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He springs up, grabs me, and pulls me into his arms. “You’re about to tell me again that it was stupid.”
“No.” I squirm in his arms but am too exhausted to put up a fight I don’t really want to have just to drive home a point. “I’m about to ask you not to do that again because I can’t be the reason your life gets fucked up.”
“Cecilia,” he sighs.
“It took me years to not hate myself for all that Chloe had gone through and given up for me. I don’t wanna go back to that place, but I will, Roman. I’ll hate it, but I have my furry little balls of love and?—”
“Shit, hold that thought.” He jumps out of bed and starts throwing on those gray sweats. “But understand the conversation is gonna end with you realizing that I’m never letting you get hurt, I’ll be more careful, and that us falling in love isn’t something anyone can stop from happening.”
As he runs for the door, I yell, “You can’t just leave after that!”
“Red, Elle’s unsupervised with shoes and gloves.” He laughs as he runs down the stairs.
Smiling, I sit up and slide off the bed to find my clothes and use the bathroom. Then I remember I ditched my clothes on my way up in an attempt to seduce Roman.
I grab his shirt off the floor and pull it on as I head into his bathroom.
“Well, damn,” I think as I flip on the light.
One wouldn’t expect a bachelor’s bathroom to be pristine. I love the soft lighting and the huge, frosted glass windows that I imagine let a ton of natural light in. The shine of the polished marble countertops and porcelain sink with not a single smudge or water spot in sight, stunning. The black matte is a striking contrast to the white everywhere else. The floor is the same marble and feels cool underfoot as I step from the wood and inside. Every corner is spotless, not a speck of dust or stray hair to be found. The neatly folded towels, arranged in a stack beside the shower, are so large and fluffy that I consider showering to feel them against my body, but right now, I love smelling like him, like us.
I remind myself I came in to pee and not snoop, and that I want to do so quickly before he comes back up.
I pee, wash my hands, and brush my teeth with my finger when I hear them come in.
When I step out, Elle is at my feet. I bend down and scoop her up, giving her kisses as I walk over to where Roman holding the quilt back.
He’s so damn hot. I could hardly stand it before, but now, it’s so much more intense. And the way he’s looking at me, I know I’m not alone in the amplified attraction.
“Messaged Marks again. He said your guests are all asleep. They won’t miss you, but I will if you leave.”
“Feeling’s mutual.”
We all get comfortable in the bed—Elle in front of me and Rome snuggled up against my back. When he pulls the covers over all of us, I know that tonight will be the first time that I don’t wake up, needing another blanket.
* * *
I wake to a low growl that causes a chill to run up my spine.
Rome’s hand immediately grips my hip and squeezes gently as he whispers, “You awake?”
“Mmhmm.”
“You smell something?” he asks, sitting up.
I inhale and sit up too. “Smoke.”
We both jump out of bed just as the smoke alarm starts to blare.
I scoop Elle up, and Rome hurries to the door and feels it before opening. Smoke from the hall billows in, and he reaches back and grabs me.
“Let’s go.” As we hurry down the stairs, he yells, “It’s in the attic.”
“The guys,” I say, feeling panic set in. “Rome, the guys.”
“They’re hearing this, too. It’ll be okay.”
We get to the kitchen as the door flies open. Rome tucks me behind him.
