AriaIt was a beautiful day as we ventured through the city. It was warm enough to wear a dress and I found a midi-length one from the collection of clothes he had bought for me that I didn't mind. It was strappy and airy, made of a dark fabric that felt almost like butter against my skin.It was a bit out of my comfort zone, but the vague smile Roman wore once he spotted me made it worth it.Designer shades covered his eyes as we walked, hands in the pockets of his trousers. His clothes were neat as per usual, but he’d left two buttons casually undone. The watch on his wrist caught the sunlight, and everything about him seemed so put together.For someone involved in a ruthless lifestyle, he knew how to clean himself up. Damn.Roman held the door open for me, and a bell rang as we walked inside.The baby boutique didn't look like some basic store. It was far nicer than anything I had seen before, with shining wood floors and large windows to let more than enough sunlight in.Everythi
AriaWeeks LaterI had planned on sitting in the kitchen to write, but the laptop was long abandoned, and I spent most of the day in the bathroom.My arms dangled from the cool porcelain as I dry heaved, despising the feeling.There was no way I had anything left in my stomach, but it seemed never-ending.At the very least, I’d managed to make my way to the ensuite to spare Roman from hearing any of it. That would only make matters worse.Sighing once the toilet flushed and I sunk against the nearest wall, I tried to pull myself together.I wondered if it was something I had for dinner the night before. Normally, the chef was thorough and clean, and I never had problems with their cooking before this. I could only guess that the salmon that had been crusted with parmesan wasn't as fresh as they were told.Wiping at my mouth as the chills started to ebb away, I glanced at the vanity and wondered if Roman had bothered to get me any sanitary products.With a sigh, I crawled over and opene
RomanI was getting too attached to her and I knew it. Nikolai had tried to warn me, but I didn't care to listen.I knew it was a problem the moment I saw her in the kitchen, looking like she had spent the entire night drinking. She was a mess, but I still found her beautiful. Something about it made me feel ready to take on anything with her.Aria had quickly turned into the one thing I looked forward to, always losing myself to daydreams of her.It was unlike me in many ways, and that was a problem no matter how I felt.I didn't want to be hurt when I inevitably needed to let her go. I couldn't hold onto her forever, not when I owed her complete freedom. I turned her world completely upside down because of my negligence and robbed her of not knowing about organized crime and who my family really were. I did that to her.And I was growing more attached with every passing day. That was my karma.I couldn't help but want her, even if it went against my best interest and that of my fam
RomanAria hesitated then, seeming almost confused. She looked at the screen instead of me. "Are things getting any better?""Nikolai says so.""That's good then."It was awkward. Painfully awkward. But I couldn't help it. It had to be done."Did you get everything you needed today?" I asked, curious about what she got up to, even if I shouldn't be.Something moved across her face then, and she nodded."Let me know if you need anything else."Aria continued to look down at her food, seeming more uncomfortable than she had been before.I hated how I was coming across, especially with my unfriendly tone. I was being an ass."The food is good," Aria said, surely in an attempt to keep the conversation going.It felt like a lure cast in a lake, hoping I'd take the bait and be myself, the man she had grown used to after being around me for weeks.When I only hummed in response, I watched as her shoulders slumped. She looked hurt and confused, and I wished I could take that pain away. I wish
AriaThe butterflies in my gut were unavoidable as I got ready for the baby shower, putting on a light-colored dress that Roman said would be more than fitting for the day.While I was curious and intrigued by his family, the thought of meeting them all made my heart race. They were infamous to people who knew of them, and those who didn't were better off never crossing them.Fixing my hair into a neat bun and putting on a light amount of makeup felt like an impossible task while my stomach turned. I was more than aware that I had known I was pregnant for at least a week, and I still hadn't told Roman.I knew he'd be pissed off at me for not telling him sooner, but I hadn't worked up the courage to follow through with it yet. It was a lot to process on my own, and bringing him into it felt even more daunting.By the time I was ready to go and headed back downstairs, Roman was waiting in the kitchen. He perked up as I entered the room, and a small smile pulled on his lips."You look be
AriaThere was something stoic yet very telling of their dormant strength in each of them, like a raw viciousness they could harness whenever necessary.They were indeed threatening-looking, but dressed up in their nice clothes, they reminded me of done-up Persian cats, rather than rogue mountain lions."Everyone, this is Aria. I expect you all to treat her like family," Lyra began, gesturing to me politely. Then, she moved through the others. "This is my husband, Valentin. My love and light and retired party animal."While Valentin wore a satisfied smile at first, it faltered into a teasing grin when he looked at his wife. "You're lucky today is your day, as well as Aria's apparently."He held a hand out to shake, and I took it with as much confidence as I could muster.“It’s a pleasure to meet the one who has claimed my brother’s attention as of late.”There was a heavy dose of teasing in those words, and I felt as Roman stiffened beside me. He let go of a sigh while his brothers ch
