Chapter Sixteen

"Are you sure you"re okay?" Tahani asks me, worry evident in her voice.

Even though she"s hours away, I can just imagine her standing there with her hand on her hip, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth as she stares at me, scrutinizing me to make sure I"m telling her the truth. She"s tiny compared to her father, but they"re so much alike. They both like to hover and fuss.

It"s been two days since I fell down the stairs, and Roman is honestly starting to drive me a little crazy. He won"t let me do anything for myself. As soon as I move, he"s right there, trying to do everything for me. It"s really sweet, but I"m not used to being taken care of. I"m not used to needing help. It"s making me cranky.

I"m also unbelievably horny. He"s constantly touching and kissing me, but he won"t give me any relief. I"m ready to explode, and I know he is too.

"I"m okay," I tell Tahani, flipping aimlessly through TV channels. There"s nothing to watch, and I"m bored out of my mind. Roman finally left me in peace to go pick us up Chinese for lunch. Now that he"s not here, though, I miss him. I"ve gotten so used to him being in my space that it feels strange when he isn"t.

"I"m really glad my dad was there when you fell," Tahani says.

"Me too," I murmur, trying to ignore the guilt her comment sends washing through me. I"m in love with my best friend"s father. How do you even start a conversation like that? I don"t know, so I just pretend everything is fine when she calls. I hate lying to her, but I also hate the thought of her hating me. And I"m terrified she will hate me when she finds out the truth.

"Is he being nice to you?" she demands. "I know he can be a big bear sometimes."

"He"s been fine," I whisper.

"Something"s going on with him."

My heart sinks, fear pumping through me. "W-what do you mean?"

"He"s acting strange. He won"t tell me why he"s there, but I know something is wrong. He never leaves in the middle of a case. Every time I ask him what"s going on, he just says everything is fine, fine, fine." She sounds exasperated and scared at the same time. "I know he doesn"t like to tell me about his job, but I"m worried about him, Mila."

"I think he"s okay," I say, treading carefully so I don"t say too much. I understand why he doesn"t tell her anything about his job…it"s scary and dangerous…but Tahani"s as perceptive as he is. She knows when something"s wrong. I can"t tell her that he"s hiding out here because he had to kill someone, though. She"s his daughter, and he wants to protect her. It"s not my place to take that choice away from him. "He seems fine. Maybe he just needed a break."

God, I hate lying to her.

I"m not very good at it, and I don"t think she believes me, but she doesn"t push anymore.

"Yeah, maybe," she sighs instead. "I gotta go. Tell him hi and that I love him."

"I will. Bye, Hani."

"Bye, Mila."

I drop the phone into my lap and tilt my head back against the couch, groaning loudly. I stay like that for a minute before lifting up to flip through the channels again.

When nothing catches my interest and Roman still hasn"t made it back ten minutes later, I say screw it, and drag myself to my feet. My rib still hurts, and I"m stiff because of the bruises across my back, but the pain isn"t as bad today as it has been. And if I have to spend another minute in the house, I"m going to go insane. I"m willing to tolerate a little discomfort if doing so gets me out of the condo.

Deciding to go down to the beach for a few minutes since Roman isn"t here to stop me, I make my way into the kitchen. Once I"ve got my Kindle and a bottle of water, I go out to the deck and carefully make my way down the steps to the beach. As soon as my bare feet hit the warm sand, I take a deep breath of the ocean air and then sigh happily.

Roman means well, but I"ve missed the feel of the warm sand beneath my feet and the sun beating down on me. Since I"ve been here, I"ve grown to love being so close to the ocean. I love being able to look out the window and watch the waves roll in. I love how peaceful and quiet it is here. I"m going to miss being here when it"s time to go.

I stand on the beach for a long time, just drinking it in. The sky is a cloudless, perfect blue. Gentle waves crash against the shore. Further out, boats bob up and down in the water. Seagulls circle overhead, looking for early afternoon snacks. Aside from their soft caws and the sound of the water as it reaches shore, it"s silent.

The longer I"m here, the more I begin to understand why Roman loves Santa Cruz so much. It really feels like we live in our own little world here, far from other people and in the daily grind.

Eventually, I turn and make my way back up onto the deck. Eyeing the chaise dubiously, I decide getting into it can"t be any worse than climbing up into Roman"s big bed has been. I set my Kindle and water on the cushion before carefully lowering myself down. It takes a little effort, but I finally manage to get comfortable.

