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She wanted to believe him, wanted to sink her fingers into his hair and drag him to his feet so he could hold her properly. But how could she know that this was real? That this was really what she needed?
‘What made you change your mind?’ she asked, hating the quiver of uncertainty in her voice. ‘About us?’
He let out a huff of breath. Then released his hold on her, so he could stand. Cradling her face in his palms, he dropped his forehead to hers, then let his arms fall, to band them back around her body, and hold her close as he spoke.
‘I didn’t change my mind, Milly. I think I always knew this was different. That you were different. Right from the moment I came out of that cabin and you were steering my boat.’
Her heart jolted and filled. But she made herself step out of his arms—which was the hardest thing she had ever done in her entire life. ‘But if that’s true... Why did you push me away?’
He dropped his head back to stare at the ceiling for a moment. When his gaze met hers again though, she could see the emotion swirling in his eyes.
‘Honestly? Because as soon as I figured out how much I felt for you, I was absolutely terrified. I’ve never loved anyone before. And I’ve never admitted I needed anything from anyone since I was sixteen and I got kicked out of Cade Tower...’ He sighed. ‘By mistake, as it turns out. The truth is, I don’t know how to do this... At all. Brandon’s already given me a few lessons. But fair warning, you’re going to have to teach me how to handle this feeling...’ He thumped a fist to his chest, his gaze still locked on hers. ‘Because it still scares me... A lot.’
‘Okay.’ She nodded, biting into her lip as her eyes misted up again.
He’d had no one, not really, for most of his life. And he’d learned to survive, to prosper on his own. Of course, he was scared. But then, so was she.
‘Hey! Don’t.’ He cupped her cheek, dragged her back into his arms and held her close. ‘Please don’t cry. I swear, I won’t ever treat you like that again.’
She choked out a sob, but when she pulled her head back to look up, she could feel the smile spreading across her lips, and into her heart. ‘It’s okay, Roman, these are happy tears.’
His brows lifted but then he smiled back at her, the quick, reckless grin as triumphant as it was seductive. ‘Does that mean you’ll come back?’
She nodded, and then let out a giddy laugh when he whooped and boosted her into his arms.
She clung to him as he spun her round. Then clasped his head and settled her lips on his, kissing him with all the joy and hunger in her heart.
This was still new and raw and there was bound to be a ton more twists and turns along the way. But as he dropped her onto the office couch, and they tore off each other’s clothes with a haste that would be shocking, if it weren’t so delicious, Milly knew every road bump would be worth the ride.
Twenty minutes later, as she lay in his arms, still naked, still seeped in afterglow, she glanced at the clock on the wall. And shot off the couch so fast she heard him grunt.
‘The show!’ she yelped. ‘Roman, get up. We can’t be late. And I don’t want the curator to find us naked in here.’
‘Who cares? I own the place,’ he said.
She gathered up her clothes in a rush as he chuckled. ‘This is not funny. It’s my big break and I’m going to be late.’
He lay gloriously naked, his head propped on his arm, watching her. ‘Don’t get your knickers in a twist,’ he said provocatively as she scrambled to get them on while hopping on one leg. ‘I can always postpone the show, or, better yet...’ his eyebrows lifted lasciviously ‘...you could host it naked.’
‘Also not funny...’ She glared while struggling into her bra. But once she’d snapped the clasp closed, she stopped dead, an awful thought occurring to her. ‘Wait a minute. When didyou buy the gallery? You’re not the reason I got the offer of a showing, are you?’
While she was stupidly flattered he might have gone to those lengths to please her, at the same time it would diminish the happy glow still coursing through her body... Just a little.
What if she hadn’t really earned this chance on her own?
He got off the couch, and strolled towards her, still gloriously naked. And distractingly gorgeous.
‘Oh, ye of little faith,’ he said, then cradled her neck and pressed a kiss to her forehead. ‘I bought this gallery yesterday, after I found out you were doing a showing here. Because it was the only way to see you alone.’ He scooped his boxers off the curator’s desk and tugged them on. ‘You can thank your sister, who would not give me your address in Genoa or any contact details. Even though I begged for close to a week.’
‘But...Really?’ she said, trying to look contrite when she was overjoyed at the news... He’d wanted to see herthatmuch? ‘You begged?’
He laughed. ‘Yeah, I begged.’ He gave her bottom a pat, then grabbed his shirt from the light it was hooked over. ‘But, be warned,’ he continued as he buttoned it up, covering up that mouth-watering chest, sadly, ‘I intend to get payback later tonight.’ The teasing threat was as delicious as the giddy skip in her heartbeat. ‘Much, much later, after you take the Genoa art world by storm. And make me a terrific return on my investment.’
‘I’m not so sure about that,’ she said wryly.
‘You don’t have to be sure,’ he said, the love and approval in his gaze making her heart press into her throat. ‘Because I am.’
As they finished getting dressed, then made their way down to the gallery—together—her heart continued to pound against her ribs in that giddy tattoo.
