Chapter 30: Two weeks later: Secret liaison

It had been two weeks since the attacks, and we had both so busy clearing up the aftermath that we’d barely manage to sneak a few minutes alone. It was driving me crazy.

We were still hosting the Glowacki family while their home was being rebuilt, and so the house was always teeming with people. Also, like the rest of the guys, Romi had been caught up in paperwork and organising builders to fix the damage caused by the pretend attacks that had taken place. Aunt Marta and I had arranged the discreet funerals for those of our men who had died and made sure their families were properly taken care of.

As expected, the police were kept far too busy on the evening of the attacks to deal with the noise complaints that they inevitably received. So, by the time they investigated late the following day, all evidence of any battles was gone, and our party with the fireworks story was accepted.

The cover story for the Farm where the Lab was located was simply that the noise there had been due to kids messing about in the fields with air rifles before finally being chased off by the family who ran the Farm for us. Having no evidence to the contrary, the police seemed satisfied with both stories.

Things seemed to be settling down now, and I was hopeful that it would mean we could finally spend some time together again. There was so much we still had to talk about and plans we needed to make, not to mention the fact that we just needed to hold one another.

“Hi, Tetya Marta,” I said to Aunt Marta as she emerged from Glowacki’s room with Magdalena. She had decided to remain here for a while as she had become close to Magdalena. They’d been spending a lot of time together.

“How’s your tata, Magdalena?” I asked Magdalena, referencing her dad in Polish.

She smiled at my effort. She’d been learning Russian from Aunt Marta, who was, in turn, attempting to learn some Polish from her, so I thought I would give it a shot, too.

“He’s getting better. Isn’t he, Marta?” she said, beaming at me.

“Yes, sweetie, he is indeed,” Marta agreed, smiling indulgently at her.

“Its slow progress, but there has been some definite improvement in the last few days, and hes even getting an appetite back,” Marta confirmed.

“Thats wonderful,” I told her.

“Were off to get him a snack. See you later,” Magdalena said, pulling Aunt Marta away.

“Later,” I waved after them.

It was so good to hear that Glowacki was slowly recovering from his gunshot wound. A bad infection had set in after his operation, but it seemed like he was finally getting over the worst of it. Thank goodness, not only for his sake and his familys but also for mine. At least now, Miki might be open to discussing an alternative to this bloody stupid arranged marriage situation. I had tried talking to him about it almost every day, but Glowacki was ill, and he refused to discuss it and kept telling me, “Nows not the time, Sonia,” every time I did.

Id begged him to think of an alternative, and while I knew he had been really busy and had been worried about Glowacki, I didnt know if he was actually trying to or just avoiding dealing with things. It was bloody infuriating, and the longer this uncertainty went on, the more I worried.

Not being able to spend time with Romi was taking its toll, too, and my nerves were fraught. I felt anxious all the time and had taken to biting my nails again—a bad habit Id had as a child that had taken me years to break, and no, it was back. I looked at my bitten-down nails and cuticles and wanted to scream. I badly needed a manicure!

This whole situation was killing me.

Obviously, neither Romi nor Uncle Maxim had been able to think of a suitable alternative yet, and I was beginning to doubt there was one. Romi said the last time we had a few minutes to speak, they were still trying, but we were in limbo right now, and I truly didnt think I could go on like this much longer. Romi told me he was liquidating his finances and doing some stuff to ensure if we had to run, we could. He wanted me to be patient. I felt anything but.

At least I was about to see him again, even if it was only for a few minutes. We were going to wave Ash and Gracie off, and it was the perfect excuse to spend some time in each others company without causing suspicion.

It was Gracies birthday, and Ash was taking her away for the weekend, so I went to see them off, knowing Romi would be there too.

As I hurried downstairs, my heart pounded with excitement, and butterflies fluttered wildly in my stomach the second I spied my Mr. Sexy Abs. Nonna had her arm linked through his, and he was smiling down at her. That smile sparked a frizzle of desire through me straight to my core. I shivered. That mans smile needed to come with a warning. In fact, everything about him did.

He turned to look at me then, and the look in his eyes made my knees weak. Thankfully, I was holding on to the banister; otherwise, I would have tumbled down the last few steps. Hurrying to his side, I slipped my arm through his free one, glad of the opportunity to touch him openly. Nonna winked at me, and I realised she had orchestrated the situation to allow us this moment together. I smiled at her. She was a sly old fox.

