Julianna

We lay under a blanket, naked, squashed together on the bed that barely fit the two of us. I was sated and warm and happier in this tomb-like room with Roman by my side than anywhere else without him. The dawn began to spill into the room. We would have to face the world soon. But not yet.

"Why did you break up with me?" I traced his hard, muscled chest with my finger.

He stiffened. "Does it matter?"

"It does to me. You're still engaged to her."

"Rosaline," he growled under his breath.

I gave him silence, the space to speak. He inhaled long and loud before he spoke. "Rosaline knew about you. She said she saw me leaving my apartment late one night and followed me. I led her straight to you," he said through gritted teeth.

I traced his jaw and it softened.

Roman turned his dark eyes towards me with a look so intense that my breath caught in my throat. "First, she threatened to come clean about her lies as my alibi. When that didn't work, she threatened to expose you if I didn't marry her. I couldn't let her ruin you."

I knew there was a reason. I just thought it had been his father who had forced him into a sham of a marriage. I made a face. "So you broke up with me instead of talking to me about it."

He grimaced. "When you put it that way, it doesn't sound very smart."

I rolled my eyes. "Understatement of the century."

"Okay, I was an idiot."

"About so many things."

He tugged me closer so I was sprawled over his body, his warm, hard body under the length of mine causing the lick of desire to rush through me. I could feel him stirring against my hip. "It probably won't be the last time I act like a fool."

"Are you telling me that I better get used to it?"

"How long are you planning to stick around?"

I shrugged. "Just for always or so."

His fingers tightened around me. "Always?"

"Always." I brushed my nose against his as we made a cave with our breaths and sighed happily as the world was shut out for just a little longer. "I don't want to live without you. I tried but I can't. I'm done trying," I said, repeating words he once said to me.

He let out a low growl and kissed me with an intensity that told me he wanted "always" too. Before I could deepen the kiss, he pulled back and gave me a sad smile. "It's a beautiful dream. But it's just a dream, Jules. You're still a detective. I'm still a Tyrell."

"What if it didn't have to be?"

He flinched. "What do you mean?"

"Remember when you asked me if I wanted to run away to Paris with you?"

He licked his lips. And nodded.

"Does that offer still stand?"

His eyes widened. He opened his mouth, then closed it. For once, Roman Tyrell was speechless.

Was he trying to figure out a way to let me down gently? I sniffed. "It's not that hard a question, Roman."

He shook his head, still looking dazed. "That offer was never retracted. But Jules, your career, your father…" All the reasons why I told him I couldn't leave Verona.

"My career is over. I just lied to the chief of police about witnessing a shooting. And," I tried not to let the bitterness show in my voice, but I failed, "it turns out that my father is not the man I thought he was."

Roman tucked me against his chest, his hand stroking my hair. I found myself softening against his solid, hard warmth. "I'm sorry. It's hard when fathers fail us."

He hadn't answered my question. I pulled back to look at him. "So…?"

"It would mean a life on the run. It would mean leaving everything behind."

"It would mean being with you. Really being with you. Walking down the street together, holding hands, kissing in public."

"You'd never be able to come back, to see your father or Nora again."

I paused. My heart squeezed. "Nora will understand."

"And your father?"

I gritted my teeth. "He won't. But that's not my problem."

Roman shifted under me, his features pensive. "I just want to make sure you know what you're getting yourself into."

"I know what I'm getting myself into," I said firmly. I had never been so sure of anything in my life. Paris, with Roman. Hell, I'd go anywhere as long as he was with me.

A small, slow smile crawled across his face. "Okay."

Our mouths crashed together. In my heart, there was this warm feeling of certainty that I had come home.

"Wait." He pulled back as my greedy hands wandered down his body. "We have a lot to plan."

"Later," I said, pushing him onto his back and sliding down on his length.

* * *

I could have stayedwith Roman all day. Father Laurence had told us we wouldn't be disturbed there. Later, once we were long gone, we would have more than enough time for lazy days in bed.

We agreed to leave Verona together after Mercutio's funeral that afternoon at another church. We'd take out all the cash we had access to, then leave in my car, ditching it for another once we were out of town. Then we'd hole up in a motel in a nearby town while Roman's contact worked on getting us fake passports so we could leave the country without being detected. The rest we'd figure out as we went.

I watched Roman slipping on his dark t-shirt, apprehension coiling in my belly. Now that we'd decided to do this, I didn't want him to leave my sight. What if his father found him? What if my father caught him? "Do you want me to come with you?"

"No. It's too dangerous for us to risk being seen together."

I chewed my lip, my stomach doing flips despite his reassurances. "I'll go crazy just sitting here waiting for you. I'll go home, get clothes, say goodbye to Nora."

He caught sight of my face as he slipped on his shoes. He grabbed the back of my head and pulled me against him. "Don't worry," he mumbled against my hair, "I won't let anyone see me." He kissed me long and deep.

I gripped his shirt, not ready to let him out of my sight. "Promise me you'll come back?"

"I promise."