Page 116 of Roman

“How terribly shocking.” Then she turned to Roman. “You are here for breakfast, so you are gone this evening?”

He shook his head. “No, I am staying here for the next few days. I want to be close to Effie.”

“No,” I burst out.

They turned to me, shock on their faces at my outburst.

“I mean, I’m fine. Really. Nonna and I were going to work in the garden if the rain lets up and make bagels later. Tomorrow, Vi is coming for lunch. I have plans on Friday. Don’t disrupt your schedule to babysit me.”

“I’m not babysitting. You’ve had a big shock. I want to look after my wife,” he said quietly, studying me. “Do you not want me around, Effie?”

Nonna stood, taking her plate to the kitchen. I knew she was giving us some privacy. Roman crossed his arms on the table, studying me. “You don’t believe me,” he said. “You don’t believe that I love you.”

“I simply need some time to sort everything through in my head,” I admitted. “Last night—hearing her voice… It brought back a lot of painful memories.”

“You believed her.”

“I didn’t know what to believe.”

He rested his chin on his steepled fingers. “Believe this. I fought against loving you because I was sure I had no idea how to love. Not the kind of love you deserved. But last night when I was rushing here, when I thought you were hurt, I knew I was exactly the man you deserved because no one could possibly love you more. I will protect you with my last breath. I want to spoil you. Laugh with you. Love you.” He drew in a long breath. “I want to build a life with you, Effie. Tell me what you need me to do, and I will do it. But don’t ask me to stay away from you. That is one thing I cannot do any longer.”

I blinked at his words. They were heartfelt. Real. I felt his love as he gazed at me.

“I don’t want you to stay away from me.”

He relaxed. “Good.”

“I just want to be normal. I need a little time, Roman. Just a little time.”

He studied me, then nodded. “Fine. I’ll go today, but I will be home tonight. Aldo and I are trying to stay away a few nights in a row and see how our managers step up.”

He wiped his mouth and stood, then surprised me and bent low, pulling my head to his and kissing me. “You love me, I know it,” he murmured. “You’ve shown it in a thousand ways, and now I’m going to show you.”

He left me with the feel of his mouth on mine and his touch on my skin.

It was early when I woke up, once again surrounded by Roman. It was that way every day waking up with him, but the past couple of nights, he’d been extra close to me. I shifted, rolling over so we were facing each other. He was still asleep, his face relaxed and the tension gone from around his mouth and eyes. I traced the contours of his face, ran my finger down the bridge of his straight nose and lightly ran my fingertip over his full lips. I glanced up, stopping when I saw his green eyes open, sleepy and warm. An indulgent smile pulled on his lips.

“Don’t stop, Effie. I love it when you touch me.”

“You do?” I asked.

He propped his head on his hand, his elbow pressing into the mattress. “Yes. I should have known immediately how different you were. I liked your touch. Now I crave it. I hate being away from you.”

“Oh,” I whispered.

“I think about you when we’re not together. I wonder what you’re doing. If you’re thinking about me.”

“I do.”

He smiled, tracing his finger along my jaw. “My Effie,” he murmured. “However we started, I am so grateful to have you.”

He slowly bent his head, giving me a chance to say no. But I didn’t want to say no. I wanted to feel his mouth on mine. To taste him. We needed to reconnect. To move as one, locked in an intimacy as old as time. To feel that link.

I needed him.

His mouth covered my lips, his body shifting so he was over me, pressing me into the plush fabric, claiming me. His heat branded me. His warmth soaked into my skin. His tongue mated with mine, and he groaned low in his throat.

“Every time,” he rasped. “Every time with you is so fucking erotic. You make me crazy.”