Page 136 of Rebound
“Do you ever wish you could run away from it all?” He’d asked, eyes heavy lidded as he rested his head back against the headboard. He was drinking from my father’s prized bottle of scotch and for once, I didn’t want to be the good girl so I didn’t tell him he shouldn’t.
“Sometimes,” I’d whispered in the dark.
Roman had reached out, brushing the tips of his fingers against mine. He looked at me from under his lashes, and when he smiled, I felt like my heart was going to stop. I leaned in closer to him.
“Do you want to run away with me?”
He never got the answer because my brother found us at that very moment and mayhem ensued. But for one perfect second, as I leaned closer to the boy I’d wanted my whole life, the answer had been yes. In that moment, it didn’t matter that we weresixteen, that I wanted to play hockey, and build a career. I didn’t think about my family. I wanted to be selfish.
Every time I’m with him I feel selfish, even now. Because I want more of him, all of him, all the time. To hear him admit that he wants me as badly fills me with the kind of joy that is terrifying. I’m standing on the edge of a mountain again, ready to fall.
“Do you want ice cream?” Roman asks, when our bowls are empty.
“Don’t tempt me.”
He gives me a sinful smile. “My mission is always to tempt you. I also have apple pie.”
I can never say no to apple pie and he knows it. “I’ll have one small piece.”
Getting out of bed, we walk to the kitchen together. I wash the bowls while Roman takes out the pie and puts it in the oven to warm. While we wait, I rest my head on his shoulder, looking at where Salem, Buffy, and Sabrina are sitting in a circle.
“What’s going over there?” I ask, nodding towards them.
“The council is in session. No doubt they’re coming up with ways on how to terrorize us.”
I giggle. “What? Stamping on our feet at four in the morning isn’t enough?”
“That’s just the beginning. Get ready to feel like you’re owned by them and live on their every whim.”
Once the pie is warmed, Roman takes the pan out of the oven and cuts me a small slice. We lean over the kitchen island as we eat, talking about all the things the cats can be discussing. It’s easy and it’s fun, and as we get into bed and curl against each other, I know Roman is right.
There’s no turning back now.
FORTY-TWO
LAVINIA
I wake up tangled in sheets that smell like Roman and me, my head twisted at an odd angle. My feet wake up first as I wiggle my toes, then arch my foot, rubbing one along the back of my leg. I inhale sharply, stretching my sore muscles.
When I open my eyes, the space next to me is empty. The bed sheet has been pulled up, the pillows are scattered on the floor from when we had sex again. Hence why I’m naked.
I can’t stop the smile that stretches across my face.
I sit up in bed, hugging the covers to my naked body. My hair falls around my shoulders in a curly mess. The bedroom door is open, and I hear faint noises.
“Roman?”
Almost immediately, he appears in the doorway, wearing black lounge pants and nothing else. His hair is a sexy mess and there’s two days stubble covering the lower half of his face. God, he’s perfect. How can anyone be this perfect? He walks into the room, putting a knee on the bed and bracing his hands on either side of my legs as he leans forward and kisses me softly.
“Good morning, Blossom.”
I can’t stop my smile from overtaking my face. “Good morning.”
“Did you sleep okay?”
I lift a shoulder in a shrug. “About as well as can be expected with a man.”
Roman trails kisses along my shoulder and up to my neck. “I made you breakfast to make-up for it.”
