door and calling your name for thirty minutes.”
“I…I’m scared.”
“What are you scared of?”
“He was here. I saw him. He’s coming for me—he’s going to take me back—hurt me worse this time. He’ll kill me, or sell me to someone else…” My voice cracks. I can barely get the words out.
“Who? Who did you see?”
“My father. He’s coming for me. He’s going to take me back and hurt me again.” Roman's nostrils flare, and a muscle in his jaw ticks.
“No one is going to hurt you—not now, not tomorrow, not ever again. You’re safe with me.” His words confirm what I already know.
I am safe with him.
“I know, but you weren’t here,” I sob.
“Fuck, Sophie…” He sits down next to me, his back to the wall. Reaching over, he pulls me onto his lap, and I lean into him, needing his touch. He wraps his arms around me, and I bury my face into his chest. The spicy scent of cinnamon fills my nostrils, and with each breath I take, the fear slowly leaves my body.
With his arms wrapped around me, I feel whole again, like all my broken pieces are being fused back together. Slowly, my breathing returns to normal and the tears stop falling. I feel warm, like I’ve found my home.
“Are you okay?” he whispers into my hair, his lips grazing against the side of my temple. I play over everything he told me this morning, over how he said he’d chew me up and spit me out if I got too close to him. He sees himself as the villain when he’s the hero.
“No.” I shake my head, clutching onto his shirt. I don’t want him to let me go. I don’t want to lose his touch. “I’m scared, and the only time I feel safe is when I’m with you. It’s dumb, I know, and I don’t understand why I feel this way, but…”
“Sophie,” he groans, his voice shutting me up in an instant as his storm-filled gray eyes close. I turn in his arms, my face millimeters from his, my lips parted. I take in his raw beauty, the angle of his jaw, the cleft of his chin, the sharpness of his nose, the unblemished olive skin, the thick coal black eyelashes, and the silky brown locks that reside in a mop of unruliness on his head.
He’s so attractive, it hurts. A warmth fills my belly as I stare at his full lips for a second longer than necessary. He blinks his eyes open, and as if he can read my mind, or sense exactly what I want, he leans forward, his lips brushing against mine in a whisper. He does it again, his top lip grazing mine, stoking a fire somewhere deep inside me. I grip his shirt even tighter, wanting more of him, whatever parts of him he’ll give me. He continues to kiss me lazily, touching my lips with his, teasing me, and making me pant with need.
As if he’s tested the water enough, he presses his lips against mine fully. The kiss is powerful, searing a possessive hold over my body. His hand comes up to cup my cheek gently as he deepens the kiss, his tongue swiping across my bottom lip. I open to him, my heart sounding like a galloping horse inside my chest.
My movements are rushed and unsure while his are firm, full of determination. His touch remains gentle as he swipes his tongue against mine, forcing a moan from my throat. Liquid lighting shoots down my spine as I try to elongate the kiss. Before I get the chance, Roman pulls away, and I whimper at the loss of contact.
He leans forward, pressing his forehead against the side of my head as I turn in his arms, slightly embarrassed by my reaction to him. He kissed like I imagined a man would kiss, with unbridled passion and a possessiveness that could make a woman weep with need.
I knew my first kiss would be special, but I never expected it to be like this.
“We need to get you back to the house,” he whispers, his voice hoarse, his arms still wrapped around my body. I nod. He’s right. This moment, one I’ll cherish forever, must end.
“Okay,” I reply, my chest heaving up and down. I feel terrible that he had to kick the door in and Violet had to see me at one of my weakest points. Today was supposed to be a good day, my first taste