Chapter 48 48
Maisie's Pov
My eyes widened. “What?”
“How else am I going to explain this feeling?” He took a step toward me. I took an instinctive step back, and another, and another, until my back hit the wall.
“There's no feeling, Roman. Even if they were, they're not for me.” I swallowed hard at the lie.
“Is that what this is? Partners who are seeing each other for mutually beneficial reasons?” Roman's palms pressed on either side of me on the wall, caging me in. It took all my willpower not to shrink into myself so I didn’t touch him. One graze from him and I would combust into flames.
But I refused to give him the satisfaction of hiding so I lifted my chin and tried not to think about the mere inches separating my body from his.
“That’s all we’re supposed to be, Roman. We can't be sidetracted from our goal.”
“I didn’t ask you what we’re supposed to be. I asked you what we are.”
“And I told you what we are! Nothing but partners!”
He exhaled sharply and rested his head on my shoulder like it was home. “You want to know why I won't agree with you, Maisie?”
I didn't answer. I didn't see any need to.
His eyes met mine now. “It's because you’re all I can fucking think about no matter where I am or who I’m with, and the thought of you hurt or upset makes me want to raze this entire fucking pack to the ground.”
“Roman…”
“I am surrounded by beautiful women everyday at work. Most of them throw themselves at my feet, taking me to take them but I can't. I didn’t want to. Not one tiny fucking bit. Perhaps I should’ve known that we're just partners.”
“I never —”
He slid his palm over the curve of my shirt and down my arm. “I have never envied anyone for what they have because I have it all and yet… I’m jealous of everything and everyone you smile at someone who isn't me… laugh with someone who isn't me… talk to someone who isn't me.”
His traveling hand stopped at the band of my trousers before he slowly brought out the folded remains of my shirt. Then the pads of his thumb grazed my skin.
I sucked in a breath. “Roman, stop.”
“I can't.” Another stroke and my thighs were already slick. “I want to claim you so thoroughly there wouldn’t be a shred of doubt in anyone's mind as to who you belong to.”
“But we…”
His lips hovered over mine. “... are mates.”
“I…”
“Let go, Maisie.”
That was the only warning I got before Roman crashed his mouth down on mine.
I should push him off.
We hadn’t resolved the heart of our issues yet, and kissing would only complicate things further.
I should have pushed him off… but I didn’t.
Instead, I threaded my fingers through his hair and kissed him back. Pleasure fogged my senses as the rich, bold taste of him invaded my mouth.
Our kiss a few days ago had been passionate but this? This was hard. Primal. Addicting.
A soft gasp escaped when Roman hooked my legs around his waist and carried me out of the room without breaking our kiss.
Blurry glimpses of marble walls passed through my peripheral vision as he navigated us to the bedroom in my office.
When we reached the room, he kicked the door shut behind us and set me down, his breath as ragged as my own.
Under any other circumstances, I would’ve stopped but I didn't get the chance because his mouth was on mine again.
I pushed his jacket off his shoulders while he unbuttoned my shirt. Our movements were frantic, almost desperate, as we tore our clothes off.
My shirt. His shirt. My bra. His trousers.
Every piece of clothing on our bodies fell away with tugs and pulls, leaving only our bare skin behind.
We broke apart and my mouth dried at the sight before me. I see him shirtless every night but this was different somehow. His body was sculpted with such perfection. Broad shoulders. Muscled chest. Bronzed skin and a faint dusting of black hair that tapered down to…
Dear Goddess.
His cock jutted out, huge and hard, and the mere idea of it inside me sent both fear and anticipation spiraling through my stomach.
There was no way he’d fit. It was impossible.
“You shouldn’t have let him touch you, Maisie.” Roman whispered behind my ears before he pinched the sensitive peak.
I instinctively jerked at the jolt of pain and pleasure.
“I didn’t…” My reply melted into a breathy sigh when he dipped a hand between my legs.
“Do you want to know why?” he continued.
My teeth dug into my bottom lip. I shook my head, my hips bucking as he pressed his thumb against my clit.
“Because you’re mine.” His palm slid to my hip, where his fingers dug grooves into my skin. “And Dear Goddess, I want to punish you for driving me so crazy every goddamn day.”
I didn’t get a chance to fully register his last sentence before he slammed into me and tore a cry from my throat.
I was so wet he slid in without much resistance, but the sensation was so sudden and intense I clenched without thinking.
He hissed out a breath, but he didn’t move until my body acclimated to his size. Only then did he pull out and push back in. It was slow at first until it became faster and deeper.
Every thought vanished from my mind as he hammered into me so deep he hit spots I didn’t know existed and he didn't stop until we were both spent and gasping for air.
We held on to each other, our breaths gradually evening in unison.
His arms wrapped around me from behind and his cheek pressed against mine as we both caught our breaths
What we’d had wasn’t soft, emotional sex. I couldn't explain what we just had. Three years and two months of pent-up frustration, lust, anger, and everything in between was all unleashed in one night.
I didn't know what the aftermath would be but I knew there was no going back to the way things used to be.