Page 16 of Loving Roman
He’s kind, generous, thoughtful, and patient.
He’s funny and polite, and having him sleep next to me each night has given me a sense of calm and peace I hadn’t realized I needed.
I’m going to miss him.
Roman reaches over and gently takes my hand. “What’s going on in that gorgeous mind of yours?”
I turn my head to the side and skim my eyesover his face, noting the creases at the corners of his eyes, which suggest he laughs a lot, as well as the creases across his forehead, which tells me he also frowns a lot. Probably in thought. He seems to be a person who thinks deeply … about a lot of things.
I squeeze his fingers and smile at him. “I’m thinking about how wonderful you are and how I’ll miss you.”
He returns my grin. “I’ll miss you too.” He rolls to his side, facing me fully, and I mirror his pose. “I was thinking.”
“Uh oh,” I say with a teasing lilt.
He chuckles. “I know. That statement never bodes well.” He leans over and kisses the tip of my nose, and my whole body relaxes further. “But I was thinking … what if we were to agree to meet back here in one year?”
The idea is so very tempting, but I’m sure I’ll be a distant memory by then. “What if you meet someone between now and then?” We have no way of contacting each other. Part of the agreement included not sharing our last names or contact details, which we haven’t needed since we’ve spent every moment together. I don’t even know his address—also something we agreed not to share.
He scoffs. “In the forty-five years I’ve been on this earth, I haven’t met anyone who’s piqued my interest as much as you have, Alice. I doubt it’s going to happen in the next twelve months.”
My heart soars with his words. He always makes me feel seenandattractive. I shrug, aiming for nonchalance. “You never know.”
He drags my lounge closer, slips his fingers through my hair and lightly trails his knuckles down the side of my face and along my jaw, tilting my head up when he reaches my chin. Leaning forward, he presses his lips to mine in a slow caress that has me squirming.
“Impossible,” he grumbles against my lips, as he pulls my body flush with his. “Nobody is as brilliant as you are inside”—he taps the side of my head—“and out.” His eyes drop to my mouth. “Your smile and the way your eyes shine captivate me and keep me hostage.” Dropping his forehead to mine, he releases a long breath, sending warm air that tastes like him cascading across my lips. “I wish things could be different.”
“Me too,” I murmur, stroking his hair away from his strong forehead. I capture his warm brown eyes with mine, thinking how soulful they are. “Let’s enjoy this last day and night and not worry about the future.” Sliding my hand around his neck, I direct him closer and steal the words about this being our last night together, floating across from the cabana next to ours. “Kiss me … like you mean it, Roman,” I whisper against his lips.
I can’t believe how I’ve managed to stay in the moment during this vacation. It’s something I struggle to do in my daily life, but have found easy to do with Roman. He’s held my attention captive, and I’ve loved every moment of it.
He nods, then captures my lips with his, stealing my breath with every kiss.
As the sun dips below the horizon—turning the orange and pink slashes to soft peach and indigo—so does the temperature, causing me to shiver. Roman is quick to snuggle in close and wrap his arms around me, sharing his body heat. He kisses my temple and tightens his hold, making every muscle in my body sink into him.
It’s easy to feel like we’re the only couple in the world, huddled on the outdoor recliner, perfect for two on Roman’s balcony, until sounds from a group of teens on the sidewalk below break the quiet of the evening.
This is what true peace feels like. Watching the sun set inthe arms of a man who accepts me wholeheartedly. While we haven’t shared personal details about our lives, we’ve gotten to know each other pretty well on a level that surprises even me after less than one week together.
He was so unexpected. He opened my eyes and my heart to a world I’d long forgotten. And while I don’t think I’m in love with Roman—because that would be crazy, right?—I have affection for him … alotof affection if I allow myself to be honest. Affection for the man he is and for the woman I am when I’m with him.
This vacation has been incredible, and I know it’s mostly thanks to the man wrapped around me, keeping me warm. I almost don’t recognize the woman I am in his embrace; she’s so far removed from the person who arrived at this inn six days ago. The woman, who is usually a stickler for following the rules and devotes her entire life to her only son. The woman who rarely, if ever, does anything just for herself is not me. Roman’s made it easy for me to step out of my comfort zone and pursue my happiness.
Days spent hiking and photographing the coastal scenery, as well as enjoying kayaking and paddle boarding. Yoga in the cool of the morning, walks along the beach in the evening, and making love all through the night. And while my vacation comes to an end tomorrow, I vow to make time to explore the hiking trails and enjoy everything nature has to offer close to my new home.
He dips, kissing my neck, and I tip my head to the side to allow him better access, releasing a full-body sigh. His soft lips, surrounded by his short bristles, feel delicious against my skin and send goosebumps radiating across my body. Pulling away, he drops his forehead to my shoulder and releases a loud sigh.
“Take me inside,” I murmur into the night. “I want to spend our last night together wrapped in your arms.”
Immediately, he stands with me in his arms and turns tohead inside without uttering a single word. No words are needed. We’ve learned to speak without words, our bodies doing all the communicating needed in the dark. My body tingles for what’s coming, but the muscle in my chest squeezes at the thought of tomorrow when I have to say goodbye. I push the thought away and focus solely on this moment with Roman. Missing him will be tomorrow’s problem.
11
–roman–
I press into Alice,trying to meld her body permanently to mine. Our kisses linger, neither of us wanting to separate, but eventually, we need to take a breath. Our lips stay connected as we each suck oxygen into our lungs.
I’ve been dreading the moment we have to say goodbye. I want to stay in this bubble we’ve created forever. I want to confess that I’ve fallen in love with her. That I don’t want to go our separate ways. I want to know where she lives and whether we can make a relationship work somehow. I want her phone number and last name. I want to maintain contact.
