Page 98 of Precious Legacy

I hate that I couldn’t move on, even when I thought I had a reason to.

Maybe if I had, we wouldn’t be here right now and I’d have less to worry about. I could focus more on my career and less on my relationship with the asshole who is now smoothing his tongue over the side of my neck.

My pussy clenches like the needy bitch she is. That’s always my reaction to Roman, whether it’s the right moment or not. The attraction between us is so cataclysmic that it’d take a bomb squad to tear us apart.

That’s the problem, though. We’re so chaotic and toxic that our first thought isn’t to communicate the issue but to fuck our troubles away.Is this how it’ll always be between us?A battle of push and pull, constantly ignoring the danger we pose to one another’s feelings?

Maybe it’s time I changed the pattern.

Deep down, Roman has always beenitfor me. The day he left was something I never want to return to, but I’d be a total liar if I said that I can imagine being with anyone else now.

I try to push back, but his hand has my head pinned down so hard I swear I’ll have the imprint of the tiles on my skin for days. His hot breath skates past my cheek and the words that follow are both infuriating and dangerously seductive all at the same time. “Fight me all you want, but you know I always win, Presh.”

This is typical Roman. avoiding the fact he’s upset me by appealing to the weakest part of me. The part that goes feral and wanton whenever he’s around. I’ve always said that there’s a fine line between love and hate, and right now, the line is so fucking blurred that not even glasses will help me discern it. Iknow my anger is the driving force, because Roman would never do anything intentional to hurt me. But I won’t lie, I’m torn between the anguish coursing through my veins and the rage to try and fight back.

I let the latter consume me, throwing my elbow back. It connects with his face with a crunch I feel in my own bones, making him stumble off me. It’s not much, but it gives me enough space to escape him. Rounding the island, I grab my gun and put as much distance between us as I can.

“Lani,” he growls, holding his nose as he glances at my hand. “It’s empty.”

Shit.

“Fuck you,” I snap back, launching the gun at him. It hits him in the shoulder, but he doesn’t budge from his position.

“That’s what I’mtryingto do.” His lips curve into a sinful smile, blood coating his teeth and completely taking me off guard long enough for him to march towards me. I’m not about to go down without a fight, though. He can’t just use sex as a weapon—as good as the sex between us is—and expect everything to be forgiven. He only gets a few steps in front of me before I reach for one of the throw cushions from the couch, tossing it his way. I know it won’t do damage, but it’s the distraction I need so that I can sprint to my bedroom while he either dodges or catches it.

Unfortunately, I don’t get far. With Roman’s freakishly long—and sexy—legs, I barely have the doorknob in my hand before his own grip my hips, spinning me around and pinning me to the wall beside the bedroom door.

A growl erupts from my chest, fury and frustration colliding together. “Get off me!”

I go to swing for him, but he grabs both my wrists and slams them against the wall on either side of my head. “Never,” he states, his tone husky. His eyes are dark, hauntingly so. Thosedevastating blue eyes I always get lost in are holding me captive. “I’ll never let you go, Presh. Once was enough, I’ll never make that mistake again.”

I don’t know why my chest flutters with that thought, but when his lips seek mine in a way that makes my heartbeat thunder, I don’t stop him.

He slides his tongue into my mouth, a rush of hunger and passion leading his actions, tainted with blood. It’s amazing how quickly I can go from hating the very sight of him to wanting him to fuck the rage out of me. Becausedamnit,I really want him to. Every kiss is filled with emotion, every look is filled with intention. I’m an independent woman, through and through, but Roman is my weakness. He’s the only person to have stolen, shattered, and repaired my heart. He’s ruined me, and I’m not sure that’s ever something I’m willing to let go of.

“Ro—” I grumble my protest against his lips, sucking in a breath when his fingertips snake beneath my top and roll over my nipple.

With his lips trailing across my jaw and neck, spreading blood all over my skin, like marking me with his initial wasn’t enough. He’s far too busy to acknowledge my real issue, which is that after tonight, there’s no way I can go back to the academy. Even if my brother did let Prescott go, it’d be a total contradiction for me to become a police officer now.Right?

“Come on, Lani,” he growls as he pushes my shirt up my body. “I did what I had to and you know it.” He bites my nipple through my bra, eliciting another moan that makes my back arch. My leg slides over his waist, encouraging him to lift me by the backs of my thighs and carry me to my bed. I should put up more of a fight; push Roman away so we can discuss our current predicament and set boundaries. But between his words and actions, I’m finding it so damn hard to focus. I hear his words, and they make sense. But the other part of me is hurt that we’reboth right. He has a job to do, and that job overlaps with my life. One of us has to take priority, and I fear it’s not me.

“So did I,” I whisper back.

His gaze lifts to mine, and it’s the first time since he stepped into this apartment that I see the quiet understanding written all over his face. He’s not questioning me on why I freed Prescott, because deep down, he knows the answer. But I also know that he’s using Prescott as an excuse to make up for what happened five years ago. Just like he did with Ashton Greedy, he’s trying to prove that there’s only one way to take down the enemy. And I’d believe that if it weren’t for my goddamn morals.

“Family comes first,” he reminds me, his tone low and filled with desire.

It’s annoying how he keeps returning to that motto because essentially, the NYPD could very well be my family one day, given the chance. Something tells me that’s not going to be possible, but what if it was?What if I could have both?

My dad asked me to promise to look out for my brother, and while the thought had already crossed my mind, his words held more than a promise. He didn’t say it in so many words, but I know what he was asking of me. Proving I’m not like my family is a stretch, and I’ve slowly started accepting that. Given what I saw tonight, I’d be a liar if I said a part of me wasn’t impressed with the damage Roman did to Prescott. It wasn’t just for me, but for The Five. If I’d seen the state of Ashton Greedy and his friend after Roman was finished with them, I’d probably say the same. Does that make me a bad person?Maybe.But I didn’t inflict the pain, I just wished I had.

Dirty cops are a dime a dozen in New York. It wouldn’t be unusual for me to fall into that category, especially with my family connections. But I’d like to think I could be more than that. The battle starts in my head, and I’m just about ready to scream when I’m pulled out of my thoughts.

“What’re you thinking, Presh?” Roman towers above me, his brows knitting together with curiosity. Blood is smeared across his usually flawless skin, making him look like a psychotic clown. I have no doubt I look just as crazy, but that’s us. His pillowy lips are pressed together, so kissable that I’m going to resent myself for ruining this moment, but this is something we need.

“You’re right,” I sigh. I close my eyes, taking a deep breath because part of me doesn’t want to see the smug expression on Roman’s face right now. “Family comes first.”

He wraps his fingers around my chin. The possessive touch isn’t lost on me, but I do enjoy it. All I can feel is the heat of his face radiating onto mine as he runs his nose along my own. The action makes my stomach leap, the same effect it’s always had on me because this was our thing. When words became too much,thiswas enough. “What’re you saying?”

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