Page 72 of Roman

CHAPTER 17

ROMAN

It was dark when I returned. Effie wasn’t on the sofa or in the tub or my bed. I checked in Nonna’s suite and found her on the sofa there, pretending to be asleep. The rapid rise and fall of her chest told me otherwise.

But she wanted to play the injured party and sleep on the sofa? Fine by me.

I had a fast shower and slid into bed nude. I always slept nude before Effie. I had only put on sweatpants for her modesty. It felt good to have the whole bed back, and I stretched out, plumping the pillow under my head. Except the movement made the scent trapped in the fabric waft into my nose.

Effie’s floral aroma hit me. I inhaled the soft fragrance, trying to ignore the way my body reacted. I rolled over, snapping off the light and willing myself to relax. Except I only grew tenser. Shutting my eyes only brought her image to the forefront.

Was she comfortable?

Had she eaten?

Did she have a blanket?

Did she miss me?

Furious, I flung back the comforter and stalked through the closet and into Nonna’s suite. I went directly to the sofa, thrusting my hands under Effie and lifting her into my arms.

She pushed at me. “Let me go.”

“No,” I snapped. “You sleep in my bed.”

“No.”

I pushed my face close to hers. “Listen, little prisoner. You do what I tell you to do.”

I put her on the mattress, growling in frustration when she rolled off the other side and shook her head. “I said no.”

“You have no choice.”

She turned and ran into the office, with me hot on her heels. She headed for the door, but she couldn’t unlock it in the dark. I grabbed her around the waist, removing her from the only exit. She squirmed and called me names.

“Fuck you, Costas.”

I dumped her on the desk, pushing between her legs. “Fuck you, Costas?” I repeated. “Men have died for saying less, Little Tiger.”

“Then kill me.”

“How about I fuck you instead?” I murmured, my body on fire for her.

She tossed her hair, glaring. Then suddenly, she pulled my head to hers, kissing me hard. She nipped my bottom lip, surprising me. “You want to fuck me, Costas?” she whispered. “Is that what you want? It’s all I’m good for, right? A sexual relationship, but nothing else? A nice tight virgin to play with for a while?” She scored my back with her nails.

“You’re not a virgin anymore,” I shot back, yanking her against me, letting her feel every inch of my raging hard-on.

“Then do your worst.”

I tore away the flimsy underwear she wore and ripped her shirt open at the front, the buttons scattering everywhere. I grabbed her knees, opening them wider, and snapped my hips. I was inside her, the heat and wet of her wrapped around me.

“Jesus, Effie. You want me. Even furious, you want me.”

“Shut up and fuck me.”

I wrapped an arm around her waist, bending slightly and bracing myself on the desk, my frustration reaching the boiling point.

She wanted to get fucked?