Page 101 of Valentine’s Billionaire Auction

“Kaira,” he groaned, his voice ragged with need. “I’m close.”

“Me too,” I whispered against his neck, my fingers tightening in his hair. “You drive me wild.”

It was too much. He pushed deeper inside me, his hips bucking wildly as he let go. The feeling of his release was incredible, waves of heat and satisfaction coursing through me, tipping over the edge again. His body trembled against mine as he collapsed on top of me, our sweat-slick skin sticking together.

We lay there together for a long moment, catching our breath. I could feel his heart still pounding against my chest. “That was… unbelievable,” he murmured hoarsely.

I kissed the side of his face. “Always is.”

“Best birthday ever.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “I’m glad you think so.”

“I haven’t even unwrapped my gift all the way.”

I let out a soft giggle. “Maybe you should finish unwrapping it then,” I offered playfully.

Roman raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a mischievous grin. “Don’t tempt me with a good time.”

He shifted slightly, propping himself up on one elbow to look down at me with affectionate eyes. With deliberate slowness, he traced his fingers down the side of my face, his touch sending yet another shiver through me. His fingers eventually reached the edge of my lace bra, toying with it teasingly. “I think I’ve found something else to unwrap,” he murmured.

I slightly nodded my head to give him a silent invitation for him to continue. Roman’s fingers expertly unclasped the bra, slow, almost reverently, as if savoring every moment. The fabric slid off my shoulders and fell away. He admired the view for a moment before bending down to kiss the newly exposed skin with adoration.

I closed my eyes and groaned. I was glad we could sleep in tomorrow because I had a feeling it was going to be a very late night.

38

ROMAN

The week had been nothing short of extraordinary. Every moment with Kaira felt like discovering a part of myself I hadn’t known was missing. Whether we were making dinner together, stealing kisses in the hallways, or just sitting quietly in the library while she worked on her manuscript, everything felt right.

I had never felt so comfortable in someone else’s presence. Sometimes, I would be working in my study and she would come in and sit in the corner working on her book. We didn’t talk. We didn’t have to. It was enough just to be in the same orbit.

I often found myself wondering how I ever managed before she came into my life. It sounded so cheesy, but I really did feel like she completed me. I never realized how empty my life was before she accidentally bid on me at that auction.

If I would have known how good life could have been with a significant other, I would have done it much sooner. Although I didn’t think anyone else in my usual circles would have fit the role quite like her. Kaira was different. Humble. She wasn’t impressed by the same things as the women I typically dated.

Maybe it was her authenticity that drew me in. She could see beyond the bullshit I wore like a shield, the wealth, and the prickly exterior I put up to keep people out. She challenged me, pushed me to be better, to think deeper. It wasn’t just affection—it was a partnership.

I found myself spacing out, staring out the window. It was sunny. LA was pretty much through winter. I was looking forward to spring and then summer. Usually, that kind of thing wasn’t a big deal to me, but Kaira had me looking forward to a lot of things.

Like Valentine’s Day. It was only a couple days away, and for once, I was looking forward to it. I had big plans. Bigger than anything I’d ever attempted before. But before I could fully commit, I needed to clear my head and ensure this wasn’t some reckless impulse.

That was why I decided to run it past the board.

I checked the time. I still had an hour before the meeting started.

Thinking about Valentine’s and my birthday gave me an idea. I did a quick Google search for lingerie. Now that I knew my sweet, innocent little Kaira had a bit of a seductress side, I wanted to feed that side of her. I was hoping to get her wrapped in bows once again. I scanned the many, many options.

Finding the right lingerie took longer than I anticipated. Everything either seemed too extravagant or not quite right. I was looking at the lingerie and not the bodies or the faces of the models. I could picture her in each one. It was important to me that whatever I chose felt like Kaira—elegant, simple, with just a hint of daring. Finally, I stumbled upon a set that looked perfect: delicate lace in a soft shade of blush that I knew would look stunning against her skin. I smiled to myself, imagining her reaction, and quickly placed the order.

Once that was settled, my thoughts drifted back to the upcoming board meeting. The plan I had in mind was bold, something that could change everything.

The meeting room buzzed with low murmurs as I entered. They looked up, and as usual, the room fell silent. My team knew me well enough to recognize when I had something serious to discuss.

“Gentlemen and ladies,” I started, taking my seat at the head of the table. “I need your input on a personal matter.”

That got their attention. Personal matters weren’t my forte—at least, not ones I brought into work.