Page 35 of Deceptive Desires (The Syndicate #2)

Cecilia

When Roman joins us in the sitting room, he seems calm. Happy. Normal.

His family continues to look at us with confused expressions. It’s like they’re trying to solve a math problem that they just don’t understand.

I know they like me, but I wonder if I’m not the kind of woman they thought he’d be with and if that’s why they’re so taken aback.

When it’s time to go, we hug his family and walk to his car hand in hand. He opens my door for me and even buckles me in, checking to make sure it’s secure.

We talk about his family and how dinner went on the way home.

And I refrain from bringing up what he said.

‘I love you.’

I want to wait until I have his full, undivided attention.

When we get to my apartment, he parks, opens my door for me, and leads me into my building with his hand on the small of my back. We bypass the elevator as we always do and climb the stairs.

When we get to my front door, I unlock it and let him in.

“Let’s go to my room. I want privacy for this conversation, and I don’t know what Gracie’s doing tonight,” I explain.

I want us to be alone so we can discuss what he said. So, I can tell him I love him without interruption. Without distraction.

“Okay, sunshine,” he murmurs and follows behind me.

I look back and see his face guarded. His eyebrows are furrowed, and his lips are thinned. He looks almost scared.

When we get to my room, I sit on the bed next to him, but he pulls me onto his lap, straddling him, so I’m facing him.

“Roman,” I say, at the same time as he says, “Cecilia.”

We just stare at each other.

“You go first,” I tell him.

He looks like he’s going to decline but thinks better of it.

“Cecilia, I’m so sorry if meeting my family was too much or too soon. I don’t want to lose you. Please don’t end things. You’re everything I could ever want, and I won’t let you go.” The last bit comes out fiercely, and I believe him. He’ll never let me go, and that warms my heart.

His grip on my tightens as he speaks, and I can feel how serious he is.

“Roman, that’s not it at all. I wanted privacy to discuss what you told me earlier.” His face freezes, then he sighs.

“I’m sorry if telling you I love you was too soon.

It’s just how I feel. You don’t have to say it back but know that I mean it.

I’ve never brough a woman home to my family.

Fuck, I’ve never even called a woman my girlfriend.

I don’t know how to do this, but I know how I feel.

” His eyes shine with truth. I can hear the sincerity in his voice.

“Héroe, that’s not it at all.” I smile and lean closer. “Yes, you took me by surprise, but only in the best way. I wish I could’ve told you how I felt when you did, but you were pulled away.”

Hope glimmers in his eyes.

“Roman Montclair, I love you. I love you so much. You’re my hero in every sense of the word. I know it’s only been a few months, but I can’t imagine life without you. You’ve become so important to me. An integral part of my happiness. I love you, and I don’t ever want to let you go.”

I smile as he beams.

He’s perfect.

We’re perfect.