Chapter Seventy-Six
Blair stared at Roman, her mind racing through a dozen different emotions. The silence stretched between them until finally she spoke.
“You manipulated me,” she said quietly, her voice neither angry nor grateful—just stating a fact. “You let me walk in on them having sex.”
“Yes,” Roman admitted without hesitation. “I did.”
His honesty, his refusal to make excuses or justify it, somehow made it both worse but also better at the same time. Blair studied his face, looking again for signs he was sorry for what he had done. But still nothing.
“Do you regret it?” she asked because even though she couldn’t read his face, it didn't mean he wasn’t feeling something.
“I regret that you’re hurt by it. I don’t regret saving you from marrying him. I don’t regret that now you are mine.”
Blair felt something shift inside her chest. The brutal honesty, the way he wasn’t trying to charm his way out of this or make her feel better, it was so completely… well, him. No games, no manipulation in this moment. Just the truth. Not tied up in a pretty bow.
“How long?” she asked. “How long did you know?”
“Three weeks before, I arranged for us to come home a day early.”
Three weeks.
“That must have been torture,” Blair said softly, surprising herself. “Wanting to say something but holding back.”
Roman’s eyes widened slightly, as if he hadn’t expected her to consider that angle. “It was,” he admitted. “Every time you had lunch with Dan or he came to your office for some reason. I wanted to… punch his teeth in for cheating on you. I even thought about sacking him.”
Blair felt the last of her anger dissolve. He could have kept this from her. Never telling her he already knew about the affair. But in the end, he had chosen to be honest and tell her.
“You could have just told me,” she pointed out.
“And have you hate the messenger? Have you think I was trying to break you up because I wanted you for myself?” Roman shook his head. “You had to see it with your own eyes to believe it. Sometimes you can forgive someone if you didn’t see the crime. But seeing it, there was no going back.”
Blair realized he was right. If Roman had come to her with accusations about Dan, she would have defended her fiancé. She would have told Roman it was none of his business. She wasn’t sure she would have forgiven Dan. Blair hated cheaters. But the break was cleaner somehow. More final.
“You know what the twisted thing is?” Blair said, a small smile playing at her lips. “I’m not even angry.”
Roman looked surprised. “You’re not?”
“You saved me from the biggest mistake of my life. Yes, you manipulated the situation, but you did it to protect me from something that would have destroyed me, eventually.” Blair shifted, moving to straddle his lap. “And if I’m being completely honest? The fact that you’re controlling enough to orchestrate something like that...” She leaned down to whisper in his ear. “It’s kind of hot.”
Roman’s breath hitched. “Blair...”
“Tell me,” she said, her voice dropping to a husky whisper. “In those three weeks when you were watching me, planning your little intervention—were you thinking about having me for yourself?”
“Every damn day,” Roman groaned, his hands sliding up her thighs.
“Were you imagining what you’d do to me once Dan was out of the picture?”
“Blair, you’re playing with fire.”
She could feel him hardening beneath her. “Maybe I want to get burned.” She pulled back to look at him, her eyes dark with desire. “Show me how controlling you can be when it’s not about protecting me from Dan.”
Something shifted in Roman’s expression—a darker, more possessive look that made Blair’s pulse race.
“Are you sure about this? I understand if you want time to think.” His voice had dropped an octave, taking on a commanding edge that sent shivers down her spine.
“Yes, sir,” Blair whispered, the word slipping out instinctively.
Roman’s eyes flashed, and suddenly his hands were in her hair, tilting her head back to expose her throat. “Say that again.”
“Yes, sir,” Blair repeated, her voice breathier this time.
Roman’s control snapped. He flipped them over, pinning her beneath him with an intensity that made her gasp. “You have no idea what you just started,” he growled against her ear.
“Then show me,” Blair challenged, and Roman’s smile was absolutely predatory.
“Oh, I intend to.”
Roman’s voice rumbled with dark promise, his eyes burning into hers, glittering with possessive intent. Blair’s breath caught, anticipation surging through her veins as he moved her swiftly over her on the bed, pinning her beneath his strong, powerful frame.
Roman grasped her wrists in one large hand, lifting them above her head, holding them firmly against the soft mattress. His other hand explored her body slowly, deliberately, every touch designed to tease.
He took his time, his fingertips trailing down her neck, across her collarbone, and down the soft swell of her breast. Blair shivered, arching her back instinctively, seeking more.
“Stay still,” he commanded softly, and Blair stilled immediately, her body trembling in compliance. Roman lowered his head, capturing one taut nipple through the lace, teasing it with a flick of his tongue. Blair whimpered, heat spiraling low in her belly.
