Page 18 of Hate to Crave You

Julianna dipped her hands into his hair, tugging his mouth back to hers and he went, more than willingly.

As he slid his tongue into her mouth, she bit him lightly, then sucked, drawing a ragged groan out of him.

He began to move harder, faster, one hand braced by her head.

The rhythm of her body was raw and wild, urging him on. Not that he really needed any urging. He could feel her climax bearing down on her, her body going taut against him, her nipples stabbing into his chest.

Sweet…it was all so fucking sweet.

She exploded under him with a cry, one he swallowed down hungrily. Then, and only then, did he give up the reins of his control and follow her.

* * *

She’d been sleeping quietlyfor almost an hour when his phone vibrated, signaling an incoming text.

Without bothering to put on any clothes, he slid from the bed and padded into the other room to read it.

He smiled as he read the text and moved to the door.

The man on the other side didn’t so much as twitch an eyelash at the sight of Roman standing there naked. He simply handed over a padded yellow mailer, then turned on his heel.

He didn’t ask about money.

That would be unprofessional.

He knew Roman’s company would wire the funds in the morning.

Roman said nothing to him.

There was no point.

He just shut the door and slid the padded mailer open, peeking inside.

It was rather small and unimpressive, he had to say.

With a shrug, he walked over and picked up Julianna’s purse from where she’d left it on the floor. After a quick glance toward his room to make sure she hadn’t slid out after him, he pushed the envelope inside.

Guilt tugged at him, stirring unpleasantly inside him as he lowered the purse back to the floor. He moved back to the doorway of his bedroom and stared inside. He could remember the girl she’d been—he hadn’t ever forgotten her and had often wondered about her.

But she wasn’t that little girl anymore and he wasn’t the boy he’d been.

They were both adults living in a cutthroat world and he was doing what needed to be done.

She rolled over on her side in her sleep, a soft sigh escaping her and he rubbed at the back of his neck, even as some small part of him wondered if maybe it would have been possible to do what he needed to do without manipulating her and using the attraction he’d sensed they’d both felt.

She’d felt it for certain, he knew now.

And it was too late to undo anything.

Maybe she’d never find out about the ruse and all of this brooding would be for nothing.

He padded back across the floor and slid back into the bed with her. She mumbled something in her sleep and rolled into him, her body a warm sweet weight.

That didn’t help the sting of guilt at all.

Let it go, Roman, he told himself.

She would have done the same thing if she’d had the chance.

He kept on telling himself that until he fell asleep.