Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
“I like her,” Antonio said.
“Denise?” Marlo and Cash asked at the same time.
“God, no, that woman is a fucking vulture. No, I’m talking about Alex. She isn’t afraid of Roman. He can’t just walk all over her. She has a fire inside her. I think she’s his match, but he’s too damn stubborn to realize it.” Antonio shook his head. “We’ve got to help bring them together. Roman will be a lot happier if he’s in love.”
“We don’t know that,” Marlo said.
“Look at how he is here.”
“This is fucking nightmare central,” Cash said.
“So many fucking kids,” Marlo said.
“And yet, look at Roman. I saw him smile at a kid. He loves them, guys. You’ve seen it. I know you have. Alex is good for him. They’re good for each other, and we have a duty as his friend to make sure he doesn’t fuck it up.” Antonio had been by Roman’s side for as long as he could remember. They were as close as brothers. All of them. He knew the kind of shit Roman had to put up with. The intense training, the lack of love, and even the modicum of comfort. Lucas Greco needed a strong son, and to do that, he did what he thought was best.
Roman was a monster. He was cruel and fair, and he did what he had to do. But it had come with a cost.
Little by little, Antonio had watched his friend slowly disappear. Only with Alex had he seen the old Roman, the one who enjoyed life, who took his responsibility but also knew how to have fun. He was starting to come back, and if it meant he had to push Alex and Roman together, then he was going to do it. What he needed to do was make sure Roman didn’t fuck it up.
Chapter Eleven
“Put your hand on her waist,” Antonio said.
Roman placed his hand on Alex’s waist, and she immediately tensed up.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” Alex let go of him and stepped back.
“It’s fine. We can go again. I’ll keep touching you until we get this right.”
Her face was bright red, and she turned toward him, putting her hands back on his shoulders.
He touched her waist, and she twinged.
“I’m not used to dancing.”
Roman knew what she was really saying. She wasn’t used to being held by a man. Once again proving her innocence and making him feel like an utter bastard.
“You know what,” Marlo said, “we need to bring some music in to play.” He turned the stereo on, and a dance number started to play. He clicked his fingers and began to swing his hips. “And you just have to let the music come to you.”
“I don’t dance,” Alex said.
“Come on, Roman,” Cash said. “You know how to dance.”
“The glare! Bad point to Roman.”
A chart was hung on the board, and each time he glared, he was struck with a bad point. If Alex rolled her eyes, she got a point as well. So far, he was the one with the bad points as he kept on glaring. Alex had a few eye-roll moments, but not enough.
She stood there, stepping from side to side, and her hands were so tense by her side. “I have no idea what I’m doing.”
Roman laughed, and then he started to dance, feeling the beat of the music as he swung his hips. “You have to relax. Here, let me show you.” He took hold of her hands and spun her around so that her back was to him. “Close your eyes.”
Alex shut her eyes, and he moved her so that her ass was nestled against his hips. He had to grit his teeth and concentrate as he felt the warm heat against his dick. That morning, their first sleeping together in a bed, he’d woken with Alex snuggled against his chest. He had his arms wrapped around her, her face was on his chest, and her leg was nestled between his.
He’d never slept against a woman before. Alex was his first.
When she told him last night, he’d wanted to admit the truth to her, but he also didn’t want to … he didn’t know what he wanted to do, but he’d kept the truth from her.
He’d fucked plenty of women, but he never wanted to give them the impression that he wanted more from them. Roman always left.
Alex was the first woman he’d slept with, all night long. The first woman who’d ever snuggled up against him. And he’d fucking loved it.
Placing his hands on her hips, he started to sway her body. She was tense to start with, but the music loosened her up, and he had no choice but to put a little space between them because he was getting harder by the second.
Alex was his wife. He should already be fucking her, and yet, he hadn’t crossed that line with her, not yet. He wanted to, so badly.