Roman's Vow (Riley's Pride #4) - Sandra R Neeley Page 0,87
she looked out at the road ahead of them. “I’ve never had the luxury of being able to choose what I wanted to do with my life. I’ve always had to hurry up and make a quick dollar anyway I could.”
“No more. You decide what you’d rather do, and that’s what we’ll do,” Roman said, reaching for her hand.
Talie let Roman hold her hand in his as he drove. She loved the feeling of his big, warm hand around hers. She thought about all he’d said, and started weighing her options. “If you’re taking this vehicle to work, how will I take Darcie to school?”
Roman grinned when he glanced at Talie. “This is your SUV, Talie. I bought it for you to drive and be able to do what you wanted when you got home. We have a work truck we share at home. When we go somewhere as a family, we’ll probably take this if you don’t mind, but when I go to work, I’ll be riding with Lucas and Laz, or Riley.”
Talie didn’t say anything and Roman glanced toward her again to see if she was thinking or at the very least what her expression was. “What?” he asked when he found her staring at him with her mouth hanging open.
“You bought me a vehicle when I was still in jail?” she asked.
“Well, yeah. You were doing your best to survive, so I was doing my best to build our family and get us all the things we’d need,” Roman said. He glanced at her and she seemed to be really emotional. “You okay?” he asked.
“Pull over,” she said.
“Now?” he asked.
“Right now. Right here,” Talie said.
Roman put on his blinker to signal he’d be pulling over to the side of the road, and safely brought the SUV to a stop. As soon as he put the vehicle in park, Talie was on him, pressing her lips to his, kissing him so passionately that it was all he could do not to rip the steering wheel out of the dash in order to get to her better.
She slipped her leg across his lap and straddled him while she kissed him slowly, methodically, holding his head in her hands as she explored his mouth. Minutes later after finally coming up for air, she slowly pulled her face back just enough to be able to rub her cheek against his. “I don’t know how I got so lucky,” she whispered, “I’m just so thankful I did.”
Roman and his Gorilla were in agreement that they needed to find a tree and carry their mate to the top of it to claim her as theirs — right now, this minute. But he knew somewhere deep inside, she needed more time. Forcing a claim wasn’t going to help her settle in or his animal feel that much more secure. They both needed to know Talie felt at home with them, had chosen them of her own free will even though they were already legally married. They needed to know her heart had chosen them just as her head had done.
“I’m the luckiest male alive, Talie. I still can’t believe I found you,” Roman said.
Talie smiled at him, then leaned forward pressing her lips to his again.
Roman kissed her back, his chest beginning to rumble.
Talie pressed her hand against his chest as they continued their kiss, smiling when the soft rumble grew louder. “How do you do that?” she asked, on a smile.
“Always happens when I’m happy. I don’t really think about it,” he admitted. “Does it bother you?” he asked, a bit afraid of her answer.
“No, I like it. Just never heard anything like it.”
“Talie,” Roman said hesitantly.
“Umhmm,” she answered, her eyes closed and her forehead pressed to his.
“I… I got you something. And I was gonna wait until you were feeling more at home with me, but, I’m finding I can’t stop thinking about it. I’m not usually a selfish male, but with you and Darcie, I find I’m very selfish. Ya’ll are my family. MY family. And… well, everybody at Darcie’s school knows I’m her Daddy, but, anybody meeting you, unless I’m with you won’t know you’re mine. And I want everybody to know you’re taken, you’re loved and you have someone that will always watch over you,” he said.
“But, I know that,” Talie said.
“Yeah, and that’s the most important thing. But, I want everybody else to know it, too,” he said, letting go of her with his right hand to open