Page 87 of Rebound
I suspected as much, given everything Dad’s told me about Roman’s parents. Which isn’t much because apparently, they’re really private. I know enough to know that Roman’s family is very different from mine.
I decide to change tactics. “Why do you want the team to like you all of a sudden?”
“I don’t want them to like me. I’m worried about relocating the cats.”
I blink at him as he opens the fridge and pulls out a bakery box. He places it on the island and turns back to grab a plate and cutlery.
“Is that a wedding cake?” I ask as he opens the box and removes a cake covered in vanilla frosting with tiny little pearls decorating it.
“Lemon cake with vanilla frosting.” He cuts a slice and places it on a plate, pushing it towards me. “Do you want something to drink?”
I stare down at the slice of cake in front of me. He got me my favorite cake…to celebrate our wedding?
“Vin?” Roman is next to me, his fingers under my chin tilting my head back and around to look at him. Worry shines in his eyes. “What’s wrong? You don’t have to eat the cake if you don’t like it.”
“Oh no, I’m definitely going to eat this cake. I…it’s nothing.” I shake my head. I don’t want to share unpleasant memories with Roman and seeing this cake brings up a lot of those about Josh.
“Are you sure, Blossom? You know you can tell me anything.” He looks so sincere when he says that, I almost want to believe him.
“I’m sure.” I smile at him, and I know it’s genuine because I can feel it. Josh is history, and so is everything that happened with him. I’m not going to let it cloud my present.
I take a bite of cake, and my eyes roll back into my head as flavor explodes in my mouth. The sweetness of vanilla and the tartness of lemon sends it to the next level. It’s also immediately familiar, bringing back pleasant memories this time.
“Did you get this from Delphine’s?”
“Yeah, it’s your favorite bakery.”
“You went all the way to Cambridge for me?”
Roman frowns. “Baby, it’s a fifteen-minute drive. I’ll drive all the way to New York to get your favorite dessert.”
Warmth fills me from the center of my chest outwards through my body. No one other than my family has ever gone out of their way to get me my favorite dessert that I didn’t even ask for. It might have been a fifteen-minute drive to get there, Roman still put the thought and effort into it.
“Thank you for doing that for me.” I look up at him. “Do you want a taste?”
Roman’s eyes heat, dropping down to my mouth. “I’d love a taste.” He kisses me, his lips soft against mine, tongue delving into my mouth. I moan, unable to resist the pull of him. When Roman kisses me, I get the feeling he’s trying to memorize the feel of my mouth, the shape of my body under his hands.
There’s something reverent in his kisses, like I’m something precious, even as he tries to devour me. I wrap my arms around his shoulders, pulling him even closer as I arch my body up to meet his. Why should he get to have all the fun?
“Delicious,” he murmurs on my lips. “I can see why this cake’s your favorite.”
I open my eyes and Roman’s mouth tilts up into a smirk, though the hungry look in his eyes tells me he’s not as unaffected by the kiss as he wants to pretend.
“I’m glad you see my reasoning,” I whisper.
“You made a very good argument.”
I chew on my lip as I let my hand wander over Roman’s body. His body is exactly as firm as I’m expecting it to be, and it still sends a delicious curl of heat to my lower belly. “Do you think we need rules?” I ask.
Amusement curves up his lips. “Why, Blossom? Do you think you can’t control yourself around me?”
I don’t laugh. “Honestly, yeah.” I know I’m going to need rules to keep myself away from him.
“Do you think you should move in here?” Roman asks. “I mean, we are married.”
I don’t see that ending well for me. I can’t be in such close proximity with him and not develop feelings.
“I think, for now, we shouldn’t change our living arrangements. Just so neither of is uncomfortable.”
