Blair turned to face him. Lifting her body up on the bed and leaning back against the bedhead, making sure the sheet stayed in place to cover her breast. Blair was a little surprised she only had a slight headache after drinking what she had last night. Roman tilted his head as he studied her. Sighing, he sat up on the bed to face her. “What is it?” He was totally unconcerned about his nakedness. Why would he? Not only was his body impressive, but his equipment was nothing to sneeze at, he also knew how to use it. Blair never realized what she was missing while involved with Dan. Blair looked down at her hands resting on her lap. Needing to look away from the heat in his eyes for a moment. He had always had a very intense gaze, and she squirmed a little because it was zeroed in on her now, after everything they had done. She felt the need to reach out and touch his chest and right now; they had to talk. Not have sex again. She didn’t think she could, anyway. She was just a little
Blair’s stood in front of the bathroom mirror watching Roman shave. She knew by that afternoon he would have a noticeable 3 o’clock shadow. She had loved the feel of his stubbled chin as he had kissed her breasts. Her breasts bore a delicate trace of a faint beard burn. Surprisingly, it didn’t cause her any pain. When she first noticed the marks on her body, a wave of pleasurable memories rushed through her, causing her cheeks to blush. Even now, heat flooded her body.As if sensing her over heated state, Roman looked at her in the mirror. Pulling the razor away from his face. “Are you ok?”“Huh… Yeah.” Looking away. “I was thinking, I need to head home to collect my things.” She gave a laugh and pointed to his bathrobe she was currently wearing. “Unless, of course, you don’t mind me coming to the office in your robe.”Roman turned towards her and rested his hip on the vanity. Watching her for a moment before saying. “Are we talking no underwear?”And with that one comment went the hea
Twenty minutes later, Peters arrived to collect Blair.“You know this isn’t necessary. I could just call down and make sure Dan is working today. Once I know the coast is clear, make a run for the apartment and clear everything out.” Blair felt uncomfortable standing in the living area of Roman’s apartment, in yesterday’s clothes and no underwear under the watchful eyes of Roman’s head of security. There was no way she would wear dirty underwear, and she definitely wouldn’t wear wet underwear if she washed them. Roman pulled on his suit jacket. “I’m not having you go there alone, Blair. End of discussion.”Arrogant ass. But it gave her a secret little thrill that he cared about it, Blair thought before saying aloud. “Dan has never hurt me, well physically, at least. I’m perfectly safe.” Roman finished with his jacket and walked over to her. He obviously didn’t care that Peters was watching because he leaned down and took her mouth in a hungry demand. Shocking Blair by the intense ki
Call it shock and madness or even irony. But Blair couldn’t help it. She started laughing.“Stop it Blair, this isn’t funny.” Laura pouted. Clearly upset that Blair was laughing.“Oh, but it is.” Blair saw Peters come up behind Laura. Blair shook her head at him, wiping the tears from her eyes caused by the laughing. Seeing the movement from Blair, he stayed silent, just standing there behind her cousin, watching her. Blair was sure if Laura made any sudden movements towards her again, Peters would have her pinned to the wall. “Let me guess, the baby is Dan’s or are you going to palm it off as Dan’s?” Blair went back to packing now. She had Peters watching over her. She left out an outfit and underwear for today. “I’m not a slut. The baby is Dan’s,” Laura screamed at her.She wasn’t Mother Teresa either. Far removed, with the men that had been in Laura's bed. “Okay, whatever. I really don’t care. It’s your problem now. You’ll have to explain everything to your parents and Dan’s moth
As Blair arrived back at the office, Peters had offered to take her things to Roman’s estate after dropping her off. By the time she stepped off the lift to their floor, she was completely emotionally wiped. Kara came out from behind her desk when she saw Blair. “Are you coming for drinks tonight?”Blair had totally forgotten that today was Friday. Which gave her a little thrill knowing she and Roman would have the weekend together. She was sure there would be so much he had planned for her.“Hm, I had..” How was she going to get out of it? Blair went at least every two weeks for an hour at least. She and Dan would often go together. Would he take Laura? “I’m not sure I can this week.” Blair needed to find out about Roman’s plans first.Kara smiled. “Are you doing something with Dan this weekend?”Everyone knew at the office that Blair had been engaged. Now she wasn’t. Surprised that she didn’t care everyone knowing the truth and what a dog Dan was. Some would slap him on the back, t
Blair stared at him wide eyed. There was no way she could answer the phone right now. Her mind was mush, and she wasn’t sure if she could even string two words together.Roman gave her another smirk and reached across the desk to lift the phone. “Roman.” That one word sounded normal as he rested the phone between his head and shoulder. She watched him deal with the used condom and pulled up his pants, tucking his shirt back in. “No, she isn’t at her desk right now. I have her tied up doing something else for me.” A sparkle entered his eyes as he said, tied up. Just how kinky was Roman. The idea wasn’t frightening to her, not if Roman was in charge. She was sure she would never let Dan do anything like that to her. That realization just showed her subconscious level of trust for both men.Blair left him to manage the call. As she grabbed her underwear from his desk, she raced across the room to his private bathroom. “Oh, my god.” she couldn’t believe what had just happened again in h