AriaI barely had time to enter the house before Roman's lips were firmly on mine, back pressed against the wall.Melting into his touch as his fingers worked my hair elastic undone so he could run them through my tresses, I forgot about how strange he had been. The chilly distance between us dissipated at once, and all I wanted was more of him.Roman had an incredible power that rendered me useless from mere touch alone, leaving me wanting and frantic. It was no different from the first time as our mouths collided, melding like we were made for each other.It was impossible to breathe, but I didn't care. Air didn't feel necessary while his lips brushed against mine feverishly, pouring his own desire into the kiss.His other hand slipped down to my waist where he squeezed, drawing out a soft breath from me. He smiled into the kiss and pulled me impossibly close.There was no returning from the kiss without getting what we both wanted, that was abundantly clear.In a whirl of frantic
AriaStunned by what sounded like a promise, I only nodded, dumbstruck."Good," he murmured, gripping my chin in his hand as his lips crashed onto mine again.I saw nothing but darkness and stars as my lashes fluttered closed, too needy for him to care how it happened. His lips demanded all of my attention, and I had no mind to think about anything else.His tongue swiped against my lower lip, to which I complied, and he deepened the kiss so sinfully that even the devil himself would clutch his pearls.Instinctively, I spread my legs as his hand dropped to my thigh, reaching beneath my dress for those lace panties he had spied earlier.A shiver ran down my spine as he brushed against my pussy, already soaked for him. When he added more pressure, my back arched, silently begging for more."God, you feel so good," he groaned against my lips, his voice low and filled with need. "So fucking perfect."I couldn't stop the way my body reacted, but the heat in my chest flared. “You really thi
AriaStunned by what sounded like a promise, I only nodded, dumbstruck."Good," he murmured, gripping my chin in his hand as his lips crashed onto mine again.I saw nothing but darkness and stars as my lashes fluttered closed, too needy for him to care how it happened. His lips demanded all of my attention, and I had no mind to think about anything else.His tongue swiped against my lower lip, to which I complied, and he deepened the kiss so sinfully that even the devil himself would clutch his pearls.Instinctively, I spread my legs as his hand dropped to my thigh, reaching beneath my dress for those lace panties he had spied earlier.A shiver ran down my spine as he brushed against my pussy, already soaked for him. When he added more pressure, my back arched, silently begging for more."God, you feel so good," he groaned against my lips, his voice low and filled with need. "So fucking perfect."I couldn't stop the way my body reacted, but the heat in my chest flared. “You really thi
AriaI barely had time to enter the house before Roman's lips were firmly on mine, back pressed against the wall.Melting into his touch as his fingers worked my hair elastic undone so he could run them through my tresses, I forgot about how strange he had been. The chilly distance between us dissipated at once, and all I wanted was more of him.Roman had an incredible power that rendered me useless from mere touch alone, leaving me wanting and frantic. It was no different from the first time as our mouths collided, melding like we were made for each other.It was impossible to breathe, but I didn't care. Air didn't feel necessary while his lips brushed against mine feverishly, pouring his own desire into the kiss.His other hand slipped down to my waist where he squeezed, drawing out a soft breath from me. He smiled into the kiss and pulled me impossibly close.There was no returning from the kiss without getting what we both wanted, that was abundantly clear.In a whirl of frantic
AriaThere was something stoic yet very telling of their dormant strength in each of them, like a raw viciousness they could harness whenever necessary.They were indeed threatening-looking, but dressed up in their nice clothes, they reminded me of done-up Persian cats, rather than rogue mountain lions."Everyone, this is Aria. I expect you all to treat her like family," Lyra began, gesturing to me politely. Then, she moved through the others. "This is my husband, Valentin. My love and light and retired party animal."While Valentin wore a satisfied smile at first, it faltered into a teasing grin when he looked at his wife. "You're lucky today is your day, as well as Aria's apparently."He held a hand out to shake, and I took it with as much confidence as I could muster.“It’s a pleasure to meet the one who has claimed my brother’s attention as of late.”There was a heavy dose of teasing in those words, and I felt as Roman stiffened beside me. He let go of a sigh while his brothers ch
