Page 45 of The Editor’s Choice

Roman had told me he had been on a mission right before I met him. Apparently that’s how a lot of them go. No showers, almost homeless appearances to fit in. Sometimes working for days with no breaks to clean up or even sleep more than a few minutes at a time. I shiver at the memory of that conversation and the ones that followed. The conversations about his hardest tasks along the way, though he spared me most of the gory details thankfully.

Turning to me, Finn scoots back to the edge of his seat, gaze locking with mine. I find myself unable to look away, mesmerized by the deep shades of green I find there. “I’ve never known Roman to go so far to protect anyone,” he starts, holding the contact for a few moments longer. “Fucking hell,” he says on a sigh, shaking his head lightly.

“Are you in or what?” Roman asks, starting to lose patience.

“You know I’m in, fucker,” Finn says, rolling his eyes for dramatic effect. “I’m always in. I’ve got a thing for beating the odds,” he says, winking at me with a smile.

“Wait. In for what exactly?” I ask, eyes darting between the two of them. I’m sitting in a room with literal killers and I’ve never felt safer in my life, even if one misstep could get us all killed or imprisoned.

“The plan,” Roman says. “We’re going to get this shit figured out and get the cops off your back. Permanently. Nobody’s every going to find out what actually happened to Emily or the part you played in it.”

“Fuck,” I say, tears pricking my eyes as my throat starts to burn. “Thank you, Finn. And you too.” A single tear slides down my cheek before I’m scrubbing them away, determined to keep it together for now.

“I’ll call Sara first thing in the morning,” Roman says, turning his attention back to Finn. “I need her to check in on the situation with the cops. Get us an update there. You come in after that. I’ll let you know when I get word back from her and we’ll initiate the plan then.”

“Sounds good, brother,” Finn says, standing from the chair and smoothing out his jeans. “I’ll be waiting.”

“Thanks for everything,” Roman says, sincerity bleeding from him. “I appreciate you more than you know.”

“Just don’t get me fucking killed,” he responds with a smile. “I’ve still got women left to worship.” With a wink back at me, he makes his way to the door, and after a quick goodbye, he’s out the door, leaving me feeling like I can actually breathe again.

Roman scrubs his hand down his face, now dotted with new stubble, before turning his attention back to me.

“Well. Good news, believe it or not,” he says, eyes coming back to life again. “Finn did some digging and it doesn’t seem like Cain has any real interest in coming after you. It honestly doesn’t seem like the debt Emily owed him really meant anything to him.” He shrugs, putting me a little more at ease.

“That is good. I’m surprised,” I admit. “It seems like this world is all about money and nothing else makes a fuck.” I pinch the bridge of my nose, hoping to fight off the oncoming headache.

“It is. But I’m guessing she really didn’t owe him that much. He’s got bigger fish to fry. Plus, she sold her body to him and his men several times from what I’ve been hearing. A lot of these guys are willing to let go of a small debt for that exchange.” The look of disgust that crosses his face has my stomach doing flips.

“One demon down, then,” I say, forcing a small smile. It doesn’t feel like much of a victory, but I’ll take anything I can get at this point. Plus, having Finn on our side is a major bonus. As long as we can keep that information quiet, that is.

“It’s all gonna be alright,” he says, reading my face. I’ve really got to work on that poker face.

“I know,” I say, actually believing it for the first time since I started having the nightmares and realized what I’d done.

“Good. Now… where were we?” he asks, giving me a wicked half smile that could melt the coldest of hearts.

“Hmm. I believe we were at the part where we snuggle up and forget about the crazy world we’ve managed to dive into,” I say, stretching as a yawn overtakes me.

“No, no,” he says, leaning forward to get closer to my face, eyes darting between my eyes and lips. “Before that.”

“You’ll have to refresh my memory I guess,” I say, shrugging as a smile tugs on my lips. “I seem to have forgotten.”

He chuckles darkly before covering my mouth with his again, sliding his hand around to cup the back of my neck, fingers reaching up into my hair. A soft moan escapes me before I can help it, lost in the kiss.

He nips my bottom lip before running his tongue over it gently. When I open to him, his tongue enters my mouth smoothly, exploring every inch. My hands are roaming his shoulders, committing every muscle to memory.

His free hand runs up and down my side before sliding gently under the t-shirt I swiped from him earlier. The feel of his skin on mine has goosebumps popping up anywhere he touches, evidence of the effect he has on me. That has him smiling into the kiss now, sending my heart into overdrive.

As quickly as it started, it’s over and Roman is pushing himself up, away from me. The separation leaves me feeling hollow and cold. Just as I’m about to play it off, feigning indifference, he reaches for me, pulling me to my feet before hoisting me up to wrap my legs around his waist.

His kiss is different when it comes again moments later. He slowly walked us to the bedroom, laying me gently onto the king size bed before standing to his full height, looking me head to toe with a dark hunger in his eyes.

Crawling up to meet me on the bed, the energy shifts as he covers my body with his this time. Up until now, it’s all been flirting and games. His lips meet mine, hungry and lust-filled, as his bruising kiss steals my breath. I’m panting by the time he lets up to trace my jaw with his lips.

Down to my neck, to that sweet soft spot where my neck meets my shoulder, where the flesh is so tender. He nips at it with his teeth, releasing a moan from deep within my chest. When he bites again, this time harder, my back arches from the bed, both in pain and a surprising pleasure. Heat and tension are already building in my core at the simple act.

I run my fingers through his hair, tugging at it lightly. The sensation is too much as he nips the skin on my neck over and over, following it by kissing and licking the assaulted skin. Curling my fingers into his hair, I pull harder, trying to pry him away from the sensitive spot.