Hired Love

He couldn't give her what she wanted. Roman was well aware of that fact. He couldn't give her the kind of love she craved. She'd said she wanted him too and it should've been enough. But it wasn't. It wasn't and he hated it. He could kiss her and taste her all night long and maybe even fuck her till morning came, but it wouldn't be nearly enough, and he wasn't sure he had anything left to offer her. And that was exactly why she deserved better. Stacy was a good person. She was calm and reasonable and affectionate. There was a lot she deserved and being with a man who only felt desire for her was not one of it.

Love and affection weren't too much to ask. It was just that he wasn't certain he was capable of giving it.

It didn't stop him from wanting her, didn't stop his blood from boiling with desire whenever she was near. He needed her like he needed his next breath. The urge to take her was at an all-time high and he had to stop himself from losing restraint every time he touched her.

Roman hadn't allowed himself to feel anything more than lust for a woman. Romantic feelings came with complications. He had watched his parents cross that thin line from love to hate, had watched them use love as an excuse to hate themselves and fight pointlessly. He didn't want that. It had scarred him in ways he didn't want to imagine.

Stacy stirred in him feelings that he couldn't explain. He wanted to protect her, wanted to make her laugh. He wanted to kiss her so deeply that he forgot where he ended and where she began. He was aware that he couldn't get enough of her, and the thought frightened him. What would happen when everything ended? How would he be able to remove her from his mind, to forget the feel of her touch on his skin? How would he live the rest of his life knowing that he wanted this woman so badly and he couldn't have her?

Why did she want more than he could give?

Why?

The next morning when Stacy went down for breakfast, her mother had left a message for her with her personal maid.

"She won't be coming down today because she doesn't feel good."

Stacy had thanked the maid, deciding to go check in on her. When she got to the door, she knocked two times, waited three counts then knocked again. It had been her way of knocking on her mom's door ever since she was a child, alerting her mom that it was her.

Turning the doorknob, she opened the door, peeking her head inside. Claire was seated on the bed next to their mother who was lying on the bed.

"Oh, honey. I'm so glad you're here. It's been forever since I had only both my daughters in the same room." Heather cooed, stretching a hand out to Stacy.

Stacy shut the door, brightening up instantly. She walked towards the outstretched hand, taking it and climbing into bed to hold her mom.

"Are you alright, mom? Mindy said you weren't feeling too well." She said, kissing the hand in hers.

Heather smiled, shaking her head. "Just a slight headache. I'm fine."

"Apparently Aunt Emma and Aunt Phoebe both have slight headaches too." Claire spoke up, a knowing look in her eyes.

Their mother looked at the ceiling, pouting. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Mom, I know what you're doing." Claire said, smiling. "You're not subtle."

Stacy looked

her. Claire really was beautiful. She possessed grace that Stacy would kill to have, and when she smiled genuinely like she was doing now, two dents appeared in her cheeks. Her sister could have any man she wanted. Why did she choose to go for the men Stacy was dating?

"Mom, what's Claire talking about?" Stacy laughed uncertainly, looking between the both of them.

"Don't look at me like that." Heather scolded, huffing. "Today is for the young. Go out. Go into town and find some entertainment with your men. I wish I could but there's no entertainment for me anymore now that your father is gone." It reminded her of old times when they'd all have deep discussions, just the three of them. They were the only times she and Claire saw eye to eye, when they were spending time with their mother.

Claire took her other hand and pressed it against her cheek. "You know dad would want you to be happy, right?"

"He loved you." Stacy said, smiling sadly. Their mother had not been the same since their dad died in a motor accident a few years back. It had changed her and not for the better. Her eyes were usually sad, and it wasn't hard to tell that she was thinking of him.

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Heather smiled, drawing them both into her bosom. "I love you and I'm alright. Don't worry about me today. I can assure you, I have enough to keep me busy. I want you both to go out and have some fun. And take your cousins with you. Benedict needs to find himself a woman before my sister will pop."

"Are you sure you'll be alright by yourself?" Stacy asked again.

"Positive," she told them.

After giving her kisses on her cheeks, they stood from her body and made to leave.

Before they could open the door, Heather called out. "Girls?"

"Yeah?" They both answered in unison.

"I'm so happy to see you two happy with your own men. There's nothing I want more than you being happy with the men you love."

Stacy's smile did not reach her eyes. "Sure, mom."

"Get some rest, mom." Claire said before pulling the door open. "We'll catch you later."