Page 74 of More Than Nothing
“I was powerless.” Elenie slid past him and stood up. Pacing over to the double doors, she looked out at the trees. “This view is unreal. I could look at it forever.” She clasped both hands above her head and gave a feline stretch.
In an instant, he lost all power of thought as the blood raced south to his cock.
“Unreal,” he echoed, his eyes fixed on the sliver of bare skin between the waistband of her jeans and the hem of her t-shirt. He knew how it would feel under his fingers, how silken she would be against his rough hands.
The thump of Roman’s heart beat a pulse in his throat and he wasn’t even sure if Elenie had spoken again. How did she do this to him? How could she take all the strength from his legs without being aware of the effect she had on him?
To prove to himself that he could move, he pushed up from the bed and walked to the window. Pausing behind her, Roman caught Elenie’s eyes in the faint reflection in the glass. His own burned with an intensity that would have surprised him if he hadn’t already been aware of the fire blazing through his body. She was still, shoulders slightly tense. And though his stomach trembled with the effort it took him to hold back, Roman lifted gentle hands to trace down the outsides of her arms.
“I think I could look at you forever,” he said to her reflection, voice low and gruff. “But maybe we should head downstairs and put a little distance between us and my soft, soft bed.” He forced a wry smile onto his lips, hoping to God there would be another time when she might want to visit his room.
She turned slowly from the window. Her eyes searched his face. He didn’t know if she found what she was looking for. Each breath dragged from Roman’s chest. Elenie took a step nearer.
“Do you know what I think?” she asked.
Her hands fluttered slightly as if to reach for him, and his muscles clenched in anticipation of her touch. It was all he could do not to lean into her.
Roman shook his head. “What do you think?”
“I think that maybe we’re wearing too many clothes.”
Chapter 35
Elenie
She wasn’t sure where she found the words that hung in the air between them. Couldn’t believe she’d let them escape. But her need for him was so huge and his care for her feelings so breathtaking, they’d fallen naturally from her mouth. Her doubts dissolved. Her common sense evaporated. She knew he wanted her. And her body was burning up from his heat.
She wanted this. Even if it was just once. Even if there was nowhere for it to go.
Roman drew in an audible breath and closed his eyes. “Elenie, you don’t—”
She interrupted him, stepping closer, wrapping her arms around his waist and leaning her cheek against his chest. “I do. I want to. I want you.” Roman’s erection pulsed against her navel and her body tightened in reflex, straining toward him. She couldn’t get close enough. His arms went around her like a vise. For a moment, there was no sound other than their labored breathing. “I want this so much.”
“You have no idea,” his voice rumbled against her ear, “how desperately I have wanted to hear you say that.”
Elenie lifted her chin and pressed a kiss at the base of his neck, where he’d undone the top button of his uniform. Roman swallowed; his pulse juddered beneath her lips. Remembering how she’d looked at his throat from across the table at the gala dinner, she marveled at this opportunity to fulfil what she’d thought of as a hopeless fantasy and dotted more soft kisses on every part of his neck she could reach. He stood frozen beneath her hands and her mouth.
“Elenie—” Roman’s voice was hoarse.
“You smell so good,” she murmured. “It’s why I ended up on your bed earlier. You smell amazing and your sheets smell of you. I think I’m addicted.”
The sound he made was half-laugh, half-moan. His hands moved from her waist to her hair. “No, it’s you who smells amazing. You only have to be near me and your scent makes me so fucking hot.” He took a handful of her hair and pressed it to his nose. She felt his cock flex against her stomach. “See?”
Elenie’s whole body was as tight as a bow. “Roman. Please.” She didn’t know what she was asking for.
He lifted her chin and their lips touched. Elenie’s mouth opened beneath his. His tongue dipped inside to meet hers, tasting and stroking. Their breath mingled. She made a strangled noise which sounded ridiculous to her ears, but seemed to inflame Roman, who swore and pulled her closer.
Taking hold of each side of her t-shirt, he lifted it swiftly over her head. The cool air caressed her skin and she wished with all her heart that she owned sexier underwear.
“I only had two bras,” Elenie whispered through numbed lips, “and you cut one of them in half.”
Roman lifted a finger to trace each cotton strap and the swell of her breasts. Fire blazed in his eyes as he followed the path of hishands. Elenie couldn’t breathe. “I’ll buy you more. I’ll buy you all the bras you want.”
Her eyelids fluttered closed as his hands slid around her back and undid the clasp. It wasn’t a smooth maneuver. The fact that his fingers fumbled slightly made her smile. Gave her the courage to open her eyes again as he swept the straps gently off her shoulders and dropped her bra to the floor.
“Christ, Elenie. Maybe I won’t buy you any bras at all.” He brushed one large thumb over the nipple of her left breast; she arched into his touch.
“Roman.” His name was a plea on her tongue as he stroked her again.
