m leaving soon.”

Taking a deep breath, I looked into the mirror once more.It would be one white lie.

Opening the door, I found Roman shirtless, wearing those gray sweatpants that drove me insane, with his hands resting above the doorframe.

Crossing my arms, I avoided the bottom half of his body and how low his sweats sat on his hips. “When will you be home?”

A smirk played on his lips as he tilted his head. “Why? Are you going to miss me?”

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “Someone needs to humble you and fast.”

In an instant, he reached out and pulled me to him, my chest crashing into his. He leaned down, nipping my top lip playfully. “Can that someone be you? I would be most humble for you, baby.”

Roman had been the source of all my smiles recently and it was a fact that I would’ve thought absurd months ago.

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pulled him in closer. “Is that so?”

He hummed, staring at my mouth. “’Tis so.”

I giggled, pressing my lips once against his, savoring the taste of him.

Pulling back, I cleared my throat. “Actually, I also need to go out today.”

He raised his brows. “Oh?”

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