Looking into Ryleigh’s eyes brought on those feelings—but in the best way possible.
She was the storm in the ocean, and I wanted to risk my life just to be in her glory.
I didn’t want to die, though.
I just wanted to drown in her eyes.
To just let go and let those expressive grays of hers wash out all of my misery.
I just…
I just wanted her.
Shortly after seeing her that first time, I decided that I wanted her badly enough to cross every single line.
I wanted her badly enough to commit every sin in the book.
I wanted her badly enough that I would die before I ever gave her up.
That day, I became less of myself and more of someone who was solely, completely, and unabashedly…hers.
It was early in the morning. Dawn was barely breaking, and the sun hadn’t peeked through yet. She would wake up soon.
I didn’t know where she went when she slept, and why she had such a hard time staying asleep most of the night, but I was hit with an urge to be strong enough to fight her demons, even in her dreams.
It was fucking stupid, considering I was playing one in her reality.
But I didn’t know how to not be that for her.
I didn’t know how to leave her alone, and I didn't know how to let her go. I didn’t know how to do the right thing and just let her live her own life.
I didn’t know hownotto be Roman Stone.
I let my fingers run gently down her cheek.
Even though she let me hold her in my arms last night, there was always a wall between us that I wanted to tear down with my own hands.
I wanted to eradicate that wary look in her eyes when she looked at me as Roman, and get back to that soft look she had given me as Xavier.
I wanted the softness back, and her defenses had never been lower than when I moved inside her.
I shifted restlessly on the bed, holding my breath when her face started to change slightly, and I knew she was on the verge of waking.
I didn’t move, wanting my face to be the first thing she saw when she woke, and if I had it my way, that would always be the case for the rest of our lives.
Her eyes slowly opened, and there was that softness in her eyes that hadn’t been present since she first woke up at the cabin.
Then awareness seeped in, and I fucking hated that.
I wanted the softness back, so I did the only thing I could think of at that moment.
I leaned down and kissed her.
She stayed still beneath me for one long second, and then she kissed me back, wrenching out a low groan from my lips.
Fuck.
I deepened the kiss, molding my lips firmly against hers.
