Page 11 of Loving Roman
Well, that’s great. But will she rememberme? Because IknowI’llalwaysremember her. I swallow my doubts and questions. I don’t understand what it is about this woman that has my mind constantly fast-forwarding to a future we’ll never have. “You’re welcome.”
I climb off my horse when it stops, and then step over to help Alice down from hers. She removes her feet from the stirrups, and I grip her waist to support her descent. When both of her feet are solidly on the sand, she spins and flings her arms up and around my neck, then pushes up onto her toes to press her mouth to mine. The move is so unexpected that I lose my balance for a second, but regainit quickly.
It takes but a moment for my body to respond to her touch … her kiss, and I use my grip on her hips to drag her closer. Her lush breasts press against my chest, and I stroke my tongue across her lips, hoping she’ll welcome me inside again. I’m greedy for her attention and hungrily seek to deepen our kiss and get lost in her. She matches my need and within seconds, I feel as though we’re going to combust right where we stand on the shore.
The soft neigh of the horses brings us back to reality, and when I finally look up, our guide is some distance away, leading our horses up the beach. While we were gone, a table and two chairs have been set up, along with hurricane lamps and a picnic basket.
Alice gasps when she notices. “You didn’t?” Her head moves back and forth between me and the romantic dinner setting.
I grin, pleased that she’s surprised. “I did. Hope you don’t mind.”
She brings her hand to her chest and gazes up at me with a hint of disbelief. “Why would I mind? It’s not every day that a handsome man organizes a romantic dinner for two.”
My shoulders relax, and I slide my hand down her arm and entwine my fingers with hers to tug her toward our picnic. It’s the perfect evening to enjoy dinner by the seaside with a beautiful woman, and I plan to soak up every second.
Once we’re settled, I pour us each a glass of wine and uncover an entrée of seared scallops. We’re quiet as we sip our wine and enjoy the fresh seafood. A comfortable peace settles between us, and I appreciate knowing Alice doesn’t need to fill every second with idle chatter. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy our conversations, but I love sitting beside her enjoying the tranquility of the moment.
We move on to our main course; the sky darkens above us, making the ocean appear almost black. The waves crashrhythmically on the sand, creating the perfect soundtrack for our evening as we finish our meal with a generous slice of cheesecake for dessert.
Alice leans back in her chair and rubs her hands across her stomach. I notice she does that a lot after a meal. She sighs, then takes my hand in hers. “Thank you.” She waves her free hand out, gesturing to our surroundings. “This is beautiful.”
I lift her hand and press a light kiss to the back, lingering with my lips on her soft skin. What I wouldn’t do to have the chance to press kisses all over her body. Spend hours exploring every single delectable inch. I shift in my seat, making room for my growing erection.
Goosebumps race up her arm, and she shivers. “Are you cold?” I ask, studying her face closely in the fading light.
“Not at all,” she murmurs breathily.
The huskiness in her voice and the fast flutter of her pulse at the base of her throat suggest she’s growing as aroused as I am. We don’t have an endless amount of time together, and the need to feel her writhing beneath me grows like a wave, crashing over me with a violence I’m not used to experiencing.
I’m not a young man. I’ve met my fair share of women, but never before have I felt this level of comfort and peace while also wanting to tear every stitch of fabric from their body. This need to explore every part of Alice inside and out and pursue her beyond our agreement is becoming overwhelming, and I have no idea what to do about it.
I need a distraction. I desperately need to keep my focus on the here and now and our time together, rather than wasting it thinking about an impossible future. “Tell me … when you were a child, what was your dream for the future?”
She leans forward in her seat, and the V of her sundress gapes open a little, giving me a glimpse of her perfect breasts. “No more questions today, Roman.” She smiles at me, but itseems tight and forced. “Take me to bed,” she whispers huskily, and the heat in her gaze catches me off-guard.
She doesn’t have to ask me twice, but I need to be certain. I was hopeful she’d want me as much as I want her before the week was over, but I don’t want to take advantage. She’s had some wine with her meal and could be tipsy, though I don’t believe she’s a lightweight. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.” With steady hands, she efficiently stacks our dishes in the middle of the table and stands, taking my hand and dragging me to my feet. Her demand has rendered me useless as lust burns through my body like a forest fire.
We walk with urgency back to the inn, her hand secure in mine. My heart pounds, and each step is almost uncomfortable with the growing situation behind my zipper. The only sounds coming from the environment around us and our footsteps on the sidewalk.
When we breach the door to the inn, my conversation with Blake hits me square in the face. I never bought condoms. I pull Alice to a stop. “I need to grab something from the pharmacy.” I widen my eyes, hoping she gets my drift.
After a few moments, her puzzled expression gives way to understanding, and her mouth forms a small O shape. She grins at me, then tugs me around and we head back out into the night and jog across the road. Together, we locate the aisle we need, and I grab a small box—it’s not like I’ll need them after my vacation is over.
Alice places her hand over mine and peers up at me, almost shyly. “I think we’ll need a bigger box. We have four nights together.” She raises a perfectly shaped eyebrow, waiting for my response.
I swallow and count backward from ten, hoping it helps my barely held control. “Yes, ma’am.” I nod, then swap out the box of ten for a box of thirty. Possibly a little ambitious, butjudging by the look in Alice’s eyes, maybe not. A guy can always hope.
She picks up a bottle of lube. I catch her eye, asking a silent question, and she shrugs a little as pink stains her cheeks. “Just in case.”
We step into the empty elevator back at the inn and, as soon as the doors close, I back Alice into the corner, pressing my hard on against her soft stomach.
“Your room or mine?” I whisper close to her ear, making her body shudder.
I kiss the space below her lobe and pull back to look at her, noting the fast rise and fall of her breasts.
“My room’s closer,” she whispers on a breath.
