Page 47 of His Smile
“Roman,” her tone waspleading. “Just let me explain.”
Bringing his eyes up andback to hers, she saw the glimmer of restrained anger. “You will explain whenwe get home, get in the car.”
“But…” if he would justlisten to her, she could easily tell him that her seeing Dev was just part ofher elaborate plan to kill two birds with one stone, getting Dev off her backand breaking the news of her newfound control over her life to her mom.Although admittedly as she looked up into Roman’s hard gaze and rememberedDev’s angry expression, she realized it was a very poor plan.
“I will not ask you again,my beautiful Rahina," his eyes travelled the length of her body withpredatory purpose. "Either get in yourself, or I will put you in, but if Ihave to do it…” he paused meaningfully and whispered darkly. “I will take thedress as payment.”
Stunned, Rahina stepped awayfrom him, shakily turning to step into the open door. Scooting to the end ofthe bench seat, she looked back to the door, and her mouth fell open in a gaspas it was firmly shut, with Roman still standing on the outside. What was hedoing?! Reaching for the handle, a streak of panic went through her when sherealized it was locked.
“Roman!” she shouted fromthe backseat, looking through the tinted glass at him. Roman made no outwardsign of hearing her shout.
Movement from the frontcaught her eye, and she saw Mosca pulling himself into the driver’s seat.
“Mosca, unlock the back…”her words were cut off as the one-way mirrored partition between them rose tocut her off. “You traitor!” she yelled at the lieutenant who blithely ignoredher.
Scrambling on the seat, shelooked around for her clutch purse and froze. Vaguely, she could now rememberthe sliding feeling of her gold clutch being slid from her arm as she turnedaway from Roman. Angry and a little afraid, she sat without her phone and alonein the backseat as the car pulled away from the curb. Lights from cars andstreet lamps passed her by in a distant blur as she stared off into the darkinterior of the quiet back seat. Tapping her heel restlessly against thefloorboard, she thought of Roman’s unreadable smile and glittering gaze. Shecould not let him control her like this! She should have stood there unmovingon that curb and told him regardless of his threats just exactly why she wasthere. Though, just remembering his threat to toss her into the car and stripher naked sent ripples of nervous awareness through her. Who was she kidding?He would have happily made good on his threat if she defied him, and therealization only angered her.
By the time the vehiclepulled to a stop in front of Roman’s large house, she practically burst throughthe door Mosca opened for her. Shooting him a savage glare that she hopedconveyed all the betrayal she felt for the lieutenant, she stepped past him asthe familiar growl of her yellow roadster pulled into the drive. Somehow thecute sports car made Roman look no less dangerous as he easily stepped out.Tossing the keys past her to Mosca, Roman stopped in front of her as thelieutenant walked to her car and started it up.
“Are you going to let meexplain, now?” she folded her arms over her chest, in a pose she hoped conveyedindignant rebellion.
His expression was flat ashe commanded her. “Inside.”
“No!” She stamped her heelonto the concrete. “I am tired of being ordered around as if you are just waitingto kill me when I haven’t even done anything!”
His grip on the back of herneck startled her. Frightened, she pushed fruitlessly at his chest as hebrought her closer to him until he was staring directly at her. “I come home tofind you dressed like this,” he said with a sneer while eyeing her revealinggown. "Meeting the man your parents would have as your husband, and youthink my anger has no merit."
Pushing her fear back, shetried again. “If you would just let me explain you would know I only acceptedDev’s offer tonight to…”
“Inside Rahina,” his voicewas a whisper of menacing promise.
Hurt, her shoulders slumped.All week she had been looking forward to his return, thinking and making planson what they could do to celebrate when she announced to him her good news andnow that he was back it had all gone to hell within an hour. Walking throughthe front door, her heels clicked against the marble entrance floor. The soundof excited pattering started to come closer, signaling the dogs had heard theirentrance, but the harsh whip like command spoken in Russian stilled both herand the dogs at once. Sharing a sad look with the dogs, she silently wentupstairs followed by Roman.
Closing the door behind him,Roman stopped in the center of the room. “Undress”
Shocked, she turned to facehim. “Roman please, I don’t want it to be this way,”
“What way, Rahina?” hesnarled, coming closer to her and grabbing her by the shoulders. “Me fuckingyou in anger? Me filling you with every drop of cum while I try to forget therage of finding you dressed like this for another man? Or, while I recall thefootage of my lieutenant carrying you into my goddamn room and laying you in myfucking bed?” Each sordid word felt like a nail in her coffin as he pulled herclose, crushing her chest to his. “No, gorgeous, it is going to be exactly thisway; you are going to have to convince me that your want for me has not fadedin my absence.”
“Of course, it hasn’t,” shesaid weakly. She wanted to argue that she has been the one texting for daysnow, while he was the one who barely replied, but she held her tongue.
“Then show me,” he spokethrough clenched teeth, releasing her arms for her to retreat back a bit.
“I’m scared, Roman,” sheadmitted softly. He looked so furious right now she was genuinely afraid.“Please, can’t you just kiss me?”
The mask of anger on hisface only hardened at her plea. Stepping forward again, his hand struck out, sofast Rahina missed it in a blink. Feeling the firm grip of his hand around herneck, he pulled her in close. Rahina let out a relieved moan when she felt thesurprising gentleness of his kiss against her lips. Bringing her arms up andaround his neck, her body relaxed against his reveling in the familiar firmwarmth.
Pulling back from her justas she began to need more air, Roman gave her an expectant look as she stumbledback panting. Feeling the end of his tolerance approaching, she carefully slidthe thin emerald straps from her shoulders and let the gown drop to the floorat her feet. Underneath, she wore two silicone adhesive cups to cover herbreasts, which allowed for the lack of material in the back of the dress.Pulling them off, she averted her gaze to the floor where she let them fall,avoiding the growing intensity from Roman's gaze. Her nipples however hardenedunder the scrutiny; she could practically feel his eyes brushing over thetightening peaks.
Her thumbs were hooking intothe hem of her panties when he stopped her. “Take off the shoes.”
She froze. Never in thislifetime did she want or plan on Roman seeing her feet. Bruised, permanentlyscarred, and knotted around her toes, her feet endured daily abuse in hercareer, making them ironically her most valued assets and what made her mostself-conscious.
Seeing the dismay on herface, Roman tilted his head slightly and gave her a small smirk. Walkingtowards her again, he pulled her in for another soft kiss that stole anyresidual fear from her mind. Teasingly he bit at her bottom lip, beforesweeping his tongue against hers. Feeling the bed bump against the back of herlegs, she looked up in surprise, not even realizing that he had been backingher up. Pushing her down, Roman forced her to sit on the edge of the bed as heknelt to one knee before her and grabbing one foot.
“Wait, please, let me get mysocks,” realizing what he intended, she reached out to stop him while coveringher breasts with one arm.
Roman ignored her anunbuckled the strap to her shoe and pulled it off. Embarrassment knifed throughher as she curled her tortured toes inward, attempting to hide them. Leavingher leg to balance on his raised knee, he captured and lifted her other leg andremoved the other shoe, forcing her to lean back on both of her hands againstthe mattress. With both feet revealed, Roman studied them quietly.
