Page 43 of Sapphire Storm

“Who’s Hank?”

“Diana’s director of security.”

“Is he someone you can trust right now?”

Jealous, Daddy?Roman thought. More like hoped.

“I don’t know. That’s why we should probably have dinner.”

Ethan nodded and rose to his feet. “Keep me posted aboutRachel, and I’ll make sure everything’s taken care of on Tuesday.”

When he extended his hand, Roman wanted to scream. Instead,he took it. At the weakness in his grip, Ethan huffed slightly with restrainedlaughter, as if he could sense what Roman was feeling inside, and itdisappointed him.

Scared him,Roman thought.He’s scared becausehe knows if he gets sweaty with me, he’ll lose control, and he probably feelsguilty about my dad and so I need to let him off the hook. Because I want himto lose control all over me again and again.

“Have a good evening, Mr. Walker.”

Ethan was several paces away when Roman rose off the benchand said, “We should have sex.”

Ethan turned. Even though a passing mother gave Roman adirty look and tightened her grip on her toddler daughter’s tiny hand as theyhurried past, Ethan looked unfazed.

“You know,” Roman continued, “just to get it out of oursystem. Especially if I’m going to be staying with you.”

“I thought you weren’t a casual sex person,” he said.

“I’m not,” Roman said, heart racing.

“Getting something out of your system sounds pretty casual.”

Roman was struggling for a response when Ethan said, “Thankyou for the offer, truly, but no. I’ll see you Tuesday, Mr. Walker.”

Ethan started walking off again.

“I just think it’s weird,” Roman called after him.

Ethan stopped and turned, this time with more strainedpatience in his expression. “Whatis weird?”

“That you’re all wise and mature and stuff but you can’t beauthentic and real about how you feel about me.”

Ethan took several paces toward him. “And how do I feelabout you again?” he asked.

“Well, I think you answered that in your kitchen thismorning, right?”

“An erection is not a feeling. It’s a biological event causedby a high volume of blood flow to a specific part of the body, often triggeredby an excess of physical stimulation. Such as a back rub.”

“Wow. You really are Mr. Romance.”

“Was last night in the penthouse suite your idea ofromance?” Ethan asked. “Also, on the subject of authenticity, let’s includeyour social media presence, where I didn’t see a single rainbow flag or LGBTQhashtag, and every year Pride Month seems to pass you by without notice.”

“Marketing is tricky,” Roman muttered and then felt terriblebecause it was a line he’d picked up from Diana when she’d first ordered him toscrub his profiles of anything remotely gay.

“So is romance,” Ethan answered.

“And your background makes you a romance expert, huh?”

He regretted the words the minute they were out of hismouth, but Ethan didn’t look wounded.

“What it makes me is an expert in what romanceisn’t,”he said quietly.

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