Roman will probably lose it when he finds me out here, but that"s a risk I"m willing to take. Maybe if I piss him off enough, he"ll start giving me orgasms again. I know he can"t fuck me yet—I"m still too sore for that—but there"s nothing wrong with my vagina. It"s not injured, and it"s really tired of being denied orgasms. Especially Roman-induced orgasms. They"re pretty great.

"Stop thinking about orgasms," I mutter to myself when wetness pools between my legs at the thought of Roman-induced orgasms. Now that I"ve thought about them, though, I can"t unthink them.

Trying to force them out of my mind, I pick up my Kindle and swipe to open the book I"ve been reading.

As soon as I start, I groan loudly. It"s a sex scene.

"Of course it"s a sex scene," I grumble, quickly closing the cover and setting the Kindle aside. "I hate Roman"s stupid rules. Everyone"s getting orgasms except me."

And Roman. He"s not getting them either, which is stupid because my mouth still works. And I love having him in my mouth—like, really love it.

There"s something so sexy about sucking him off. He"s so big, so powerful, but when he slides between my lips, I own him. He looks at me like I"m the most powerful woman in the world when I have his dick in my mouth. He loses control every single time. It happens little by little, like he can"t stop himself from making me take a little bit more.

It"s so fucking hot.

Glancing around to make sure I"m still alone, I slide my hands down my body. My nipples are hard beneath my palms. I pinch them, imagining his hands on my body. I play with one nipple, pinching and pulling like he does, while my other hand quests lower, over my stomach, and then down into my shorts and panties.

"Oh God," I moan, rolling one finger over my clit. I"m so wet it"s ridiculous.

I slide two fingers inside my pussy, whimpering as I imagine him standing over me, slipping his cock between my eager lips. His eyes are on fire, blazing with desire as I run my tongue all around the head, teasing his slit and the underside of his cock.

He groans and pushes deeper, greedy for more. I take him in as far as I can…until my lips are stretched wide, and he hits the back of my throat.

I gag, and his eyes blaze hotter. He trembles, his entire body vibrating. My throat constricts around him. The sound he makes then…God, it"s a completely animalistic and feral moan, but it"s almost like he"s begging, pleading with me to let him feel it again. When he makes that sound, I always take him like that over and over, gagging every time he hits the back of my throat, just to hear that needy, desperate moan again.

My thumb rolls over my clit faster as I think about him giving me those dirty sounds. Eventually, when he can"t take it anymore, he pulls back for a second. Just long enough to let me catch my breath before he demands more. He holds me still, making me submit as he pushes deeper, as far as he can go. He goes slowly until he"s all the way in, and then he loses it. My eyes water as he fucks my mouth, his groans ringing out around us.

"Take it all," he always tells me, but he"s begging every time he says it.

When he"s in my mouth, he"s always begging. He may be in charge, but I"m the one with the power. I"m the one who brings him to his knees. When he"s in my mouth, there"s no question about who he belongs to: me. He"s all mine.

Soft moans fill the air around me as an orgasm looms up. I imagine Roman wrapping his hand in my hair and pushing as far as he can. He grows bigger in my mouth, panting for breath and cursing. I know he"s going to come before he says it. I also know I"m going to swallow every drop he gives me, even before he demands it. I love the way he tastes.

"Roman," I whimper, writhing on the chaise. My whole body tenses as waves of pleasure roll through me, flinging me into an ocean of euphoria. The bruises on my back ache, and so does my rib, but it"s worth the pain. When the waves slow, I slump backward, panting softly.

I know he"s standing at the door watching me before he says a word. I feel him there, his eyes locked on me. He"s like the sun, his heat surrounding me even from across the deck.

"Jesus Christ, Mila," he whispers harshly. The chaise beneath me shakes as he prowls toward me.

I should probably be embarrassed that he caught me getting myself off, but I"m not. When it comes to him, I"m as greedy and shameless as he is. I"m desperate, willing to take whatever he wants to give me.

"Hi," I whisper, opening my eyes to look at him when he steps up beside me. He"s wearing a blue t-shirt and jeans today. His shirt stretches over the muscles beneath, leaving nothing to the imagination. His thighs look massive in his jeans. His hair is as messy as ever, those dark locks falling all over the place. He hasn"t shaved today. The shadow on his jaw makes him look a little dangerous, even more scary-hot than usual.

