Page 92 of Between Us

“It's raining again.”

Roman looked up from his laptop’s screen to see Alessandra standing in the threshold to his study. Her hair was down in loose curls, her eyes bright and full of warmth, and he took a moment to admire just how beautiful she was.

The blue skirt she wore barely reached mid-thigh, exposing the smoothness of her tanned legs, and he could make out the imprint of her nipples against the fabric of her cropped tank-top. It was October already, but her wardrobe hadn't changed since the summer months. Not that Roman was complaining. If he could have just stared at her for hours on end, he would have done it.

He didn't think he'd ever been so infatuated with a woman before her. She was perfect in every way, but even more so when she looked so natural being in his home and wearing his rings on her finger.

“That’s what usually happens in the fall,” he said,leaning back in his chair.

She sighed dramatically. “I'm bored.”

“I’d like to say the same.”

Ignoring his dry tone, she advanced into the room and stood in front of his desk. “What are you doing?”

“Working.”

“I can see that, but on what? It's the Lord's day, Roman. Even bad guys havesomerespect for the Lord's day.”

Amusement filled him. “So I'm a bad guy now?”

Alessandra shrugged and propped her hip against the edge of the desk. “You're like agoodbad guy.”

“That doesn't make any sense.”

“Yes, it does. You do bad things, but you're also a pretty decent person.”

Roman ran a hand over his mouth to hide a grin. “Pretty decent, huh?”

“Yup.”

“Come here.”

Her eyebrow arched. “Why?”

“Don't question me, woman.”

“I don't like your tone.”

“And I don't like your attitude. Come here before I spank your ass red.” Alessandra rolled her eyes, though she was already rounding the desk toward him. Roman caught her by the waist, pulling her down on his lap. His hand caressed her thigh as he pushed up her skirt to reveal the blue lace thong she was wearing. “Hmm, I like these.”

She ran her fingers through his dark hair and smiled. “I'm starting to sense a pattern here with you and lace panties. You said the same about the red pair.”

“What man doesn't like lingerie? If it's see-through,all the better.”

“Charming,” she deadpanned.

He kissed her neck. “Actually, now that you're sitting on my lap, horny. Want to take care of it?”

“Watch a movie with me, and maybe I will.”

Roman drew back to look at her. “Are we negotiating now?”

“I'd rather call it me incentivizing you to spend more time together.”

His hold on her thigh tightened slightly. “Smartass.” Then he went back to kissing her throat and lips for another minute, before pushing her off his lap. “I need another half an hour and then we can do whatever you want.”

She gave him a dirty look, and Roman fought a smile. “Cool,” she said in a voice that should have sounded blasé, but her annoyance seeped through.

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