Julianna

Icouldn"t believe what I"d done. Every time I thought of how I touched myself at that window my body shivered with fever. Not just from the echoes of lust in my body, but of the shame, of the bitter-burnt rejection when I asked—no, begged—for Roman to come here, and all he did was to hang up.

Days went by. I didn't hear from Roman. No texts, no calls, no surprise visits. And no roses. No damn roses. I hated that I would have given anything to get the silky folds of another fragrant flower nestled in a white box. I doubted I'd hear from him again. I refused to message him. I had my pride. My cheeks seared as my actions flashed before my eyes again. I cringed. When would I ever get over it?

I kept my windows locked and my curtains closed at night, a sign to him, if he was even still watching, that I simply didn't care. I was determined to just forget about him.

Easier said than done.

I pushed through the building door into my lobby at the end of a long, frustrating day. The sound of the elevator dinging closed caught my attention. I was about to yell out for the occupants to hold the doors when I caught sight of the unmistakable frame of Roman, dark shirt, dark jeans, a grim look on his face. Nora was in there next to him. He looked up and right at me just before the elevator doors closed.

What was he doing here? With Nora?

But I knew. I had broken into his world and rattled his cages when I manipulated my way into his apartment, when I entered Nonna's house, when I had dared to walk masked among his friends at Fated. He was now doing the same to me. This was payback. No more free passes.

I sprinted for the open stairwell and leapt up the stairs, taking two at a time. They spat me out onto my floor, my hand going to the gun in my holster. I heard a familiar gruff voice. Nora's door shut behind him, muffling him. She's in there with him, alone. If he hurts her…

I readied my gun as I moved swiftly to her front door. I pressed my ear against the door to listen for a brief second.

"No, don't." I heard Nora's voice through the wood.

I couldn't wait. She was in trouble. I tested the handle. Thank God, it was unlocked. I shoved open the door and leapt into her apartment, gun first. "Freeze!"

Nora jumped, the jam jar in her hand slipping and crashing to the floor. Roman didn't seem so startled. He lifted his hands in the air, one of them holding a cereal box, the other a bunch of bananas. There were grocery bags sitting on the kitchen counter. I pointed the barrel at Roman. "Turn around."

He gave me a smirk before turning. His black t-shirt stretched across his wide back and fitted jeans hugged his firm, round butt. No gun tucked into his belt. Where was his gun?

I caught Roman looking at me over his shoulder. "If you wanted to check out my ass, you could have just said so."

My cheeks burned.

Nora dropped her hands down on her hips and let out a tut. "What in tarnation do you think you're doing? Leaping into my apartment waving a gun like that. You scared the bejesus out of me. You could've given me a heart attack."

I stared between Roman and Nora. Roman, the bastard, was watching me with amusement.

"I thought you were in trouble. I thought he…" My words died in my throat when I realized how ridiculous I sounded. Nora had no idea that the Prince of Darkness himself was standing in her kitchen helping unpack her groceries.

"You thought I was going to harm your neighbor?" Roman asked, his features tightening, his hands still in the air. "Is that truly how little you think of me?"

Now I just felt bad.

"Jesus Christ, Julianna," Nora said. "Stop pointing that thing at him. You've been more jumpy than normal lately." She leaned towards Roman and spoke to him from behind a hand, loud enough for me to hear. "I keep telling her she just needs to get laid."

My cheeks burned. I didn't care how relieved I was that Nora wasn't in any danger, I was going to kill her myself. If I didn't die of embarrassment first.

A grin began to form on Roman's face. "Isn't that funny," he said, his eyes locked on mine, "that's what I keep telling her."

I'd have to kill him too.

I lowered my weapon but I didn't slip it into my holster. I wasn't ready to lower my guard just yet. Roman placed the box of cereal and bananas on the table before stuffing his hands in the front pockets of his dark jeans, a deceptively boyish move. Trust me, there was nothing boyish about this man. I hated myself for running my eyes greedily over his wide frame, his firm chest, his tousled hair getting caught in his long, dark lashes. Damn him for looking so good. My heart gave out a little kick of agreement. And damn you, heart. You're supposed to be on my side.

I glared at Roman, the anger and shame from the way he'd rejected me the last time we spoke resurfacing to heat the underside of my skin.

If I were there…

Come here, then.

"What are you doing here?" I demanded, my voice hard. "What do you want?"

You didn't hurt me enough the last time we spoke? Come back to rub it in? You will not find a stupid little girl pining over you, Roman Tyrell.

"Julianna Abigail Capulet," Nora snapped. "I'm embarrassed for you. There's no reason to be so rude to this nice young man."

Roman Tyrell was a nice young man. And the devil was just a guy in a red suit.

If only she knew the truth about Roman. I wasn't about to tell her. Not while the Mafia prince was standing here smirking at me.

"I was struggling with my groceries when dear Roman offered to help. He was waiting for you outside the building."

I stared at Roman. "Why were you waiting for me?"

He shrugged, making his shoulders appear even more rounded, then shot me a roguish grin. I bet that grin got its fair share of use. I bet it worked too. Well, it wouldn't work on me. "I just wanted to see you again."

Liar. He wanted something. I could see it in the way he eyed me, like a cat eyeing a mouse. I wasn't going to like whatever he came here for.

"Now that you're home, Julianna, you two kids can catch up. In your apartment. Alone." Nora gave me a big obvious wink and began to herd us both out of her apartment. "I can handle these groceries myself now, thank you."

"Are you sure I can't help clean up?" asked Roman, indicating the mess of jam and glass on the floor. I almost snorted. Suck up.

Nora, the flirt, just swooned at him and clasped her hands together. "Such manners! They don't make men like you these days."

"It won't be any trouble, ma'am."

"Oh, go on now. I'll be fine, thank you." She even had the nerve to bat her eyelashes up at him. Roman bowed—bowed? Who did he think he was?—to her before holding an arm out to me. "Ladies first."

I glared at him. "And turn my back on you? Not a chance in hell."

"Julianna!" Nora admonished me again.

Roman dipped his head at Nora, an amused twist to his lips. "It's fine. She just wants to watch the view as I walk away." He winked as he sauntered past me.

The nerve! I was left gaping after him.

Nora shoved me out the door after Roman before I could protest. "You have fun with this handsome young man, Julianna." She sent me a grin, wiggled her eyebrows, and gave me a thumbs up before she slammed the door in my face. Leaving me in the corridor alone. With Roman Tyrell.