Page 34 of His Smile
Taking the last bite of his croissant, he sat their emptytray on the nightstand. “No, I do not.”
It stung to hear the answer so bluntly. “I understand,” shegave him an understanding smile. There was an edge of haunted anger in hiseyes, and she knew she must have accidentally forced him to dredge up an oldpainful memory. “I didn’t mean to pry,” she rushed to explain, hopingthat maybe her rambling may shake him from his thoughts. “We can just focus onnow and the future. Like how mine will consist of me either staying at thecompany under a cloud of pity and lack of appreciation or reaching out to theother major dance companies and seeing what they are willing to offer. I mean itwon’t be easy of course, but I think…”
“I do not like remembering the past,” he cut her off with aknowing look that told her that her attempt at changing the subject wasappreciated but ineffective. “Nothing about it is so uniquely tragic that it isworth sharing, nor was it pleasant. All it does is serve to remind me that Ileft a few people alive that more than deserved a final visit from me.”
A muscle twitched at the back of his harsh set jaw, andRahina couldn’t help but raise hand to it and slowly soothe at the jumpingmuscle. Dark eyelashes fanned across his heavy-lidded eyes as he watched hercome closer, settling directly against him until she was just under his nose.Leaning her head back onto his shoulder, she gently urged his lips to cover hersin a slow working kiss. Letting her set the pace, Roman worked his tongueagainst hers only in response to her cautious probing strokes of her own.
“You don’t have to tell me anything,” she said honestly. Thelast thing she wanted was to make him relive something that obviously stilltroubled him. “I’m fine with whatever you’re comfortable giving me.”
A sudden vibrating noise made her jump. Looking over to hisnightstand, she could see his upside-down phone lighting up against the darkwood top. Letting out an angry sigh, Roman reached for the phone and glanced atthe screen before giving it a few taps on the screen and putting it back ontothe table.
The seriousness of the mood between them seemed instantlyaltered by the interruption.
“Ok, I have another question I have been curious about,” sheleaned back and wiggled her eyebrows at him. Scooting back down into the plushcovers, she tugged on his arm for him to follow her lead. Indulging her, helaid down on his side and propped his head up with one arm and gave her awaiting look. “Ok,” she sighed with contentment as she snuggled closer to him.“Tell me what would you have really done if I were to have let Calvin come inthat night?”
“That is easy,” his smirk turned into the large feral grinthat sent shivers of fear coated excitement down her spine. “I would have madesure at the very least he would never play ball again.”
Rahina couldn’t deny the shock she felt at the veiledthreat. On some level, she knew he would say something possessive, but theoutright promise of violence was surprising. “Roman, you can’t be serious. Justfor coming inside?”
Laying a hand on the curve of her hip, Roman leaned forwardand placed a kiss against her lips. Just as she opened her mouth for more, heleaned away and smiled. One by one, he placed the same tender kiss on the riseof each of her cheeks, the tip of her nose, her chin, and lastly her forehead.“Yes, beautiful,” he spoke. “I would have; it’s important you understand that.”
She wasn’t quite sure when their positions changed, but asshe lay there looking up at him, she was reminded that she lured a verydominant man into her life, and could not help but love it. The width of hisbroad shoulders, even in this relaxed position was striking. His hand at herwaist stroked a lazy circular pattern into the sheet that separated them withhis thumb, and though everything was perfectly fine between them, she couldsense the heaviness of his steel gaze waiting for her compliance.
“I understand, but,” she argued. “I have loads of malefriends, and while I think some jealousy in certain situations isunderstandable, I don’t want you to go into killer mode all the time.”
His hand at her waist smoothed its way up the dip and on tothe rounding curve of her hip sending little arcs of heated energy through her.Signaling to her body that there was so much more behind that small touch, moreshe really wanted to explore.
“As long as none of them are trying to fuck you Rahina, Icould care less how many of your friends are male.”
Giving him a sly look that conveyed her skepticism of thatstatement she lifted her arms and wrapped them around his neck, her stomachleaping in excitement as he lowered down further above her letting her armscross behind his neck. “If I did let him in that night, what would have done tome?”
Bending closer, he planted one hand next to her head on thebed. “I would have had to have a long talk with you to ensure you understoodyour new reality.”
Their lips were just a whisper apart, and Rahina had to controlherself to keep from squirming with evident anticipation against the heat ofhis long body. “And what’s my new reality?”
For a man who wore a constant smile, she found it remarkablethat she could still find the subtle shifts in the gesture so breathtakinglyalarming. Wide and cutting, a smile so full of possession and wild powergleamed back at her. “That you belong to me,” he answered deeply, beforeclosing his mouth over hers.
Rahina couldn’t control the little whimper that left herthroat, she didn’t care if he knew just how much she wanted him. She wanted himto know, she wanted him to engulf her in this wildly hot feeling he wasstirring up inside of her. Clutching at his shoulder, she let one hand runthrough his short dark hair sighing into his deepening kiss at the silkysoftness of the texture. One of his knees pushed at hers from between her legs,pushing it further apart. Breaking away from her lips, he covered the thrashingpulse at her neck, sucking and biting before returning back to her mouth. Thatdamn tongue of his would be the death of her. So soft and wet, it filled hermouth, exploring and stroking the desire he was building so high inside of her.Rough fingers scraped across the hot, smooth skin of her shoulders and Rahinacould feel the straps to her tank top and bra being pushed down her arms.
Mummering something deep in his language, he pulled awayjust as he peeled the cups of her bra from her breasts.
Rahina watched mesmerized as his usually keen narrow eyes,widened with feline enamor at the sight of her dark nipples. The pure hungerthat shined back in his gray eyes alarmed her, but she had no time to reactbefore he dove forward. Rahina let out a cry at the sudden wet heat of histongue dragging across one of her sensitive peaks.
Again, he groaned something deep under his breath, somethingshe was positive was a Russian profanity of some sort as one of his handsroughly kneaded one of her breasts.
Governed now by his lust, Roman’s hands moved down her hipsas he placed one last biting suckle to her abused nipple. Pushing down herpajama shorts and panties all in one swipe, he yanked them past her ankles andoff her feet, leaving her completely naked from the waist down.
“Roman,” she pleaded, her voice thick with nervous desire.Everything was moving so fast; she had no control on what was happening.
Straddling one of her legs, Roman pushed himself up furtherso that he could look down at the small trimmed patch of black curls betweenher legs. She could see the muscles in his neck work as he swallowed at thesight. Slate gray eyes darted back to hers, and he gave her a slow, deliberatesmile.
“Rahina,” he whispered. “Do you have any idea what I amgoing to do to you?” Leaning forward, he kissed her briefly, biting at herlower lip. “First, I am going to chain both of your wrists to my bed.” Pickingup each wrist, he placed a meaningful kiss on each before guiding them upwards,above her head and wrapping her hands around the slatted wood of his headboard.Her heart pounded in her chest, but she didn’t move when he pulled back,keeping her hands just where he instructed them. “Then, I am going to tasteevery fucking inch of you.”
Both hands started at her breasts gliding down her narrowwaist and curving in before flaring out along the shape of her hips and movingto her knees. Pushing her knees further apart, he settled himself between them,lowering himself until his face was level with the delta between her legs. Oh,God. Her body was shaking at the anticipation and fear. She never had a man dothis to her before and for a fearful moment, doubt sliced through her.
“No,” she began to pull herself up using the headboard asleverage. “I don’t know if…”
“Do not move,” his command felt like a whip cracking throughthe air. Tightening his grip on the underside of her knees, he jerked her backdown, closer to his face.
