Page 36 of Destined for the Devil
Roman was at the window again, somehow looking larger than the last time he was here. "Lift your shirt up.” I spoke from behind him, doing my best to avoid looking him in the eyes.
I smoothed the cream over his ribs, literally salivating at the proximity. Hot, I washotjust at the touch.
"What is this?" he asked, watching me closely.
"Stuff we used to use for sore muscles."
"Who'swe?"
"When I danced…I used to practice everyday. For hours. And then compete on the weekends. So everything hurt. But this is some kind ofnatural remedy. Wild yam or something. Works really well, actually." I screwed the aluminum cap back on and forced myself to step back, busying my hands with a Ziploc bag and ice. “But ice works great too." I threw him a smile as I pressed the bag to his side, pushing a yelp out of him. I couldn’t stop my little giggle at his reaction.
"Damn it, Isla!" He accused me as he breathed through the shock of the cold.
Ugh. Say my name again.
"You hungry?" I blurted, trying to fill the silence since we just stood in my kitchen, looking at each other. "I don't have a dining table, but look, I have a couch now."
"At this rate, you'll have the place fully furnished by Christmas." He spoke quietly, putting a nervous smile on my face.
I suddenly regretted everything. Bringing him to my apartment, this whole evening, moving to L.A. I was feeling something so deep, so raw, it alarmed me. I wasn't fucking ready for any of it.
"You still have that champagne I brought you?” His grin widened, flashing his perfect dimples at me. “Let's celebrate your second new apartment. I won't burn this one down. I promise."
Like a professional sommelier, he popped open the champagne and poured it into my water glasses, since I had no champagne flutes.
Literally shaking inside from nerves, I clinked my glass with his and took a sip, reminding myself to breathe. Timidly, I motioned toward my modest couch, and he followed me, sitting down on the opposite side.
After minutes of awkward silence where he merely watched me, I took a huge gulp for courage and finally asked, "Whose house was that?"
His expression hardened immediately. He raised his glass to his lips, taking a slow drink before he told me the truth and scared me to the bottom of my very soul. “Sergei's."
My breath stalled right then and there. My gaze traveled down towardhis mangled knuckles, and I assessed the damage, realizing I forgot to bandage them. What kind of injuries did Sergei have…if Roman’s knuckles were skinned raw? "W-why? What did you do?" I squeaked out, unable to fully formulate my thoughts.
Roman watched me silently before pinning me with his gaze, delivering his next words without hesitation. "He touched and threatened what was mine, Isla. Did you really think I was just going to let it slide?"
19
Make Me Yours
Roman
Angelic,perfectIslasatcross-legged in front of me on her little couch, her wide, wholesome eyes filled with fear.
"It's okay. He only has a broken nose and a few bruises for now. He expected this to happen." I tried to reassure her, not making anything better. I poured her more champagne and brought the glass to her lips. "It's okay. Have a drink, Isla." I inched closer. Stunned, she tipped her head back and took a sip.
"Who, um…who are you, Roman? If you just go ahead and do stuff like that?" Sweet, sweet Angel...she had no clue what I was capable of. Fuck, she was sinless.
"What did you expect me to do? He told you he was going to rape you, for fuck's sake! Was I supposed to just ignore it? I held back. I didn't kill hi—" I cut myself off, watching her eyes go wide in even more shock. "Let's not talk about him, okay? I promise he won't touch you. I promise."
That was a promise I knew I could keep because I was going to fucking kill him.
Seconds ticked by in silence, but I liked it. I liked watching her this close to me. I liked noticing all the little details about her. This wasstrange and such a new experience for me. I’d never spent this much time with a woman without sex.
What the fuck was wrong with me? I wondered why I’d never wanted this, why I used all women before and they all used me.
“Why did you tell me I was oblivious?" Isla asked softly. She was such a dream. Her little pajamas with ice cream cones only emphasized her purity.
"Because you can't see...how I feel about you." I spoke earnestly, and she nodded, bringing a small smile to my face.
