Page 24 of His Smile
The sigh of relief stopped halfway in her throat as herphone vibrated again.
(Now come inside.)
Her breathing turned shallow as she shifted nervously on herfeet. Glancing down the now empty hall towards the closed doors of theelevator, she considered her options.
(If you run, I will catch you.)
(And instead of talking here like I planned, I willsimply take you back to my place. Forcibly.)
Insidious excitement wrapped around her thumping heart.Unlocking the door, she stepped into her apartment. Her front door opened intoa small unlit hallway. At the open mouth of the hall, she could see the dimlight coming from her living area. Rahina slowly walked forward, setting hersmall purse and crown onto the tiny mirror table along the way. Keeping herphone nervously clutched in her now sweating hands, she reached the end of theshort hall. The air in her lungs constricted as her eyes met Roman’s. Leaningback with the lounging grace of a panther, he let one long muscular tattooedarm draped casually across the top of her emerald velvet sofa. Mentally, sheyelled at herself for being too lazy to change the bulb in the overhead light.With only the light from her floor lamp, it felt as if the room was bathed inwarm golden candlelight which seemed to only accent the hard planes and strongjaw of Roman’s face. Unapologetically at home in her small living room, Roman’sdominating presence took up every corner of the room.
Suddenly, Rahina realized how feminine her littleone-bedroom apartment seemed compared to Roman’s overwhelmingly male presence.Beneath his large, expensive leather shoes, the muted pinks, purples, and bluesof her Turkish area rugs seemed to glow neon under the staid color of his deepblue slacks and a plain white button-down shirt. The endless shelves of pottedplants taking up her large double windows that joined her connected living areainto her small open kitchen screamed whimsy and merriment against the harshblack of his tattoos covering his brawny forearms and fingers. Dear God, whywas it only now was she really seeing Roman for the apex predator he reallywas. He was right; they were nothing at all alike; her life was filled withsmiles, tutus, and carefree dancing while his—was filled with danger and coldgrins.
The twin gray pools of his eyes watched her with alarmingscrutiny. It felt as if she was standing face-to-face with a wolf in the wild.Cold primal eyes were zeroing in on her every breath, her every move, andreading her scared thoughts as she stood there trapped.
Patiently he watched her, his wide mouth set firmly in an unreadableblank expression. Swallowing nervously, she stepped further into the room,stopping at the edge of the rug.
“Roman, what are you doing here?” She asked breathlessly.
“I play hard to get once, and you run to your ex? I thoughtyou said you were persistent.” His voice was lethally soft as he gave her smalltaunting smirk.
Unsure of his mood, she eyed him warily. “I didn’t run tohim. I was running away from you,” she clarified. “Besides, your hard-to-get ispretty convincing and honestly a little scary,” she gave what she hoped was anindifferent shrug. Ever since that day in his office, she couldn’t get theimage of his cold eyes out of her mind when he told her to leave. It was sostartling, it was as if he simply came to a decision and just hit a switch,turning off any warm emotion.
“You will give up that easily?” he asked provokingly. “Ilike to be chased,” he said, feigning a mock look of hurt.
Annoyed, Rahina crossed her arms under her breasts,inadvertently revealing a few more inches of her sculpted torso as her haltertop rose with the movement. She didn’t notice his gaze flick towards themovement. Rahina couldn’t figure out why he was doing this, she was sure he wasjust teasing her, but she couldn’t ignore the subtle charge in the air comingfrom the large gangster lounging on her couch.
“I have no interest in chasing you if you don’t even likeme,” she argued.
One dark eyebrow rose as his smirk grew into a sardonicsmile. “That didn't stop you before.”
“Yes, well now my pride is involved,” lifting her chin, sheheld her breath as she gestured towards her front door. “You wanted to be ridof me fine, you got your wish now please leave...”
