Roman looked down at her, his face partially hidden in the shadows, and for a moment he was silent. Then he said, “Are you sure? You’re not tired?”
“No, I’m fine. Are you tired?”
Roman let her fingers slide from his hand then he shrugged. “Not at all.”
“Okay, then. It’s settled.” Serena walked ahead of him into the lobby, wondering where she had found the courage to invite her boss back upstairs. It wasn’t like earlier in the day when he’d come specifically to help her with the cake. Now it was more like…a date.
Once they were back in the apartment Serena felt at a loss for words. She’d invited Roman up because she’d enjoyed his company and wanted more of it but now she felt nervous. She decided to escape to the kitchen. “Would you like a drink? I have wine.”
“A drink would be nice,” he said with a nod. “White wine if you have it.”
Serena hurried to the kitchen where she poured two glasses of wine and laid them on a silver tray. Taking a deep breath she headed back to the living room. Come on, Serena, what are you afraid of? She was the one who’d invited him. Deep down, though, she knew what she feared most. It was herself.
When she got back to the living room Roman was still lounging in the sofa as he’d been when she left but this time there was a big book in his hand. He was deeply engrossed and as she got closer Serena saw that the book in his hand was her old photo album.
She almost dropped the tray. Goodness, where had he found that old thing? And then she remembered. Earlier that week she’d been looking for an old school photo and had dug it out of her trunk. She must have left it on the lower tier of the coffee table. And now it was in his hands.
She could feel her face grow warm with embarrassment. She’d been somewhat of a nerd in her younger days, her constant reading forcing her into thick glasses at the age of ten. Sometimes it was hard being an only child and after her mother’s death and her own bout with cancer she’d drawn more and more into her shell. She’d been a loner with books as her only friends. When she got into her teens she’d breathed a sigh of relief when she was finally allowed to wear contact lenses. And thank God for laser correction which she’d done as soon as she’d gone off to college.
Now Serena stared at Roman in horror. Had he seen her at her worst? She cringed inside. Quickly, she walked into the room and set the tray down on the coffee table with a smart bang.
“What have you got there?” she said casually, wondering how to get the album away from him as fast as possible without seeming rude.
Roman looked up at her, a big grin on his face.
Not a good sign. He’d probably gone through the whole lot of photos already.
“Interesting,” he said, his look enigmatic. His face gave nothing away but his smile said it all. She’d been discovered and not in a flattering way.
Serena leaned over and reached for the album. Rude or not, it was time to get that thing away from him. “I’ll put that away. I’m sure there are a lot more interesting things for you to do with your time.”
“Oh no, you don’t,” he said with a chuckle and held tight, refusing to let her take it from his hands.
“But those are just old pictures. Nothing you’d like to see.” She stepped around the table, determined to retrieve the source of her embarrassment. Some of the photos in there were so terrible the man could blackmail her with them if he wanted.
“Oh, but I do,” he said in a teasing tone and slid the book away from her and onto the seat beside him. Clearly, he was determined to keep flipping through the pages, leaving her open to more and more humiliation. Well, it wasn’t going to happen.
Before he could guess her intention Serena dove for the album and snatched it up into her arms. She was turning away, determined to get the book as far away from him as possible, when she felt hands like bands of steel wrap around her waist. With one tug he pulled her off balance then she was falling backwards, unable to stop herself from landing squarely on his lap.
Roman laughed out loud as her bottom landed on the hardness of his jean-clad legs. “Where are you going, little girl?”
She gasped, still hugging the photo album close to her chest. “I…I just wanted to…” She stopped, not able to go on. The words fled from her mind and all she could think about was the feel of his hardness through the fabric of her jeans. It wasn’t just the firm muscles of his legs that had her squirming. Right where the curve of her hip rested on his groin she could feel the solid rock of his arousal.
Now Roman’s smile was gone and in its place was a look of passion so deep, so intense that Serena clutched the album, her shield, even tighter. But he was having none of that. With strong fingers Roman pulled the book from her hands and laid it on the table. Then he turned his attention back to her.
Dear Lord, what was he going to do now? It was a stupid question. The thumping of her heart and the tightness in her lungs told her she already knew. Roman was going to kiss her and she wanted it so bad. Her ni**les hardened in anticipation.
As Roman lowered his head Serena closed her eyes and when his lips touched hers she sighed. She’d been waiting for this for so long. God, how she wanted him.
As she melted in his embrace Serena felt Roman’s hand slide up to cup the back of her head and then he was in total control, his masterful kiss making her gasp in response. Soon she was kissing back, giving him as much as he gave, all her caution thrown out the window.
He slid his lips away and she gave a soft moan which became a mewl when he began to nibble her ear. Christ, when his lips moved lower to tickle her neck she had no power to resist. Eyes closed, she tilted her head back all the better to give him access.
Roman needed no further encouragement. His lips feathered over her skin then paused at the valley between her br**sts, warming her already heated flesh. Serena slid trembling fingers through the silky thickness of his hair, pressing him into her, wanting the sweetness of his lips on her body.
Roman seemed to sense her desperate need because, with one hand, he began to loosen the buttons on her blouse. Within seconds he had it wide open and only the lace of her bra separated his skin from hers. Without hesitation he moved the cups away, pushing them down until they lay under her br**sts which now thrust upward to meet his gaze.