Page 8 of Loving Roman (The Summer Twins #3)

I need a distraction. I desperately need to keep my focus on the here and now and our time together, rather than wasting it thinking about an impossible future. “Tell me … when you were a child, what was your dream for the future?”

She leans forward in her seat, and the V of her sundress gapes open a little, giving me a glimpse of her perfect breasts. “No more questions today, Roman.” She smiles at me, but it seems tight and forced. “Take me to bed,” she whispers huskily, and the heat in her gaze catches me off-guard.

She doesn’t have to ask me twice, but I need to be certain. I was hopeful she’d want me as much as I want her before the week was over, but I don’t want to take advantage. She’s had some wine with her meal and could be tipsy, though I don’t believe she’s a lightweight. “Are you sure?”

“Absolutely.” With steady hands, she efficiently stacks our dishes in the middle of the table and stands, taking my hand and dragging me to my feet. Her demand has rendered me useless as lust burns through my body like a forest fire.

We walk with urgency back to the inn, her hand secure in mine. My heart pounds, and each step is almost uncomfortable with the growing situation behind my zipper. The only sounds coming from the environment around us and our footsteps on the sidewalk.

When we breach the door to the inn, my conversation with Blake hits me square in the face. I never bought condoms. I pull Alice to a stop. “I need to grab something from the pharmacy.” I widen my eyes, hoping she gets my drift.

After a few moments, her puzzled expression gives way to understanding, and her mouth forms a small O shape.

She grins at me, then tugs me around and we head back out into the night and jog across the road.

Together, we locate the aisle we need, and I grab a small box—it’s not like I’ll need them after my vacation is over.

Alice places her hand over mine and peers up at me, almost shyly. “I think we’ll need a bigger box. We have four nights together.” She raises a perfectly shaped eyebrow, waiting for my response.

I swallow and count backward from ten, hoping it helps my barely held control. “Yes, ma’am.” I nod, then swap out the box of ten for a box of thirty. Possibly a little ambitious, but judging by the look in Alice’s eyes, maybe not. A guy can always hope.

She picks up a bottle of lube. I catch her eye, asking a silent question, and she shrugs a little as pink stains her cheeks. “Just in case.”

We step into the empty elevator back at the inn and, as soon as the doors close, I back Alice into the corner, pressing my hard on against her soft stomach.

“Your room or mine?” I whisper close to her ear, making her body shudder.

I kiss the space below her lobe and pull back to look at her, noting the fast rise and fall of her breasts.

“My room’s closer,” she whispers on a breath.

The doors slide open, and I grip her hand, tugging her forward, but she takes over, guiding me to her room, which turns out to be directly beneath mine.

I lean in close when we reach her door and feather soft kisses along her exposed shoulder and up the side of her throat.

Her hands shake as she pulls the keycard from her small purse, so I take it from her and unlock her door, guiding her inside with my hands on her wide hips.

She drops her purse on the console and spins to face me as I place the do not disturb sign on the door and twist the lock, then toss the condoms and lube across the room to her bed.

Alice’s hand flutters up to her throat, and I watch it bob with her nervousness.

“I … I just wanted to tell you I’ve never done anything like this before.

” My eyes widen without guidance from me.

“I mean, I … I’ve had sex before … I have a son, after all.

I mean, I don’t”—she waves her hands around, gesturing to the room—“I don’t normally bring men I’ve only just met back to my room.

I …”—her hand flutters up to her throat again, a nervous habit maybe—“I haven’t been with anyone since my husband. ”

I take a step back as some of my lust dissipates with her words.

We agreed not to share too much of ourselves, but now I’m wondering how long ago she was with her husband and why they’re no longer together because even in the short time I’ve known Alice, I’m already struggling with the idea of letting her go at the end of the week.

I can’t imagine ever letting her go if we were to spend an extended amount of time together.

She wrings her hands together and takes a step closer. “I just wanted you to know this is unusual behavior for me.”

I close the distance between us and smile softly as I tuck her silky hair behind her ear. “I already knew you weren’t the kind of woman to invite random men into your bed.” I bend my knees a little to capture her gaze fully. “This is also not my usual behavior, hence the stop at the pharmacy.”

We both chuckle at our situation and our confessions.

Her shoulders relax, as do mine. I can’t resist leaning in to press my mouth to hers.

Her body melts against me in an instant, and I reach up to cup her face as she opens to welcome me inside.

And just like that, my lust returns like an inferno burning through my veins, urging me to take her.

Tilting her face up to mine, I deepen the kiss, tasting the wine she drank with dinner and the raspberry cheesecake she enjoyed for dessert.

She whimpers softly and presses her body to mine as if she wants to climb inside me.

I smooth my hands down each side of her neck and across her shoulders as I worship her mouth with passionate strokes of my tongue.

Skimming the sides of her breasts, I keep moving until I grip her voluptuous ass, then lift her.

She wraps her arms and legs around me, ensuring not even a breath of space remains between us.

And I wish it could always be like this between us.

Lips and tongues dance in tandem, creating sparks in my blood and sending it thrumming through my body like electricity shooting from the sky.

My heart beats against my sternum in a rhythm that makes me dizzy and needy at the same time.

Alice grinds down on my hard cock, moaning when she makes contact.

My balls are heavy, and my dick is working double time to break through my zipper.

Fuck. This will all be over before we start if she keeps that up—it’s been too long.

I tear my mouth from hers, and her name falls from my lips on a plea.

I’m not sure what I’m asking, but I need to slow things down so I don’t embarrass myself.

I may have experienced a significant dry spell, but I do remember the lady I’m with should always come first.

With heavy breaths leaving our lips, we peer at each other through the thick blanket of desire wrapped around us.

I drop my forehead to hers, prepared to lay my vulnerabilities at her feet.

“It’s been a while for me, but I remember the etiquette surrounding moments like these.

” I look at her pointedly, noting the shallow breaths falling across my skin.

“My lady always comes first, and if you keep grinding your beautiful body against mine, I can’t be held responsible for the result.

” A gorgeous blush paints her cheeks pink, and she dips her chin, stealing her gaze from mine.