Roman released her wrists momentarily, his gaze never leaving hers as he began lifting her nightie, revealing her flushed skin inch by inch, until she lay beneath him, completely bare and vulnerable.
“You’re perfect,” he murmured, tracing slow, lazy circles over her sensitive skin, watching her writhe beneath him. “Mine.”
“Yes,” Blair whispered breathlessly, the word slipping effortlessly from her lips, her entire being focused on him. “Yours.”
Roman shed his pj bottoms with deliberate slowness, letting her eyes roam freely over every inch of his muscular, defined body. Blair’s heart raced, her breath quickening as he settled between her thighs, his hardness pressing against her, teasing her without entering.
“Please,” she begged, barely above a whisper.
Roman chuckled darkly. “You want it, Blair?” His voice was a silky threat, a promise of pleasure mingled with dominance.
“Yes. Please, Roman… Sir,”
His hands tangled into her hair, gripping firmly, forcing her to look up at him as he slid inside her with agonizing slowness. Blair gasped sharply, her body arching to meet him, but he held her steady, controlling the depth and pace completely.
“You don’t move until I say you can,” he growled softly against her lips.
She nodded breathlessly, eyes locked onto his, fully surrendering control to him.
Roman began moving in a slow, torturous rhythm, each deep, controlled thrust designed to drive her wild. His mouth captured hers fiercely, dominating her completely, swallowing each breathy moan she gave him.
“Tell me who you belong to,” he demanded, his voice rough with possessiveness.
“You,” Blair gasped. “I belong to you.”
He rewarded her answer by increasing his pace slightly, his thrusts growing deeper, more insistent, building her pleasure higher and higher.
“Good girl,” Roman murmured approvingly, his mouth trailing heated kisses along her jaw, down her neck. He bit gently at her shoulder, leaving a mark of ownership that sent a thrill racing through her.
“But you belong to me. So we are even.”
Blair’s body tightened, sensations coiling deep within her as she felt herself teetering on the edge.
“Roman, I—” she whimpered.
“Come for me,” he commanded.
Her body obeyed instantly, exploding in waves of overwhelming pleasure that stole her breath and sent her spiraling, crying out his name helplessly.
Roman groaned deeply, his own release following swiftly, his body shuddering as he buried himself deep inside her, claiming her completely.
They lay entwined for several long moments, breathing heavily, hearts racing in unison. Roman brushed his lips softly against hers, a gentle contrast to his earlier intensity.
“Now, let’s get you cleaned up,” he said, his voice gentle but firm, lifting her easily and carrying her to the bathroom, setting the water temperature.
Roman set her down carefully beneath the steaming water, letting it wash over her trembling form. Blair smiled up at him, her eyes heavy-lidded but bright with satisfaction.
Her hands trailing slowly down his chest and abdomen until she reached his already hardening cock.
Roman’s jaw clenched, his breath hitching sharply.
Blair sank slowly to her knees, looking up at him as the water cascaded over them both. Taking him in hand, she stroked him gently, savoring his groan of pleasure. Then, slowly, deliberately, she took him into her mouth, her tongue teasing and swirling over him, eliciting deep groans from Roman as his fingers tangled tightly into her wet hair.
“Yes, Blair,” he growled, guiding her rhythm gently but firmly, losing himself in the pleasure she was giving him.
After several heated, passionate moments, Roman pulled her gently but urgently to her feet, turning her to face the tiled wall of the shower. He pressed himself against her, the cool tiles a stark contrast to the heat radiating from his body.
“Hands on the wall,” he commanded softly, guiding her into position.
Blair obeyed, feeling Roman’s powerful body pressed tightly against her back, his cock sliding easily into her wetness from behind. She gasped sharply, her fingers curling against the slick tiles. Her core still sensitive from her climax.
He moved slowly at first, teasing her, stretching the moment until her entire body ached with need, craving his dominance, his claim.
“Please, Roman,” she whimpered, desperate now.
His hand slid down her body, fingers circling her sensitive clit firmly as he began moving faster, harder, thrusting deeply into her. “I want to feel you squeezing my cock as you cum.”
Blair shattered around him, her body shaking, breath stolen, her cries echoing in the enclosed space. Roman’s release followed swiftly, his grip tightening on her hips, his breathing harsh and uneven.
He held her tightly against him for several long moments, the water soothing their overheated bodies as their breathing slowly calmed.
“Mine,” Roman lips brushing tenderly against her shoulder.
“Yours,” Blair echoed, leaning back against him. “No more secrets,”
“No more secrets,” Roman agreed, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “I love you, Blair.”
“I love you too,” she whispered back. “Even when you’re a manipulative control freak. Shithead.”
Roman chuckled. “Especially when I’m a manipulative control freak, apparently.”
Blair grinned.