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“I don’t believe you intended to tell me it was your birthday at all.” He’s not wrong. I didn’t. I don’t know how it slipped out. “It will please me to see you so delighted when you find what’s in there.”
Biting my lip, I drop down onto the large white sofa and stare at the little box in my hand. Everything he’s done is just so damn sweet. Balloons litter the room, presents set on the table in front of the couch, streamers hang from the ceiling, and I think I saw a cake on the island in the kitchen.
“Okay,” I finally agree. Ripping through the red wrapping paper with dainty hearts, I find a jewelry box. I don’t know why it didn’t hit me before that it could be a ring. Popping the top open, I gasp, “Oh my god!” Inside holds a beautiful rose gold band with a single diamond in the center. I don’t know anything about diamonds, so I don’t know what carat size it is, but it’s enormous. “Roman.” Glancing up at him, I feel the tears clinging to the edge of my lids, waiting to fall free.
Taking the box from me, he removes the ring, grabs my hand, and moves closer, slipping the ring on my middle finger. “It’s a promise ring. A promise to earn your trust as we navigate this new dynamic between us. I can see you want this as much as me, but I’m betting nothing has ever just been given to you before being ripped away. This is my promise to give you the world, and when you’re ready, it’s a promise to give you my name.”
The tears fall. “How are you so intuitive?”
He flashes me a roguish grin. “Because you are meant to be mine, little Valentine.”
Reaching around my neck, he drags me in for a kiss. Nothing as overpowering as he’s been known for. No, this is sweeter. Softer. A promise of more to come, and I so look forward to it all.
“Mmm,” he moans, or maybe I do. Maybe we both do. “Open the rest,” he instructs, sitting back, spreading his arms along the back of the couch, and watching as I retrieve the largest of the three gifts.
This square box is covered in the same paper as the ring was, and when I finally get it open, it contains the most beautiful red and black tartan coat I’ve ever seen. Standing up, I give it a gentle shake and slip my arms through the sleeves, button the front, and cinch the tie at the waist.
“This is stunning.” Those damn tears are back again. The coat falls to just above my knee, which means I could pair it with a nice pair of knee-high boots. “Why this?” I ask. It’s so different.
“Callie goes on and on about them all the time, and it was the first thing I thought of. For some reason, I just knew you’d love it.” His smirk is cocky, and he has every right to be.
“You’re right. I do love it. I had one, but it was cheap and unraveled rather quickly.” It was scratchy too. This one is soft and hugs my curves.
“This one won’t.” He leans forward and reaches for the box I’ve been avoiding. It’s very clearly a lingerie box, and I know this one is more for him than me. “Now this.” His voice is gravelly and filled with anticipation.
Sitting back down, I pull the string and take off the top. Unfolding the tissue paper, I find a delicate red lace teddy with a matching pair of stockings and garter belt, but no panties. “These are beautiful.” I’m almost afraid to touch them, the lace is so fine.
“Last one.” He pulls a box from under the table and places it on top, lifting the lid for me. Laying inside is a pair of boots with a two-inch heel, a zippered side, and the leather is smooth as butter.
“You shouldn’t have done all this.” I recognize the store brands for each item, and I know the price tags are steep. Not something I could ever afford on my own.
“It’s not all for you, little one.” A blush warms my chest. “There is nothing more I want than to take you to bed tonight, ravage you until neither of us can breathe, but patience always produces some of the very best things.” His implication is clear.
“So, what…uhm, what do you want?” I bite my lip to keep from blurting out more.
“I’d like for you to come to my office tomorrow wearing nothing but this.”
“Oh.” I’m titillated and on edge. After what we did in the car and then as soon as we entered his penthouse, I expected him to take me tonight. The idea of waiting is exhilarating. The anticipation alone might be more than I can bear.
“Will you?” His tone makes it sound like a question, but his eyes are so heated that the only answer I can give is yes.
“Good.” He takes the box of lingerie out of my hands and places it on top of the boots. Dragging me across his lap, he asks, “Now tell me how you know about my predispositions.”
Biting my lip, I’m nervous about expressing my desires, but I know he’s not asking to poke fun. This is how it works. Honesty. Complete and total honesty. There cannot be any kind of deception.
“Have you heard of 50 Shades of Grey?” He groans and drops his head back. “I’m not interested in the BDSM. I don’t know that I have the stomach for that. But the way Christian was always looking out for Ana. The way he watched her. Knew her every move. It had me curious.”
“How?” He’s hyper-focused as he listens to me speak.
“I started reading some forums about the need for control and the need to be controlled, but it didn’t feel like actual control. There’s power in being powerless, and I wanted that. Want that.” Licking my lips, my throat feels dry.
“Why?”
“When I was ten, my parents died in a freak accident while skiing. An avalanche killed them, and suddenly we were orphans. Both my parents were only-children, our grandparents died years before them, and the elderly great-aunts and uncles weren’t equipped to take care of all of us girls.” I still remember the resentment I had towards all of them.
Brushing his hand down my hair, Roman goes on to surmise, “The foster system, and you were all too old for people to want to adopt, so you were shuffled around.” I can only nod.
“Winter was already old enough that she lived on her own. Christmas was graduating school that year, and just moved on with her life. Trixie and Autumn were kept together for a while but eventually split up.”
