Roman took another shower, a quick one this time because he was ready to explode. After he had come so hard the first time, he’d thought he had enough control over his body to talk to her. But here he was, shooting an endless load because he had finally got to touch her again. She had been so fucking hot. He could still hear her voice as she’d let go, and he could still feel the grip she’d had on his fingers. He should have known it would end like this. Resisting Evelyn had always been beyond his capabilities.
When he dressed again he headed out of the bedroom to go downstairs. His steps slowed outside the closed door of the other bedroom. Would she come out of there after what had just happened? Would she take him up on his offer? Giving her no place to hide pretty much guaranteed that she would be forced to confront their situation but he knew he still had a lot of w
Eve looked down the hall at the men carrying a piece of furniture up the stairs. She had stayed upstairs as long as she could until she’d heard people start going into the rooms, but the moments she had seen the transformation downstairs she’d been shocked. It felt like she had walked into a different house.Though the furniture was clearly expensive, it was sturdy and comfortable. The spacious living room looked so homey. Nothing like Roman’s house in London. And there was still so much room in there, which was the whole reason they had wanted this house. Her father would have thrived here. But for some reason, Roman had done extensions, making the house bigger and more spacious.Maybe he wasn’t used to living in small spaces. Would he live here? He had to be thinking about it because why would anyone d
Roman walked around the workmen to grab a bottle of whiskey and shot glass from the cabinet before he went upstairs to the main bedroom. They had already started in this room so he knew they would meet their deadline and get the bonus.But it would probably be all for nothing.“I need the room,” he said.He waited until the last person shut the door before he poured himself a straight shot and downed it quickly. It was early but fuck it. He needed it.How the hell was he supposed to recover from having his heart stomped on all the time? Evelyn was justified in wanting nothing to do with him, but hearing her say those words again felt like she'd wrenched his insides out.
Eve wiped her mouth and pushed her plate away. Roman hadn't touched much of his food even though he insisted it was delicious.He was probably thinking of his family.Though she had seen his father mentioned a few times when she had googled Roman’s name, he had never said anything about him before. She supposed he wouldn’t have, given the type of arrangement they’d had. They must be a close family. She knew she would be worried sick if anything like that was happening in her family.She was worried about her parents now, waiting for the other shoe to drop. She had a feeling something other than the gossip from the morning papers had made those reporters excited enough to congregate outside the gates like that.
The moment Evelyn’s lips touched his, Roman felt all the heaviness in his heart melt away. This was how he’d wanted this to go from the start but... What would this cost him?Evelyn’s lips were so soft as he kissed them and trailed them with his tongue. She didn’t pull away. She let him gently press his lips to her, pleading with her to have mercy on him. And when she responded, when she opened her lips to allow him to taste her, he put aside all the guilt he’d felt all day.He put it aside so easily that he was disgusted with himself. But holy fuck, he was kissing her again.He tried not to get greedy but the moment he started exploring her mouth he was completely lost. He pulled Evelyn across the small space between them until her
Evelyn stretched and tried not to smile when she felt the warm body next to hers.It had been inevitable. She should have realised that the first day she had come to the door to collect her car. Her love for Roman had refused to be hidden any longer the moment he had opened the door.It was her feelings of guilt and shame she had to battle with. She had put herself right back into the situation she had tried so hard to put behind her as if despite everything just because she couldn’t resist him.“Good morning, Evelyn.”His warm breath tickled her ear as Roman pulled her closer against him. And she decided at that moment to leave her shame and guilt for another time. She had craved his touch f
Roman watched Evelyn look at the screen for the millionth time before she tried to call her parents again.“They’re still not answering,” she said.“They’re probably inundated with calls. They probably just switched them off,” he assured her as he took a cup of coffee to her.“But if people are calling them that means it won’t be long until those reporters find them,” she said.Evelyn was biting her fingers as she looked back at the screen. He had done this to her.“I’m getting reports every half hour. So far everything is quiet there. But you’re right, it won’t take long fo
“Evelyn, what are you doing? Why has this man who has been sitting in his car outside my house come in and said he’s with the security team?”The disappointment in her mother’s voice cut her deeply. And she had called her by her full name.Eve sat heavily on a chair at the kitchen table and looked down in shame. Her sex life had caused this. Her inability to say no to Roman. She would never be able to lift her head high again.“I’m sorry mum. Someone at work recognised me and... I didn’t think it would get that far. I thought I could just hide here and the reporters would go away.”“Well, because of that I had to cancel my shift last night and you know we c
Roman unlocked the door and then opened it for Evelyn to walk in first. She hesitated on the threshold. He could see it written all over her face how much she didn’t want to be here. This was the same place she had left in the middle of the night after spending a whole weekend hiding away from him in fear.He should have thought of that. Maybe this place held more bad memories than good. They could drive to his apartment instead if she really wanted to.“Do you want to go to my apartment in the city?”It would be too noisy and busy, and they wouldn’t be able to go outside. But if she wanted to he would have to do it. It would just add a few more extra steps to the plan, the one he had already almost obliterated by telling that girl to reveal Eve
Roman opened the door before the doorbell could ring and ushered Phillip inside quickly. “Did you bring it?” He ignored Phillip’s eye roll as he handed him a bag. “I said to hide it!” he hissed as he hid the bag in his coat, “You made me drive all this way for this,” Phillip said. “It was an emergency,” he said. “And I don’t know why you’re complaining. There’s food here, you were going to find an excuse to come, anyway.” He walked to the stairs quickly. “Everyone’s outside. I will be there as soon as I can.”