He kneels beside my chair and reaches out without saying a word, tugging my hand from my panties. His eyes meet mine, holding my gaze captive as he brings my hand to his mouth and wraps his tongue around the two fingers I just had buried inside of me. He moans as he sucks my juices from them.

I moan, too, squeezing my legs together as more wetness spreads between my thighs.

There"s something so fucking hot about the way he licks my fingers clean while holding my gaze, daring me to look away. I don"t have to ask how much he saw. The truth is right there on his face, blazing at me like the sun. There"s something dark and wild in his eyes. I think he"s as ready to explode as I have been.

He releases my fingers with a pop and places a soft kiss on my wrist.

"You were thinking about me," he says, still watching me. "You cried out my name when you came."

As If I"d fantasize about anyone else. He"s the only one I ever think about when I come. It"s been him for four damn years. Even when it shouldn"t have been him, he was the one I thought about. And I"m done feeling guilty about that. Maybe it was wrong, but I never acted on them. I never crossed a line.

"Was I fucking you?" Roman slips his hand between my legs, cupping my pussy. "Were you coming on my cock, baby?"

"N-no," I breathe when he flicks open the button of my shorts and then pulls the zipper down, giving himself more room.

"Was I eating your pussy?"

He slides his hand into my panties, pulling a gasp from my lips when his thumb zeroes in on my sensitive clit. I spread my legs to give him even more room to work with. Two thick fingers fill me, making me cry out.

"That"s not it either, is it?" he asks.

I shake my head, biting my lip to stifle my cries as he fucks me with two fingers, stroking against my G-spot with every thrust. I swear, he knows exactly how to touch me to make me crazy.

"You were sucking me off," he guesses, reaching up with his free hand to pluck and pull at my nipple. "I was fucking your mouth when you came, wasn"t I?" He doesn"t wait for me to answer him. "Christ, Mila. You fucking love having my cock in your mouth, don"t you? You live for it."

"Yes," I pant, unable to lie to him. Even before he was mine, I fantasized about having him in my mouth. I knew he"d blow my mind while I blew him. I wasn"t wrong. Having his cock in my mouth, in reality, is even better than it always has been in my dreams. I fucking love it.

"Are you going to let me fuck your mouth right here?"

"God, yes," I whimper. I think I"d probably let him do it in the middle of a packed football stadium if he asked. There"s nothing hotter than watching him unravel while he"s in my mouth.

"Pull your shirt up and let me see your tits, Mila," he says in that bossy and demanding voice that drives me wild. Every time he uses it, I know he"s as worked up as I am. He can"t stop himself from taking what he wants from me.

I love knowing I do that to him.

I hesitate, glancing around again. Getting myself off with my clothes on is one thing. Even letting him fuck me out in the water offered a little privacy. But getting naked when any of his neighbors might wander out is something else entirely. It"s midday, and we"re outside, completely exposed to anyone who happens to look over here. Still…I want it.

I think he"s turning me into an exhibitionist.

"Now, baby," he says, curling his fingers up to hit my G-spot again.

"Your neighbors," I protest weakly.

"Fuck my neighbors," he snarls. "Show me your tits, Mila. I"m not fucking playing." He"s losing control. A little of that wildness spills out, turning his eyes a piercing, predatory hazel. His cheeks are flushed, his chest rising and falling in a hard, steady rhythm.

I pull my shirt up and yank the cups of my bra down without another word.

He rewards me by rolling his thumb over my clit again.

"Lift up," he murmurs, tapping my hip to let me know what he wants.

I bite my lip, nervous, but do what he says anyway. I want this as badly as he does. More, maybe.

As soon as I lift my hips, he rips my shorts and panties down my legs.

"Oh fuck," I whimper, writhing again. My heart pounds as a wave of desire floods through me. This is so different than letting him fuck me in the water. I"m completely exposed, unable to cover myself. If any of his neighbors look out their windows, they"re going to see me spread eagle on a lounger.

I"ve never been so turned on in my life.

Roman runs his hands down my legs, spreading them wider. Once he has them where he wants them, once I"m completely exposed, the breeze whispering against my clit, he rises to his feet.

