Page 197 of Lethal Legacy

“I wish the kids hadn’t seen it.”

“They needed to.” His smile fades. “She’s terrorized them for years. And I’ve let it happen for too long. She needs to know she can’t treat the kids like accessories, and they need to know I’ve got their back.”

I’ve got their back,I note sadly.Not we.

I wrap my arms about his neck and bury my head in his shoulder, savoring the feel of his bulk against me, the muscular heat of him through my thin silk dress. Over his shoulder I can see Ofelia blushing and smiling as a very proud-looking Matvei guides her across the dance floor. Mickey is in a corner by the bar, deep in animated conversation with a business acquaintance of Roman’s who builds some kind of computer stuff. Masha is sprawled across Katerina’s lap, beaming as the doting group of matrons alternately pinch her cheek and feed her treats, paying her exorbitant compliments in Russian. Seeing me watching her, she gives me a crumb-smeared grin and waves energetically. I wave back, blowing her a kiss over Roman’s shoulder, and the matrons all sigh and clap their hands appreciatively.

I catch a glimpse of Inger across the room, staring balefully at us, Nikolai obediently holding her glass as well as his own. She’s beckoning to Ofelia, who is pointedly ignoring her, and frowning at Masha, who seems oblivious. Mickey is too absorbed by his conversation to notice her.

I should feel guilty, but I don’t. I really don’t. I’ve seen the damage Inger has inflicted on her children. I hope that whatever comes, Roman continues to care for them as he has until now.

“The kids need you,” I whisper against his ear. “They love you, Roman. Don’t forget that.”

“What about you?” He pulls back and stares at me, something dark and fierce in his eyes. “No,” he says roughly when I don’t immediately answer. “Don’t answer that. Come with me for a moment.” He leads me off the dance floor without waiting for me to answer, taking me through one of the exits and into a private office that is dark. The door shuts behind us with an audible click, and he turns the lock. Neon light streams through the slatted blinds over the window, falling across a wide leather desk.

“What—”

But Roman’s mouth stops my question. He takes my clutch out of my hands, then slips his hands under my ass and me onto the desk, pulling my dress up as he does. His mouth is hard and hungry, and after the long days of separation, his touch fires me like a lit match to a pile of fuel.

He slips fingers between my legs before I have time to object, manipulating me with such mastery I’m whimpering in seconds.

“You’re the most beautiful goddamn woman in that room,” he growls, his lips and fingers driving me so fast toward orgasm I can barely catch my breath. “And I have to fuck you.”

He doesn’t need to ask if I’m ready. And I have not even the remotest thought of refusing. When his cock leaps free, I’m already gasping with need.

He fucks me hard and deep, my legs wrapped around his back, his arms holding me from falling back on the desk. In the shifting neon lights his face is dark and set, his eyes boring into mine as he thrusts into me, hitting every place he needs to drive me into insanity.

Part of me wants to make him slow down, to savor this, to try to talk.

Another part of me just wants to take what he is offering. To lose myself in the bliss that binds us when we do this, the place where our bodies meet and there is no need for words or anything else.

He doesn’t hold back, doesn’t try to tease me. He drives me straight to the orgasm I need, pushing me ruthlessly over the edge, and for once, he doesn’t put his hand over my mouth when I scream. He explodes as my first spasm hits, pumping into me with a hot urgency utterly unlike his customary control.

For a long moment we stay there, his arms wrapped around me, my legs holding him inside me. Then gradually he withdraws, handing me the tissue box on the side of the desk, turning away as I clean myself.

His eyes no longer meet mine, and I feel cold unease stealing through me again.

I can’t help but feel this was a goodbye fuck.

When I turn around to face him, he tugs my dress down and smooths it with a half smile that I seize like a starving man would food. I twine my fingers with his. “The matrons in there will certainly be talking when they see us walk back in there together, looking like this.”

“Every one of them knows you belong to me. Now every man does, too.” There’s a certain savagery in his voice, an unsmiling menace, that sends another surge of unease through me. He withdraws his hand from mine.

“Roman.” I put my hand on his face, trying to make him look at me. “Tonight, after the ball—can we talk?”

His eyes meet mine properly, and for a moment the pain in them takes my breath away. I’m about to ask what’s wrong, but a knock at the door interrupts us.

“Lucia!” Ofelia’s voice is muffled. “Are you in there? I need you.”

Roman hands me my clutch and nods at the door. “Duty calls, Miss Lopez.” His sardonic drawl is back, eyes the same glittering mask he’s worn all night.

I walk ahead of him to the door, horribly aware that he didn’t agree to talking with me after the ball.

“Matvei’ssonice!” Ofelia’s eyes shine as she leans over the powder room sink, reapplying her lip gloss. “I’ve never really talked to him that much, you know? But he picks his sister up from the same Russian class I go to, and guess what? He said he’s been watching me for ages! He even hangs around sometimes to listen to me practice piano afterward. He said he wanted to ask me out after the Holy Week parade, but he was too nervous. Can you believe that?Hewas too nervous to askmeout!”

She shakes her head, beaming, as she washes her hands. There are several private powder rooms adjacent to the restrooms, each fully stocked with all manner of cosmetics. We’re taking a breather in this one, which, given my little encounter with Roman, is a welcome chance to fix my makeup and gather myself.

“Of course he was nervous.” I tilt her chin up and rest my own on her shoulder, meeting her eyes in the mirror. “I very much doubt he’s ever met anyone so elegant, intelligent, and beautiful in his life. Not to mention kind, talented, and caring.”

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