Evelyn didn’t say anything after his life-altering confession. He could see the unshed tears in her eyes and her mouth dropped open.But no words.“Say something, Evelyn,” he whispered.The rest of his life depended on this conversation. Had he made the right choice? He’d put his heart on the line again knowing that he would never recover if she left him. But was it enough to just tell her he loved her?“There has been no one else for me since you walked into my building for your interview. No one. I saw your face that night when you saw me with Vivian, I know that’s when I lost your trust,” he said. “But I haven’t kissed anyone, I haven’t hugged anyone, I
Evelyn was falling for it again.She didn’t know why she had extended the invitation to him instead of just coming clean to her parents. Now he was taking the role of devoted boyfriend too far. He’d joined in and fit in so easily because that was what he did. He could charm the socks off anyone.And she knew this so why was she falling for it again?Just because they’d danced for the first time? Because he’d looked so vulnerable as if for a change they were having a real conversation?But he had done the same when he’d made her sign the contract. He was good at pretending to be what she wanted. Good at pulling at her heartstrings and making her forget who he was under all of that.
Did he buy enough presents?Roman looked back at the back seat full of wrapped presents, the ones he couldn’t fit into the boot.Fuck. It was too much. Would they think he was trying to buy their affection?The gate slid open and it was too late to pull away and dump the presents somewhere. He drove up the driveway with his nerves playing havoc with him and stopped the car next to Evelyn’s.He could do this. He could meet the parents and tell Evelyn how he felt. Just say it and let the chips fall where they may.He saw the front door open and realised he had been sitting in the car for a while. When he got out, he saw it was Evelyn who&rsq
Roman sipped his drink and looked around the club. There were a few couples just holding each other and swaying rather than dancing. By the looks on their faces, he doubted they even knew what song was playing, they were lost in each other.It made his chest ache.He turned back to his drink and the woman beside him. At least the music was low enough to allow a conversation.If he could open his fucking mouth.“How have you been?” he asked.“You could have asked me that when I came to your apartment earlier,” Evelyn snorted.“I know. But I think you’v
He’d done the right thing.Maybe for the first time in his life.So why did he feel like shit again? Like she’d stomped on his dead heart again?He’d poured himself another drink the moment she had left but he still had it in his hand fuck knew how long later. It had taken everything in him to let her walk out that door, so now he had nothing left.The sound of the door closing pulled him out of his thoughts. He gulped his whiskey down and set the glass down before Phillip walked into the room. Phillip looked at the empty glass and then at him. He was now like an annoying, nagging aunty more than anything.“I&
When the elevator stopped in the basement, Evelyn felt like a fool for assuming too many things. Maybe because the things she had read in Pam’s article had stuck in her head. Why had she even thought he would try to explain his actions? Or maybe tell more lies to try to get her back?She’d been so confident he would do that that she’d been thrown off track when he hadn’t. And then all the things she had wanted to ask had escaped her mind. Now she still didn’t know if her parents’ house was really a done deal or she would have to move them again.And if she was honest with herself, she was gutted that he hadn’t even tried. She’d expected something that would have at least allowed her some closure.What did he mean by saying he n
Eve stopped the car at the barrier and rolled down the window. There were two intimidating security guards in the guardhouse that made her want to turn back instantly.This was a mistake.“Um, I’m here to see Mr. Ashfield,” she said to them.She saw the look on the man’s face before he said, “Mr. Ashfield doesn’t accept visitors,” and then shut his window.Did they get this all the time? Women trying to see Roman without an invitation? Though she had washed her hands of him, it still hurt to think about him moving on.She could have called or messaged Roman to tell her she had arrived but maybe this was a sign
Roman slammed the phone down and ignored Phillip as he looked through the paperwork in front of him. He knew Phillip would have something to say about his behaviour but he was tired of hearing that shit.“Are you going home tonight?” Phillip asked.“Yes, when I finish all this. I’ll drive myself so you can do whatever you want.”“I can order some food_”“I’m fine, Phillip,” he said firmly.“You’ve just shouted at Penny for no reason,” Phillip pointed out.He’d been shouting at her a lot. He was surprised his PA hadn