I watch through heavy lids as he pops the button on his jeans and then pulls down the zipper.

I think I moan again when he frees his cock. He"s rock-hard.

"Wh-what are you doing?" I manage to ask when he takes a step backward and then another.

He doesn"t answer me immediately. Instead, he positions himself at the end of the chaise, where he can see every inch of my body. He tugs and pulls on his cock, staring at me.

The sight of him working himself with the ocean at his back is the most erotic thing I"ve ever seen. He looks like some ancient fertility god, his cheeks flushed and his eyes dark.

"You"re going to make yourself come again while I watch," he tells me.

Oh my God.

"Play with your pussy, Mila."

I don"t have to be told twice. I slide one hand down my body again, zeroing in on my clit. My back arches off the chaise. My rib throbs faintly in protest, but I"m so far beyond pain I barely notice the dull ache.

"Roman," I moan, slipping two fingers inside myself, trying to recreate the sensations he sent spiraling through me when his hand played between my legs. His fingers are so much thicker than mine. I add a third.

"Fuck. Look at you, baby. You"re so goddamn wet."

I know I am. So soaked, my fingers keep slipping as I fuck myself with them. My gaze locks on the hand he has wrapped around his cock, jerking himself off. He"s gorgeous everywhere. Even his cock is beautiful. Long and thick. The head is broad and angry red. He"s as turned on as I am.

"God, Roman," I whimper. "You"re so fucking hard. I need you."

"You think I don"t know that?" He squeezes the head of his cock before working his way down the shaft, twisting and pulling. He isn"t gentle as he works himself. When he"s like this, he never is. "You"re dripping down your thighs for me, Mila. Fuck." He tips his head back for a second before immediately tilting it forward again so he can watch me. "Play with your tits, baby."

"Talk to me," I plead, using my free hand to pinch my nipples. They"re so much more sensitive with him standing over me than they were before. It feels almost as good as it does when he has his hands and mouth on them. He knows exactly how to touch them, lick them…bite them.

"What do you want me to say?" he asks me. "You want to know how fucking hot you look, playing with your pussy? You want me to tell you how fucking sexy you are, fucking your fingers for me where the neighbors might see you?"

I moan, thrusting my fingers deeper. Wet sounds fill the air between us. I"m too far gone to be embarrassed by how turned on I am, at how wet I am. Like always, I"m shameless as I chase the orgasm looming ahead of me. I need it. Fuck, I need it so badly it hurts.

"I"m going to fuck you in that chaise one day, Mila," he murmurs, his voice thick and dark. His hand flies up and down his cock as he chases his own release. He"s relentless, hunting it down like a predator. "You"re going to ride my cock where everyone can see you."

"Yes."

"You"re not going to stop until you scream my name so loud everyone will know who you belong to." He groans loudly, cupping his balls in his free hand. "You fucking love the thought of getting caught, don"t you?"

I want to deny it, but I can"t.

"Yes," I cry out, letting go of my breast. My hand quickly drops to my stomach and then lower, joining the first between my legs. I can"t stop the sounds tearing from my lips. They"re so loud, and I"m so close.

"Fuck, look at you," he growls again.

"Roman, please."

"Not yet," he mutters, working his cock faster. "Wait for me, Mila."

"I can"t," I whimper, trying to hold off the orgasm barreling down on me. My inner muscles flutter around my fingers, ripping moans from my lips. "Please, please."

He grunts, biting his lip. "Now, baby."

As soon as he says the words, I let go. Blood rushes in my ears as I come undone, unraveling for him. Somehow, I manage to keep my eyes on him, watching as he comes too, spilling all over my stomach and thighs. It"s so hot aftershocks rumble through me, pulling little whimpers from my lips.

When it"s over, I slump against the chaise again, completely spent. My eyes slide closed, a smile on my lips.

I hear him moving around above me, but I"m too blissed out to open my eyes. Even when he wipes me off and picks me up, cradling me against his chest, all I manage to do is sigh.

"You"re beautiful when you come," he says, kissing my forehead tenderly.

"So are you," I mumble as he carries me into the condo and deposits me on the couch.

"Feel better?" he asks.

I crack one eye open to look at him. He smiles at me, his eyes soft and amused. I think he heard me bitching about everyone getting orgasms except me. He"s laughing at me. Whatever though. I just came twice. I don"t care what he heard.