Roma's enthusiasm made him drunk. He staggered around the room with her in his arms, deepening the kiss. He wasn't walking away.
Nothing could drag him away from her.
Roma's lips lit a fire in their path. Kodiak wasn't sure when the tears on her cheeks had stopped—maybe when his hands slid into her hair, or maybe when her fingers tugged at his vest like she needed to feel skin underneath.
Her desperation matched his own. For every forcible move he made, she counteracted on her own. He squeezed her ass, needing proof that she was here, in his arms.
Roma pulled her mouth back, gasping for breath, and looked at him, studying him, not with the hurt showing in her eyes but the heat of a woman who wanted sex.
"You make it hard to love you," she whispered.
"I'm not very lovable." He rested his forehead against hers. "But I'm here, aren't I?"
She nodded—just once—and then she kissed him again, slower this time. Less anger. More ache. Without losing her mouth, he set her on the floor and shrugged out of his vest.Her hands dove under his T-shirt, tracing old scars and tired muscles.
He took her shirt off, barely getting it off her arms before she was right back to touching him. The curve of her shoulder enticed him, and he kissed his way down her neck to the smooth skin. It gave him time to undo the front of her jeans and push them over her hips. He wanted that pussy available. Without even going down, he knew what she tasted like. He couldn't forget. It'd tortured him every fucking day.
"Tell me you want this." He trailed his mouth to the sweet spot on her neck.
Her breath caught. "I've always wanted you."
He backed her toward the bed until her legs hit the mattress. He hesitated, searching her face for any trace of doubt.
All he saw was trust.
And that undid him.
They sank into the mattress together. His hands mapped her skin, marking his property.
She gasped when his lips grazed her collarbone and when his calloused fingers slid over her stomach. He wanted her to experience it all, knowing he was the first to do so. His heart pounded. He needed to slow down, give her time, and not rush her. She shook slightly beneath him, but not from fear. He recognized her arousal.
"You okay?" he murmured.
"Yeah. Just... don't stop."
He didn't. He wouldn't. He couldn't.
Every movement rubbed him the right way. She moaned, catching her lip. Damn, she was beautiful. He tried to memorize every breath she took, every sound she made, every way she gave herself to him without hesitation. And when she wrapped herself around him, heart racing, skin warm, eyes locked on him, he felt something solid grip him.
This wasn't lust. This wasn't comfort.
This wasRoma. His Roma.
And for the first time in a long fucking time, he let himself believe he could have everything that he wanted. That he could be hers without any blowback from the club.
He took a moment to appreciate the sight of her, squeezing her hip, loving the smoothness of her skin.
Her nipples pebbled. He leaned over her, taking one into his mouth, feeling her gasp and arch into him.
His cock pulsed in his jeans, demanding more room. Needing more room. She'd never seen him naked before. He'd always been careful to protect her.
Her eyes locked on his as he unbuckled his belt. He slid his pants down past his hips, revealing his hard length. The whole time, he watched her. Instead of the fear or worry he expected, she licked her lips, a hint of nervousness mixing with her excitement. He stroked her hip, letting her take a look at him.
"It'll fit?" she asked over the music.
"Yeah, baby girl, it'll fit. I'll go slow until you're used to me being inside you." He found his pocket and removed his wallet, where he kept a condom.
She nodded her consent. He rolled on the protection. That was all the permission he needed.