He was up and off the couch before she could finish thesentence. With two steps he was in front of her, backing her up against thewall, her words were cut off with a sharp intake of breath. The light scent ofcologne mingled with the radiating heat from his large body surrounded her.Instinctively, she raised her hands in defense, holding them uselessly at hisfirm chest. Heat like nothing she ever felt with any of the men she had everdanced with seared at her fingers through his shirt.
Roman planted one hand on the wall beside her and bent downto her ear. “That is not going to happen, beautiful. I am too far gone now, soI am here to stay,” his heavily accented voice was threaded with an intensityshe had never seen from him.
Although he stood perfectly still, Rahina’s senseswere in high alert. Looking up at him, she felt her shoulder blades rub againstthe wall. Apprehension twisted in her stomach as she realized just howvulnerable she was in this situation. His gray eyes were alive with a lambentfire as he stared down at her waiting for her, daring her to argue.
Shaking her head in confusion, she dropped her eyes tohis wide chest, focusing on the fine leather of his chest holster. "Whythe change all of a sudden, Roman?” she whispered shakily. “Before, you said Iwas out of my league, and I shouldn't be with you. Why torment me and say youwant me now? You’re just going to end up pushing me away again.”
Lifting his other hand to her face, Rahina shivered as hetenderly brushed some of her long hair back. Juxtaposing his tender movements,Roman’s smile grew large, reminding her of the Cheshire cat as he gave her analmost pitying look. “I’m done warning you Rahina, you wanted me…and nowyou have me.”
Her heart constricted, and her breathing came out in shallowburst at the meaning of his words. This was it, the moment she had been workingso hard for, and now that it was here, she was terrified. Towering in front ofher was the most dangerous man in Boston, a man whose presence made grown menturn and run in fear. Letting her gaze slide back down to his chest, she eyedthe dangling piece of hardware beneath his arm. A man who also carried a gunwith him at all times with a matter-of-fact nonchalance.
"I don’t know Roman, I-I don’t think we should…” Shefelt so smothered and overwhelmed by his dominating presence, she could hardlyform coherent sentences. “You’re making me nervous," she accusedbreathlessly.
Leaning his forehead to hers, Rahina held her breath as helooked directly in her eyes and replied deeply. "You should be."
She had no time to react to the warning. Rough hands droppedto her bare waist, clasping her on both sides, pulling her hips flush againsthim. Naturally, she opened her mouth to respond, but that was all he wanted.Covering her mouth with his, Rahina jerked in his hold in surprise. All of herthoughts suddenly ignited and burned away as the heat of Roman’s mouth consumedher. Without meaning to, a small moan escaped her throat as she felt thefirmness of his lips work across hers, demanding she surrender to him. Hersenses were filled with the masculine mixture of soap, coffee grounds, and ahint of cologne. The feel of his large body against her like this, the taste ofhim in her mouth, Rahina felt herself succumbing to his silent demands.Releasing her lips just for a moment his eyes darkened with a wild hunger shehad only ever read about in steamy online novels as he took in her dazedexpression. Tilting her back deeper into his arms, forcing her body to rely onhis strength, he pulled her back to his lips.
“No,” she moaned against his firm lips.
All of her sanity was drifting away like sand in the windunder his touch. Struggling to regain herself, she pushed at his broad chest.It felt as if she was pushing against a mountain, there was absolutely no givein his body.
“Roman,” she whined as he nipped at her bottom lip,masterfully banishing some of the fight she had summoned. Clutching at hisshoulders, she opened her mouth wider to his imploring hot tongue. Hearing hislow growl of satisfaction jolted her mind back out of the haze. With renewedenergy, she pushed against him turning her head from his drugging hotkiss. Slowly, she felt the hard bulge of his bicep flex beneath her backas he set her gently back upright.
Uselessly, she held her hands up to his chest again, knowingit did absolutely nothing to stop him. Forcing herself to gather her thoughts,she backed out of his arms, bumping into the wall behind her.