Blair sat at her desk, worried about how she was going to explain to her family about her broken engagement. Her sisters would standby her no matter what she did. She wasn’t sure how Sutton would feel about her moving in with Roman after what she went through with Luca in Europe. If only she had his full name, she would ring that asshole and give him a piece of her mind. But other than his first name, Sutton had shared very little. She and Keira didn’t push for details. She saw the shadows in Sutton’s eyes every time someone mentioned the father of her baby.Her mobile on her desk started to ring. She looked down to see it was auntie Viv. Shit. Taking a deep breath, Blair picked it up before pressing the answer button. “Hi auntie Viv.” She waited for her aunt to speak first. Blair didn’t know if Laura or Dan had said anything yet and would wait until her aunt spoke first. It was a good tactic Roman used, say little until you had all the information. “Oh Blair, I’m so glad you answer
Blair glanced at the clock on her wall and was a little surprised to see that it was 5:45 pm. She hadn’t even realized. She had been busy catching up on all the meeting notes for Roman’s files and sending off any actioning emails from the meetings. Blair sat back in her chair and stretched out her back with her arms raised in the air. Before relaxing again. She needed to call her sisters and with the door connecting her and Roman’s office closed, now seemed the best time.Picking up her phone, she dialed Sutton’s number. “Hi hon,” Came Sutton’s soft voice in her ear.“Hey, how is my niece or nephew doing today?” Was the first question out of her mouth. Sutton’s pregnancy hadn’t been easy. She had had morning sickness nonstop for the first four months. Whoever had called it morning sickness had lied. Sutton had thrown up at anytime and often. She and Keira both believed part of it had been the stress of her ex leaving her pregnant and alone. God, she hoped so, because there was a chan
The SUV cruised smoothly down the highway, the late morning sun casting warm streaks of light across the seats.Roman kept one hand on the wheel, the other curled around Blair’s fingers resting on the center console. Keira and Sutton sat in the back, the latter scrolling through her phone while Keira hummed along to whatever pop track was playing softly through the speakers.She was so glad that her sisters liked Roman. It made everything so much easier. She wasn’t looking forward to today, but with Roman and her sisters by her side, she would get through it. But when this was over, she wouldn’t be helping her aunt and uncle out anymore. They could only take gratitude so far, and she was all out. After the way they had treated Sutton when she had come home pregnant, but their total acceptance of Laura’s pregnancy and the fact that they had said Laura couldn’t help falling in love with Blair’s fiancé... The lies people told themselves to make it okay. Her cousin was a slut.Blair glan
Blair stood in front of the vanity mirror, the soft hum of activity echoing faintly from downstairs as preparations for their departure continued. She adjusted her earring, watching her reflection with a mix of dread and determination. The engagement party was being held today. Dan and Laura’s. And somehow, she had to get through it with her head held high.Behind her, Roman moved about the room, buttoning the crisp white shirt that clung to his chest and arms in all the ways that made her thoughts stray from anything remotely appropriate for public.Blair bit her lip as her eyes lingered on him. He was effortlessly gorgeous, confident, powerful, every inch of him a distraction she didn’t need right now. But God, did she want him? Since the accident, since the moment Ethan had pulled her out of the way of that falling concrete, they hadn’t touched each other sexually. The mild concussion had taken precedence, and Roman hadn’t pushed. He had been gentle. Thoughtful. Patient.But this m
Roman sat behind his desk at the office, the light coming in from the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him cast him in shadow to anyone entering the office. His phone was on silent, though his gaze kept flicking toward it every few minutes. He’d told himself that leaving Blair with his family was the smart move. Eleanor and Rose were both fiercely capable, but it didn’t make being away from her any easier. He was constantly worrying about her.He should be focused. Peters had sent over a folder of updates that morning, and Roman had already skimmed the contents twice. No obvious threats. No strange activity flagged with her family. No signs of who might be targeting Blair. And yet, the pit in his stomach hadn’t gone away. So who the hell was doing this?He scrubbed a hand over his face, frustrated. Whoever was behind this was careful. Too careful.A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. Kara poked her head in. “Roman? The catering team confirmed they have arrived at the estat
Blair barely had time to prepare herself before Roman’s mother, Eleanor, enveloped her in a warm embrace the moment she got within reaching distance. The embrace was warm and welcoming, and it surprised the hell out of Blair.“Blair, darling,” Eleanor said as she pulled back, keeping Blair’s hands in hers as she scanned her over with a keen eye. “It’s so good to finally meet you face to face, though I wish it were under better circumstances.” Curving an arm behind Blair’s back.Before Blair could respond, James Kingston stepped forward, his presence just as commanding as his son’s, though far less intimidating. “You gave us all quite the scare,” he said, his sharp gaze flickering to Roman. “I assume you’re handling this situation.”Roman gave a curt nod. “It’s being handled.”James sighed, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “I trust you are taking every precaution? This wasn’t just a random accident, not after it happening twice within twenty-four hours.”“I know that,” Roman said tightly.