Gracie and Ash came downstairs wearing huge grins. Gracie looked super excited and practically floated along beside Ash. I knew she was going to absolutely love her surprises, and I couldnt wait to see her ring when she got home. I was going to try it on and do that turning thing that superstition said meant Id be a bride next. I glanced up at Romi from under my lashes and bit back a smile, I wasnt sure I believed in such things, but lets face it, we needed all the help we could get right now.

The family had already given her some birthday gifts, but Marko had arranged for something special to take them to their destination. He had hired a helicopter to drop them off at the hotel and pick them up again in a few days. He had overheard Gracie say she had always wanted to fly in one after shed heard Siri had escaped that way. So, Marko had booked one to take them to and from their destination. It was all a big surprise.

Gracie knew nothing about it or where they were going. Ash had sworn us all to secrecy. The best thing was that the helicopter was not her only surprise either; Ash was going to propose. It was so exciting. I was so very happy for them both but so very pissed off at my own situation. If only things werent so difficult for me and Romi. I huffed out a breath and leaned that little bit closer to him, desperately wishing things could be different.

There was some chattering and laughing as we said our goodbyes and waved them off. Once they were gone, Nonna excused herself to go to her rooms, and I dragged Romi into the kitchen, determined to finally get some time to ourselves, even if only for a few minutes.

We hurried out the back door and headed to a quiet spot in the garden to steal a long kiss.

“I need to be with you!” I told him after we finally broke apart.

“When Ash and Gracie get back from their trip, tell him, Miki, and Marko, that you are going to see your friends in Glasgow for a few days, and Rolan will accompany you,” he said.

“I have told them I am going to be away at a property auction for a couple of days. I have sold my flat in Islington but dont need to hand over the keys until the following week, so we will spend time there together and make some plans,” he smiled, and I breathed a sigh of relief. We really needed this time together.

“What about Rolan?” I asked, concerned about how wed avoid him.

“I will arrange for something to occur that will make him needed elsewhere, then change my plans at the last minute to go with you instead. That way, it wont look like we planned to go together,” he assured me.

“I will drive, and they will think we have gone up to Glasgow, but we will just go and spend time at my flat,” he stated, kissing me again.

Deliriously happy, I felt like a kid at Christmas, and I knew I would be counting the sleeps until Ash and Gracie got back.

Four days later, Romi let us into the flat, and as soon as we closed the front door, we were in each others arms.

Picking me, he carried me upstairs without breaking our kiss. My dress was off as soon as we made it to the bedroom, and I dont even know how that happened.

After lowering me onto the blow-up mattress, he quickly pulled off his t-shirt and opened his jeans. My arms went up around his neck to keep him close and locked to my lips as he pulled off his trainers, socks, and jeans one-handed. I smiled against his mouth. The man’s got skills!

When he was naked, he moved back, giving me a view of those magnificent abs. Dear God. Phew! I wanted to lick my way across them. I sniggered at the thought, and he raised his eyebrows in question.

“Your abs are gorgeous,” I told him.

“I want to lick them,” I said, biting my bottom lip and sitting up to do just that.

Romi laughed, and I winked up at him, making him growl in response. He actually growled, like those alpha book boyfriends Gracie and I loved so much. I never knew real men actually did that. Yay! And he was all mine. I thought excitedly.

He moved over me, slipping my bra straps down. As my breasts tumbled free, he cupped them, squeezing them gently before dipping his head and taking a nipple into his mouth. Oh my god! My core clenched. I was so damn wet already. He brushed his thumb lightly against my other nipple while he sucked, and I shivered in delight.

Returning to my lips, he kissed me hard while reaching around to unclip my bra in one quick movement. Yep, the guy did indeed have skills. I tried not to think about how much practice that must have taken, and instead, I just enjoyed the fact that this man was mine. I would be the only woman from now on who would benefit from those skills.

Both hands found my boobs again, and he alternated between squeezing them and lightly tugging on my nipples while his tongue ravished my mouth. I was dripping wet now.

The butterflies were back, whizzing around my stomach in glee. I couldnt believe we were finally going to do it. My hands explored Romis back and shoulders. I loved how hard his muscles felt under my fingers. He was a bloody Adonis, this man, and he was mine, mine, mine!