Page 32 of Precious Legacy
A laugh bubbles out of me just as she swings the door open. She stumbles through the door, throwing back her head as she explodes with laughter. The sound of it relaxes me, but when my eyes lock on Roman, my shoulders instantly bunch up once again.
“Hello, Presh,” he purrs.
I swear I hear static, and my racing pulse doesn’t let up. My eyes dart between him, my brother, and Haldon before I finally swallow and give an abrupt nod to them all.
It’s not exactly a surprise that they’re all here, after all, Roman told me to meet him. I just wasn’t expecting to feel like a bowl of jelly the moment we locked eyes. Nothing deters me, nothing throws me sideways. Nothing, except Roman Genovese, who looks too damn attractive for his own good. It’s like this past week he’s grown even more irresistible, and I shouldn’t be noticing that.
Shaking my head of those stupid thoughts, I amble to the bar with Haven on my tail. I’ve opted for my usual whiskey-coke while Haven has decided to be a little more adventurous tonight, choosing a cocktail I swear she just made up.
We move to join the guys at the leather couch that curves around the room and overlooks the majority of the club below. While the room is completely private, the two-way glass gives the perfect view of the dance floor. Thanks to Haldon installing state-of-the-art speakers, we can hear the music playing downstairs too; ‘Control’ by Unknown Brain.
For an hour, we listen to music, chatting about Haven’s studies and Roman’s latest venture into fighting. I can’t say I’m surprised, but there’s a niggling feeling of unease that washes over me when he mentions the elite fighters who have already contacted him.
I feel Haven’s eyes on me as he recounts their names, and mine immediately drift to hers. The comforting expression she tries to project only meets me briefly before I’m snapped out of my own thoughts.
“Boss,” Baz announces himself abruptly, his gaze moving across all of us. “We have company.”
Immediately, our heads snap to the window. Though I’m not sure what I’m looking for, the guys know exactly what Baz is referring to.
My brother shoots up from his seat. “I’ll handle it,” he huffs.
“I’ll join you,” Haldon offers, heading towards the door but pausing to look back at us. “Roman?”
My wary gaze drifts to him, but he’s not looking at Haldon. His sultry stare is fixated on me like steel; unmovable.
“I’ll stay here. Lani and I need to have a chat.” He smirks deviantly, sipping his drink.
“Whatever,” I hear my brother mutter before the door closes and the silence envelops us.
It’s unnerving the way he can command my attention without even doing anything. My treacherous body reacts to his metallic stare, my erratic pulse now relocating to a more favorable place.
“And that’s my cue,” Haven sighs, pushing up from her place beside me. “Just don’t kill each other, okay?”
The smile that graces Roman’s lips is pure sex. I know all too well what thoughts are crossing his mind because they’re the same ones flashing through my own. Though my best friend doesn’t know the full extent of my recent interactions with Roman, she’s more than aware that something’s been going on. Thankfully, she hasn’t pushed the subject, something I’m grateful for—because the reason I came here tonight is to put an end to the back and forth between Roman and I.
The sex, the fighting—it’s toxic and suffocating. There’s no chance of me moving forward if I’m stuck in the past. And Roman Genovese is my past. He can’t be my present or future.
Fidgeting in my spot, I clear my throat as the door closes behind Haven.
“I need another drink,” I murmur, heading to the opposite side of the room. It should be easy to cut ties with the man who hurt me, but after last week's revelation, I’m still warring with my doubt. I need to let go of what happened five years ago, but I also need to let bygones be bygones.
Before I make it even two steps to the bar, Roman grabs my hand. The air whooshes out of my lungs as he tugs me into his lap.
“Here,” he smiles, bringing his glass to my lips. Without thinking, I take a gentle sip. The amber liquid burns down my throat, leaving a scorching path that warms me from the inside. He smirks, placing the glass on the side table next to him. “I figured you’d need liquid courage.”
“How’d you figure that?”
“Because Alanis Bonanno has never apologized before, has she?” He shifts beneath me, the evidence of his desire punching through the fabric of his slacks.
I have to suppress the wanton urge that courses through my veins. Beyond the resentment and guilt, I still want to fuck Roman.
No! You came here to cut things off.
A shuddered breath liberates itself from the constraints of my throat, causing Roman’s lips to curl. He reaches forward, resting his warm palm against my throat as he presses his thumb under my chin. I have no choice but to look at him, his darkening gaze boring into me.
“And I’m not going to. I already told you, I suck at them.”
Roman leans forward to rub his nose along mine, causing my breath to catch in my throat. His aftershave invades my senses, suffocating me so deliciously that I feel goosebumps form along my skin. It’s too intoxicating to think straight.