Blair exhaled in relief as she stepped outside the hospital doors, the cool breeze brushing against her skin. Roman was beside her, his hand resting possessively on the small of her back, guiding her toward the waiting car. She was exhausted, her body still sore, but at least she was going home. It amazed her really that she was so tired. She had slept, but she was still tired. But during the time it had taken the nurses to come around with the paperwork for her to sign, all she had done was think. About why someone would want to kill her? And who had so much hatred toward her that they would go to such extremes?Ethan opened the back door of the sleek black SUV, nodding to Roman before stepping back into position. Roman helped her inside, making sure she was settled before joining her. As soon as the door shut, sealing them inside the quiet comfort of the car, she leaned her head back against the seat with a sigh.“God, I hate the smell of hospitals,” she murmured.Roman smirked, re
Seeing Sutton standing here waiting for him hadn’t surprised him. If it had been his sister Rose, he would be demanding answers as well. He had expected this conversation. He exhaled slowly, bracing himself.“What is it?” he asked, keeping his voice even.Sutton studied him for a moment before speaking. “I need to know something, and I need you to be honest with me, Roman. Is there any reason, any at all, that Blair would be in danger because of you?”Roman’s jaw tightened. “No. Well... I’m not one hundred percent sure, but it wouldn’t be business. Everything I do within business is legitimate. I have my men on it. They will not leave one stone unturned, and neither will I, Sutton. You have my word.”Sutton didn’t back down. “Are you sure you didn’t make an enemy in business? Someone with a grudge? Someone that lost out in a deal? Something from your past? Because I swear to God, if you have knowingly put her in danger—”Roman cut her off, his voice firm but calm. “I would never put B
Roman stood by Blair’s bedside, watching as she spoke quietly with her sisters. She was still pale, exhaustion clear in the soft lines of her face, but there was a fire in her eyes that reassured him. She was strong, but even the strongest needed protection. And he would make damn sure she had it.He needed to make some calls, so with one last glance at her, he squeezed her hand and murmured, “I’ll be back soon. I just need to make a few calls. Try to get some rest.”Blair gave him a small smile. “You don’t have to hover, you know. My sisters are here to do enough of that for you.”Keira smirked from her chair. “Oh, don’t worry. We’ll keep her entertained. You go do your brooding billionaire thing.”Roman rolled his eyes but smirked. He actually liked Blair’s sisters, even Keira, who had a sharp tongue and a wicked sense of humor. She was the kind of woman who would be a handful for any man. Sutton, on the other hand, had a quiet intensity that reminded him of himself. She took respon
Blair stirred as she slowly became aware of the steady beeping of a heart monitor and the faint murmur of voices around her. The antiseptic scent of the hospital filled her nose, and the stiffness in her body reminded her that she was definitely not in her own bed. Her head ached, a dull, persistent throb, and her ankle was elevated, wrapped tightly.Before she could fully open her eyes, she felt the warm, firm grip of a familiar hand holding hers.“Blair,” Roman’s voice was quiet but filled with intensity. “Are you awake?”She forced her eyes open, blinking against the brightness of the room. Roman was seated beside her, his expression unreadable but the tension in his posture evident. His other hand rested on her thigh over the hospital blanket, his grip grounding her. He looked… well, rumpled. Not his normal self.“Hey,” she murmured, her voice raspy. “You look like hell.”Roman let out a breath, something between a laugh and a scoff. “You’re the one in the hospital bed, sweetheart
Ethan barely had time to move Blair into a sitting position before the sound of screeching tires tore through the air. She almost flinched after what had happened yesterday. But it was Roman’s car that came to a halt so fast it nearly skidded, the driver-side door flinging open before the vehicle had fully stopped. Roman was out in an instant, his eyes locking on Blair where she sat on the pavement with Ethan crouched beside her. She could see that Peters was with him.His face was thunderous as he strode toward them, looking around at the broken concrete shattered around the ground. “What the fuck happened?”Ethan straightened. “That,” he pointed to the pieces of concrete, “fell from the building. Miss Warner was almost hit. I pushed them both out of the way. Unfortunately, they both hit the sidewalk and the side of the building pretty hard.”But at least she hadn’t got her head crashed in by a fulling building. There was no way of surviving that.Roman’s jaw clenched, his gaze flick