Page 35 of Born Free

“You going to make time to debrief on whatever shit is about to go down?” he asks.

Roman nods. “We’ll meet at the church in five hours. I wasn’t lying when I said I need some damn sleep.”

Jay gives the kind of huffing laugh that says he doesn’t believe sleep is what Roman has in mind. But Roman never gave a damn what anyone thought, so he doesn’t react as he climbs out the door and holds out a hand to help me out.

It feels… like something big and small at the same time, the fact that we’re returning to my apartment together. That Roman is planning on doing something as mundane as sleeping. But that he didn’t even hesitate or question where he was going to do so today is… It makes me feel all fuzzy and comfortable inside.

The elevator shakes and groans as we rise up to my floor. I realize I lost my key when Santiago grabbed me, but Roman doesn’t miss a beat as he pulls out the spare I gave him the day I moved in.

It feels like ages since I was here last. Even though it was only days ago, so much has happened since then. I was kidnapped. Killed, over and over again. I was dragged to the place a freaking king resides, and it was planned to hand me over to said king in hopeful exchange for Royal granting.

I don’t know if this place exactly feels like home yet, but it’s still a breath of relief when we close the door behind us and lock it.

Roman crosses to the fridge and pulls it open. He draws out two blood bags and tosses one to me. I didn’t realize I was thirsty until it’s there in my hands. Like I’ve been starving for weeks, I tear into it, sucking down every last drop. When the thirst isn’t completely squashed after it’s gone, I grab another and gulp it down as well.

“Mind if I borrow your shower?” Roman asks as he dumps the empty bag into the trash.

“Go ahead,” I say, nodding in that direction. Not that he doesn’t know where the shower is. He just nods and walks through my bedroom, disappearing from view.

I lean back against the counter and shake my head. It’s still weird. We’re… something. Maybe not defined as boyfriend and girlfriend, but we’re something to each other. And Roman asking to use my shower just feels so… formal. Sebastian would have just walked on in and teased me about joining him. Mason would have asked me what color tile I wanted the bathroom remodel to have.

But Roman assumed nothing. He’s not putting me on lockdown, even though I was just kidnapped. We’re here together. But what level oftogetherare we?

I plug my phone in and lay it on the counter. I can’t believe the screen isn’t shattered. It took quite the fall when I died from Chelsea’s stake. The battery is dead, so I plug it in and wait a few seconds until it powers back up.

Instantly, I get a million notifications, missed calls, unanswered texts. It seems the whole world was trying to find me when I was kidnapped.

I desperately need some girl time,I text Elena, ignoring all the rest.Can we go out after Roman and I deal with whatever mess is waiting with Orlando?

She responds with an expletive.Finally. I thought I’d lost all best friend and secret keeper status to Roman.

I smirk at that.You’re always my number one girl.

You didn’t have to make that last distinction. Just let me stay in the fantasy of being your number one, period.

You want to tease?I text back.May I remind you that you’ve been making googly eyes at myfathersince the moment you two met?

Fine. You win.

I laugh at her, and it feels good. It feels normal. Uncomplicated.

I lay the phone back on the counter and wander into my bedroom a minute after I hear Roman turn the shower off.

He stands in front of the mirror, combing his fingers through his wild black hair. He wears black boxer briefs. And nothing else.

A curse slips over my lips, and Roman’s eyes slide over to me. And for the first time in any kind of a situation like this, I see a slight smirk pull on his lips.

“This is just ridiculous. Here I am trying to take my time getting over all these complications and not rush things between us. And you’re there, looking all like…” I sweep a hand up and down, indicating every bit of his incredibly perfect body. “I mean, damn.”

And in one of those incredibly rare moments, a full smile crosses Roman’s face. It’s bright, and perfect, and one of the most heart-stopping things I’ve ever seen. He crosses the space to me, and one of his hands slides around my waist to my lower back, pulling my center to his. His other hand hooks under my chin, and he tilts my face up to his.

“When it comes to you, Juliet, I’m never fighting fair again,” he says, low, seductive. “I’ll use every advantage I’ve got.”

I just smirk and shake my head before he closes the distance between our lips, and my entire body lights up like an electrical storm.

His hands are strong and sure as they slide down my back, rounding over my ass, pulling me tight to him. My hand wraps around the back of his neck, the other sliding up the smooth, firm surface of his chest.

He lifts me clean off the ground, and I wrap my legs around his waist. He presses my back against the wall, causing the most amazing pressure between my legs. My mouth opens, and he doesn’t hesitate as his tongue strokes against mine.

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