Page 27 of His Smile
“I didn’t…I mean I never had that done,” she admittednervously, looking over his shoulder, fixating her gaze on the river near theedge of the car lot. “I didn’t know how to ask for it.”
“Baby,” he said soothingly, pushing some of her stray hairsback behind her ears. “A woman should never have to ask.”
Warmed by his words, a newfound confidence settled hererratic heart. Although the lurid details of his plans for their upcomingnights together scared her a bit, she felt wonderfully exhilarated at the sametime. Rahina could practically see the sexual excitement rolling off the man inwaves.
Pulling her off his desk, he sat down and settled her easilyin his lap, draping her legs over one arm of his chair.
Gathering her courage, she stared at her fidgeting fingersas she thought of the best way to change the topic. All last night one questionremained on her mind, a question she could not move on from just yet. “I stilldo not understand fully why you pushed me away that day,” she began. “I knowyou said you did it for my own good but…is it really so dangerous to be nearyou?"
Not hearing a reply, she looked to him. The teasing smile hewore faded into a flinty expression as his gaze cut away from her sharply."Yes."
It was as if an invisible wall was rapidly being built brickby brick between them at the reminder of reality by her words caused. Shedidn’t like the distance he put in between them; she didn’t want to see himpull away again. Reaching for him, she curved her hand on his cheek, alwaysenjoying the slightly rough texture of stubble along his jaw. Slowly, theagitated twitching muscle in his jaw slowed to a stop as she stroked her thumbback and forth across it. Gray eyes flicked back to her, and with a feelingthat could only be described as magical, she watched the shift of emotions inhis eyes. Glacial aloofness warmed under her persistence, transforming back tohis usual sly temperament.
Though she did not want to continue to press the subject,she knew that they had to discuss it. They could not go any further in thisrelationship, leaving something so important unsaid. "Am I in danger withyou?"
Sitting farther back his chair, he pulled her back with himand gave her a level look. "Yes, much more so than you normally would bewith your family's dealings."
And although she knew the answer before she asked, hearingit so bluntly confirmed frightened her a bit. "But you won’t let anythinghappen to me, right?"
He tilted his head and grinned at that.
"Mmm Rahina," brushing away some of her strands ofhair, he studied her face as if committing each detail to memory. Letting theinside of his finger sweep delicately down the crest of her cheek and over herlips, he spoke. "Anyone who even has the passing thought of coming afterwhat is mine will feel the after effects of my insanity generations from now.”Laughing at the widening of her eyes, he leaned in and kissed the top of hereyes with a gentleness that contradicted his sinister words on every level.“Honestly, gorgeous, even I cannot begin to imagine what level of depravity Iwould reach."
Seeing that he was serious, she quickly leaned forward,kissing him, she wanted to somehow erase the sudden dark thoughts that enteredhis mind. "Then don’t think of it,” she breathed, kissing his lips again.“Besides, I have more pressing matters that need to be ironed outimmediately," she said, fighting back a growing grin.
One of his dark eyebrows arched, though his eyes remainedfixed on her lips as if contemplating getting another kiss. "And what isthat?"
"You didn't tell me happy birthday," she gave amock pout.
"Well, I already have plans for that," his deepvoice rumbled like a purring lion against her as he bent down to capture herbottom lip in a quick stinging kiss that left her craving more.
There was something so overwhelming about this man, shethought as she sucked in her stinging lip while his hands tightened around her.He was absolutely right; he was playing on an entirely different level thanher. None of the men in her past kissed like he did, with punishing little nipsand devasting hunger that left her out of breath. On one level he scared her,he made her want to back away to safety while at the same time she yearned towork her hands underneath his shirt and feel the hard rippling expanse of hisabs and the hair on his chest. She wanted the fear, she realized, she loved thescary thought of not knowing what this maniacal man would do next. Using hisgrip on her waist, he lifted her easily in the air, she naturally parted herlegs so that she straddled him perfectly as he lowered her back to his lap. Theintimate connection of their bodies separated by the thin material of hertights sent tingling waves through her bloodstream.
"I had planned on giving you a very special and one ofa kind, present," he continued.
Searching his silver eyes, she could see the amusementlurking deep under the surface as his face remained impassive. Unable to keepthe same poker face, she leaned back, and she shook her head as she began tolaugh, covering her mouth with the back of her hand in an attempt contain herlaughter as she predicted what he was going to say.
“No, don’t say it,” she exclaimed, nearly in tears.
Smiling with genuine amusement, Roman kept his large handssplayed on her narrow back, keeping her from leaning too far away. “Oh, yes, itis an ancient Russian birthday tradition, and it will only be my pleasure togive it to you,” he explained with a serious tone, masterfully keeping his facebusinesslike while his eyes glimmered.
Wiping a tear from her eye, she shot him a narrowed look.“Your penis is not a gift, dammit!”
“Just wait until I wrap it up all nice for you,” he growled,letting his hands slide down the flair of her hips to settle on the pert roundsof her ass.
Thoughtfully, she gave a sheepish look as she thought ofsomething. “Just so you know, I’m on the pill and I had a checkup a few monthsago so…I know I’m clean, and…” looking away from his sudden piercing stare, anervous smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “So, I mean if your clean andI’m clean, I don’t really see the need to…”
“You have not been with anyone since Masters?” Roman saidthe point-guard’s name with a savagery that shocked her, making her rememberthe threat he texted her about breaking Calvin’s arm.
“No,” she shook her head. “When was your last relationship?”
“Relationship?” he repeated with a dry laugh. “Years ago. Fucking,on the other hand, the week before I helped you crawl out from your father’sdesk and out the window.”
“Oh,” she thought about his words for a moment. The idea ofhim casually having meaningless sex bothered her. “Well, I want to be clearabout something. I don’t want to just fuck, Roman,” she threw his own term backat him feeling a tiny sense of satisfaction at the trace of surprise in hiseyes. She rarely used the word, and it felt foreign and awkward coming from herlips. But she wanted to make sure he understood she was serious. “This will bea real relationship or nothing.”
Leaning back in his chair, he tilted them both back towardsthe large window behind him, spreading his arms out to either side. “I’m righthere, gorgeous,” He grinned. Grabbing her hand, he laced his fingers on top ofhers and placed them on top of the heated bulge of his pants that sat betweenthem, smiling wider at her shocked inhalation. “And my dick can certainlyattest to that fact that we are not currently just fucking.”
“I’m sorry,” letting out a sigh, Rahina buried her face inhis neck and breathed in the clean smell of him. “I’m beginning to realize I’ma little insecure around you,” she admitted, toying with the material of hiswhite button-down shirt. “I guess it's going to take me a while to get used tothe idea that we’re together now. I kind of expected that I would have to tellyou to get rid of a few girls you had in the wings,” she laughed bitterly.
