to fight.”
“There’s hope for you, Lola, and that makes me the happiest man alive.”
“It still might not work,” I press, unable to accept his surrender.
He shakes his head wildly, gripping my cheeks fervently. “Like I once told you, this will work, it has to. I won’t accept another outcome. Scarlett dying, my mom being a shell of who she once was, my failing heart, it has to lead to you living. Because what’s the point of all this heartache otherwise? Live for me. Live the life I can’t live.”
Every part of my body aches. “How can I accept being saved? I’m no one special.”
Roman pins me with those stormy blue eyes and smiles. “Yes, you are. And aren’t I lucky to have something, someone worth saving?”
I throw myself into his arms, holding on so tight I’m certain we’ve become one.
He brushes over my hair, kissing my thumping pulse. “I pushed you away because how can we be together? How is that fair to you? I didn’t mean to fall in love with you. Every time I pushed, you pushed back twice as hard. Every time I tried to stay away, I found myself wanting you more and more. You challenged me, you tested me, and I fell completely and irrevocably under your spell. You have given me something to live for. It may be in vain, but it was nice while it lasted. I shouldn’t be here for so many reasons, but I can’t stay away from you.”
“I don’t want you to stay away.” I sob into his shoulder. “When I look at you, all I see is hope.”
Roman sighs, and I feel an invisible weight lift off his shoulders. He lays gentle kisses under my ear, stoking a fire within. “You thought I was your strength…but the truth is…you were mine.”
“Roman.” I gasp, unable to stand this turmoil. “There has to be another way.”
“There’s no cure for me, but there is for you.” He presses his lips to my temple. “You’re going to heal. You’re going to grow strong. You’re going to make a beautiful wife and be an amazing mother. That’s all I want for you. That’s why I pushed you. The greatest gift you can give me is to…live.”
A guttural sob takes over my body, and I weep uncontrollably, doubtful I’ll ever stop.
We have wasted countless minutes hiding and lying to protect the other from heartache, but if we had been honest from the beginning, then we would have had more time.
Suddenly, time is the enemy, and all I can think about is not wasting another minute—we’ve wasted enough.
Nothing feels more right than when I press my trembling lips to his. My forwardness catches him off guard, and he freezes, his body growing tense. But he soon relaxes when I meet his eyes, pleading we forget everything but our love.
My tears are long washed away when our lips collide in a union of longing, desperation, and need. Our kisses are fueled by what was just shared, and I suddenly want to climb inside him and never emerge.
I place both hands on his chest, feeling his strong heart beating wildly beneath my palms. The life source is the sound I march to, and I stop overthinking and just let go. I furl my fist over his heart, and with the other, I reach around and begin to unzip my dress.
Our lips never miss a beat as his frenetic fingers draw the straps over my shoulders and down my arms. I maneuver and twist before the dress pools at my waist, leaving us both bare. The moment he scoops me forward and presses us chest to chest, I want more—so much more.
I like that Roman will be my first and last, because no matter what happens, nothing, no one will ever trump this memory we’re about to make.
I’m strung tighter than a bow as I toy with the clasp at the front of my lacy bra. Just as it snaps, Roman’s hand shoots out, stopping me from disrobing. My eyes pop open, and I pull away in confusion. Why did he stop me?
“You don’t want to?” I whisper, unable to hide my fears.
His lips, those soft, luscious lips tip into a sinful smirk. “Of course, I do.” The affirmation is confirmed when he hums, his eyes flicking downward. “I just…do you?” He places a tender kiss on my shoulder, circling his tongue, before venturing downward. “Because I want you to know that I didn’t tell you this expecting anything.”
A