Hired Love

He sighed, pulling away. Then he was at her side, draping one arm on the tube and gathering her to him with the other. She let him hold her, laying her head on his wet chest. "What do you want to know?" He asked.

"Everything."

"That's a bit ambiguous, baby." He chortled, kissing her forehead. "Be specific."

She liked the way he called her baby, loved the exotic way the name rolled off his tongue. "Do you have any siblings?"

"No, I don't."

He was an only child then. "What about your parents?"

"They're divorced. I haven't seen much of my parents since I moved out of the house. I made sure to stay away from them as much as I could."

"Why did you move out?"

He hesitated. "Stacy, there are things in life you just have to do for your wellbeing. I don't know when or why it happened, but the both of them fell out of love with each other long before I began to realize it. They fought endlessly since I was old enough to recognize it for what it was to the day I decided to move out."

Stacy couldn't mask her surprise. She couldn't remember her own parents ever exchanging words. "How old were you?"

"When I decided to move out?" He echoed. "Sixteen."

"Wow." She looked up at him. "That's a bit too young to be living alone, isn't it? I mean, you were only a child."

His jaw clenched so hard she thought his teeth would break. He was still in pain, she realized. It still hurt him more than he cared to admit. "They didn't care. It just gave them more room to throw shit around."

Stacy thought it was a horrible thing to do to one's child. "How did you survive?"

Then he smiled. His white teeth shone brightly in the dark. "Our housekeeper checked in on me three times a week. I think she understood why I did what I did, and she respected me for it. She taught me how to cook and do my laundry and shit like that. She made the transition bearable."

"She sounds like a real gem." Stacy smiled.

"She was."

"Was?"

"She died when I was twenty-one."

"Oh, I'm so sorry."

He nodded. "She didn't have any kids and she was more a mother to me than my own mom, so I stood in as her child. It was one of the best decisions I'd ever made." "Because it gave you a sense of belonging?"

If you're loving the book, nel5s.com is where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! He nodded again, running circles on her arm.

"I'm sure she was happy."

He held her gaze, his green orbs glistening in the night light. "So when did you and Claire become mortal enemies?"

She chuckled, leaning in to peck his lips. "We're not mortal enemies."

"That's not what it looked like this afternoon."

No, it wasn't. She'd been so angry, so pissed off that her own sister didn't mind betraying her the first chance she got. "My sister is..." She trailed off, trying to find the right words. "I still don't understand how everything happened. Matt is her best friend, has been since they were kids. There has been nothing romantic between them, at least to the best of my knowledge. And I've loved him since like forever. A couple of months ago when he kissed me and said that he liked me, it was like the world had finally come together to make sense. Though Claire and I weren't close, I asked her what she thought about it. She encouraged me and said that she was happy for me and all, said I should go for it and then-" "-they've been sleeping together for years."

Her head snapped to him, her eyes wide. "How do you know?"

He shrugged. "Your sister is very beautiful. And from what I experienced earlier, she's well skilled in the art of seduction. Matt doesn't strike me as the type of man with sexual discipline."

"Whereas I'm not." The thought irked her. Claire had been right. She couldn't keep a man. She'd failed as a woman.

Roman lifted her jaw to kiss her. "Silly girl. Your charm lies in your innocence, love. Your penchant to drive a man crazy without even trying." His eyes were speaking to her, swirling with emotion. "I swear I didn't kiss her this afternoon. She grabbed me and-"

"It's okay, Roman. You don't have to explain. You don't owe me anything." She tried to make it sound like it didn't matter, like it hadn't hurt.

He watched her for a second, then sighed. "I'm attracted to you, Stacy. There's just something alluring about you that "

"Roman, stop. I'm not interested in sweet nothings."

"Shut the fuck up and stop interrupting me or I swear to God I'm going to spank you so hard you won't be able to sit for days." He said sharply, his eyes dark.

She was tempted to speak just so he could make good on his threat.

"You drive me crazy, Stacy, and the crazy thing is you don't even realize it. You don't know how beautiful you are or how hard my cock gets when you're near. I think about fucking you all the time it's ridiculous and your ass fucking sets my blood on fire."

It felt like her world tilted on its axis. He meant it; she could see it in her eyes. He thought she was beautiful and sexy. Stacy hadn't thought it possible, but her heart warmed even further and the snug feeling she got earlier reappeared. This man had the power to make her beg, make her want. It scared her.

"Roman," She breathed, her eyes flickering from his eyes to his lips and then back to his eyes. "Roman."

She pressed her forehead to his, shutting her eyes. She was aware how much she was starting to feel for him, how much it terrified her. Was this what losing control felt like? How did she find herself falling for the one person she shouldn't have feelings for?

"Tell me you want me as much as I want you." He growled into her mouth, kissing her passionately.

She welcomed the intrusion, opening her mouth. "I want you." Pulling away, she looked into his eyes. "I want you."