Page 32 of Deadly Secrets
Mom.
Roman stood, grabbing onto her waist and steadying her. “Easy there.”
“I meant, upstairs. Are you coming upstairs?” The words tumbled from her mouth. “Not to bed. With me. I meant…”
He put a finger to her lips, shushing her, all the while a grin spreading across his face. “I know what you meant, and yes, I’ll be right across the hall, within shouting distance. The security system is top-notch and armed. You have nothing to worry about.”
Except falling in love with you.
Where hadthatcome from?
Jeez, Brooke. The first good-looking guy who comes along and takes care of you—and whom you feel safe enough to share your childhood story with—and you fall for him.
Figured.
He was so close, looking down on her as he continued to hang onto her hips.
Brooke cleared her throat. “I’m not chasing you out of your own bed. You’ve already gone above and beyond what anyone should do. I can bunk down here on the couch.”
“I have two guest bedrooms. I use one as an office, but I’ll make up the other and sleep in there.”
“I’ll take the guest room. It’s no problem. Really.”
He was still smiling down on her. “Are you always so stubborn?”
This wasn’t stubbornness, this was pure fear. “You haven’t seen stubborn yet.”
He chuckled. “We’re going to figure this out and stop this guy. I promise.”
Brooke opened her mouth to say thank you, and instead found herself going up on tiptoes to kiss him.
Few women had ever surprised Roman in his life.
Brooke Heaton was one of them.
Not only had she just confessed a secret about her past that had to be incredibly hard to share with anyone, now she was kissing him.
Her lips were soft, shy, teasing him into a response.
Truth was, he didn’t need teasing. He’d been hard as a brick since she’d asked him if he was coming with her upstairs.
She was drunk and emotionally vulnerable. While every cell in his body screamed for him to kiss her back—hard and deep—he couldn’t in good conscious take advantage of her.
Through years of controlling his body in and out of the boxing ring, he called up all the restraint and willpower he could. Willpower that had seen him through a lot of trying shit. It had been his savior on more than a few occasions.
Which, unfortunately wasn’t enough onthisparticular occasion.
Surprise!
His lips were already responding, devouring her. His hands, locked on her hips, held her in place as he pressed his pelvis against hers.
All thoughts of backing off, of not taking advantage of her, crumbled into a thousand pieces, disappearing into the ambient light from the fireplace surrounding them. He’d wanted her from the first moment he’d laid eyes on her a year ago, telling himself he needed her only for his team.
Shit, he knew better.
Mine.
He wanted her for him and him alone.