AriaThe butterflies in my gut were unavoidable as I got ready for the baby shower, putting on a light-colored dress that Roman said would be more than fitting for the day.While I was curious and intrigued by his family, the thought of meeting them all made my heart race. They were infamous to people who knew of them, and those who didn't were better off never crossing them.Fixing my hair into a neat bun and putting on a light amount of makeup felt like an impossible task while my stomach turned. I was more than aware that I had known I was pregnant for at least a week, and I still hadn't told Roman.I knew he'd be pissed off at me for not telling him sooner, but I hadn't worked up the courage to follow through with it yet. It was a lot to process on my own, and bringing him into it felt even more daunting.By the time I was ready to go and headed back downstairs, Roman was waiting in the kitchen. He perked up as I entered the room, and a small smile pulled on his lips."You look be
RomanAria hesitated then, seeming almost confused. She looked at the screen instead of me. "Are things getting any better?""Nikolai says so.""That's good then."It was awkward. Painfully awkward. But I couldn't help it. It had to be done."Did you get everything you needed today?" I asked, curious about what she got up to, even if I shouldn't be.Something moved across her face then, and she nodded."Let me know if you need anything else."Aria continued to look down at her food, seeming more uncomfortable than she had been before.I hated how I was coming across, especially with my unfriendly tone. I was being an ass."The food is good," Aria said, surely in an attempt to keep the conversation going.It felt like a lure cast in a lake, hoping I'd take the bait and be myself, the man she had grown used to after being around me for weeks.When I only hummed in response, I watched as her shoulders slumped. She looked hurt and confused, and I wished I could take that pain away. I wish
RomanI was getting too attached to her and I knew it. Nikolai had tried to warn me, but I didn't care to listen.I knew it was a problem the moment I saw her in the kitchen, looking like she had spent the entire night drinking. She was a mess, but I still found her beautiful. Something about it made me feel ready to take on anything with her.Aria had quickly turned into the one thing I looked forward to, always losing myself to daydreams of her.It was unlike me in many ways, and that was a problem no matter how I felt.I didn't want to be hurt when I inevitably needed to let her go. I couldn't hold onto her forever, not when I owed her complete freedom. I turned her world completely upside down because of my negligence and robbed her of not knowing about organized crime and who my family really were. I did that to her.And I was growing more attached with every passing day. That was my karma.I couldn't help but want her, even if it went against my best interest and that of my fam
AriaWeeks LaterI had planned on sitting in the kitchen to write, but the laptop was long abandoned, and I spent most of the day in the bathroom.My arms dangled from the cool porcelain as I dry heaved, despising the feeling.There was no way I had anything left in my stomach, but it seemed never-ending.At the very least, I’d managed to make my way to the ensuite to spare Roman from hearing any of it. That would only make matters worse.Sighing once the toilet flushed and I sunk against the nearest wall, I tried to pull myself together.I wondered if it was something I had for dinner the night before. Normally, the chef was thorough and clean, and I never had problems with their cooking before this. I could only guess that the salmon that had been crusted with parmesan wasn't as fresh as they were told.Wiping at my mouth as the chills started to ebb away, I glanced at the vanity and wondered if Roman had bothered to get me any sanitary products.With a sigh, I crawled over and opene
AriaIt was a beautiful day as we ventured through the city. It was warm enough to wear a dress and I found a midi-length one from the collection of clothes he had bought for me that I didn't mind. It was strappy and airy, made of a dark fabric that felt almost like butter against my skin.It was a bit out of my comfort zone, but the vague smile Roman wore once he spotted me made it worth it.Designer shades covered his eyes as we walked, hands in the pockets of his trousers. His clothes were neat as per usual, but he’d left two buttons casually undone. The watch on his wrist caught the sunlight, and everything about him seemed so put together.For someone involved in a ruthless lifestyle, he knew how to clean himself up. Damn.Roman held the door open for me, and a bell rang as we walked inside.The baby boutique didn't look like some basic store. It was far nicer than anything I had seen before, with shining wood floors and large windows to let more than enough sunlight in.Everythi
AriaTwo days had passed since Roman and I had sex. Two days since I lost my virginity to the hottest man on the planet.It still made my cheeks burn to think about it, and I couldn't help but wonder how I had managed to pull someone like Roman.He was so intense and intimidating, yet there was this softer side to him that I didn't think very many people got to see. He was calculated and otherwise focused on his family's dealings, but when he was spontaneous, he was intoxicating.I wondered if he knew how glad I was to know my kidnapper wasn't the worst person ever. And that despite the strange way we were brought together, there was already a special place for him in my mind and heart.No matter how many times I told myself to pull back, to not get my hopes up, I couldn't seem to help it. It felt like there was something between us, and if the other night had proven anything, it was that we had passion. A passion that I wanted to explore.The smell of coffee and bacon filled the kitc