Torture

Roman disappeared around the bathroom door to shower and I made my way to the kitchen. Anton was still there, waiting for me by the looks of it. He was staring at me, my face under scrutiny, so I smiled tentatively at him.
"Good morning," I said, grabbing a cup from the cupboard and pouring myself some coffee.
"It must be." His eyes were narrowed and his nostrils flared.
"You've been pouty all morning." My smile faded. "I can sense a bit of hostility."
"Seriously Nuru, I don't see why you won't leave Roman alone," he said disapprovingly.
I groaned internally. "The same reason he can't leave me alone."
"Is it the status?" His dark eyes flashed up to me again, their expression unreadable. "Is that what does it for you?"
"You couldn't be more farther from the truth."
"Is it the title?" His voice was sharp, piecing. "You enjoy being unofficially Mrs. Reeves."
I cringed from his resentful tone and my brow puckered for a brief moment.
"You've got yourself a prince..." he added seriously. "but can you be a princess though?"
I didn't have an answer for him and I didn't bother trying to come up with one.
Anton smiled and his eyes were looking at something over my shoulder, I followed his gaze to find Roman standing in the middle of the doorway.
"What's going on here?" Roman demanded, his glare unrelentless.
"Rose and I were just getting familiar with each other," Anton turned his murderous gaze at me. "Weren't we Lilly?"
I gulped and nodded. I was afraid if I tried to talk, Roman would know something was wrong. Anton soon left and Roman gave me a knowing look before turning to walk back to the direction of his bedroom. I followed behind him.
I watched him get dressed.
"I eavesdropped," I said, my eyes on my lap. "I heard everything Anton said."
"Okay." He raised his gaze to meet mine, it was serious.
I tried to speak in a normal voice. "And he was right."
"About?" He asked, a wry smile on his face.
"Me working with Nikolai," I mumbled, refusing to look at him. "That I shouldn't be trusted."
He gave me an intimate look, and shrugged.
I looked down, afraid Roman could see the fear that widened my eyes. "Nikolai asked me to get him a platinum colored file and I stole it from your safe."
"Oh, that?" He laughed in earnest now, understanding. "I know."
I flashed a dark look at him. "What?"
"We had his house bugged," he said nonchalantly, dazzling me with his perfect smile. He reached up across the bed to touch my face, his warm fingers running down my cheek. And then he turned away and searching for his shoes.
"Oh!" I perked up.
"Yeah," Roman smiled up at me. "Don't worry about Anton, he'll come around. He's just worried... the most... you see. If people find out..." he gulped, nervously looking at me. "Not only would I get arrested but if opposing intelligence where to find out there's something you know no matter how insignificant, they'd naturally assume you know more."
"I understand that if I ever told, not only would I be putting my life in danger and that of the person I tell, I'd also be to blame for..." I choked on my own spit. "I can't lose you Roman. The very thought terrifies me."
"I know you won't tell."
"And it doesn't help at all that your whole family won't like me, now."
He smiled up at me, his eyes wide. "My parents already like you."
My jaw hardened. "And Ruth?"
"Don't worry about her," he said with a soft tone. "She just needs to get to know you better. She'll be singing your praises soon."
I scowled Roman. "We both know that's never going to happen."
"Despite everything that happened at my house, Ruth is not as bad as you might think." he paused, "I know she might have said a few things that made her seem... rude but I can assure you no matter who you were she'd have still behaved like that."
"Even worse than I thought," I mumbled, dejected. "I never stand a chance."
"Believe me you do," he said. "Ruth is just a little over protective."
"That's an understatement."
"She'll warm up to you, trust me." His eyes were so persuasive.
"Okay," I said. "Let's go meet Mel. We're already late."
"Okay," he said with a grimace. "Don't expect me to be informed about the colors and cuts or whatever brides look for in wedding dresses?"
"I know nothing about fashion myself," I said. "But at least, you don't look half as ridiculous as I do everyday."
"You're so dramatic, Nuru."
The phone rang and we looked at each other. Neither expecting a call, I answered hesitantly.
"Hello?" I asked, unnecessarily nervous.
"Nuru?" the gruff woman's voice said. "It's me."
"Er..." I tried to put a face behind the voice but couldn't think of anyone.
There was a sigh. "It's Lissa," Melissa said in a disapproving voice.
"Oh, hey Mel." I frowned. I was trying to think back, to figure out when I'd given Melissa Roman's house number.
"We're here," Melissa said excitedly. "We'll wait by Gimre's for you."
"Okay, I'm about to leave."
"Bring me an extra jacket," Melissa said. "I should've watched the weather forecast. It's so cold."
"Um... okay."
I pulled on my only jacket, a leather, faux, red in colour. I grabbed the house keys and opened the kitchen window.
Roman walked around the corner and my breath stuck on my throat.
"Ready?
I flushed and looked at the marble floor to hide my blush. "Yes, ready."
I led the way and when I opened the door I turned around and almost stopped breathing. Roman wasn't behind me like I'd expected but he was standing where I'd left him and he was looking, no, staring at me. His eyes almost in slits. He was biting his bottom lip in thought.
"What?" I asked.
"Hmm?" It seemed like I just pulled him out of a deep thought. "Wow." He was looking at me with an awed expression now.
"You're staring... at me." I emphasised each word. "And that makes me nervous."
He shrugged.
I glared at him, waiting as he walked towards the door.
"Nuru," he spoke in that careful voice that thrilled me.
Okay. I've got this. I told myself stubbornly. I just have to look at his hair. It's a much safer bet than his eyes.
"Yes?" I focused on his light brown waves as they teased around his eyes. His eyes were still intense, waiting for me to meet his gaze. His steps were measured as he purposely closed the distance between us.
"Come here," he said, his voice was so appealing to me.
I took a nervous step back and shook my head. I took only two steps until my back was up against the door. He had also reached me by then. He placed his hands against the door on either side of my head and leaned forward, forcing me to press back further against the door. His face was barely an inch away from mine. I calculated my odds of escaping, there were none.
"You've been avoiding me," he mumbled against my hair.
I stifled a shiver as his breath tickled my earlobe. "No I haven't."
"Yes, every time I try to get close to you," he shook his head disapprovingly at me. "You bolt."
"Someone has to make sure I survive this relationship," I mumbled.
"What are you talking about?" He sighed "... you know I'd never hurt you, right?"
"I know that silly."
"What exactly are you running away from, then?"
I gulped, my heart was twisting again, crushing against my ribcage. "Don't pretend like... like you don't see this..." I pointed to my chest as it moved up and down dangerously. "You know I can't handle you."
His lips smacked together. Then he took my earlobe between his teeth and nibbled softly. "Tell me more," he breathed against my neck.
I laughed nervously. "I suspect you're doing it on purpose."
I felt his lips move against my skin and guessed he was smiling.
"Really?" He sucked on my neck. "Why would I do that, you think?"
"To fend for your ego," I managed to say. It was dangerously becoming hard to concentrate.
"Oh yeah?" he asked, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
I shivered then, he pulled my body further against his so that he'd feel the shudder against his body. My stomach filled with a hot surge of hunger. "Yes... yes,"I gasped and my hands dug fists on his chest.
"I just want to kiss you," he confessed, his breath was slightly heavy against my skin. He squeezed my butt cheeks.
"That's the problem," I gasped. "I won't live through it."
"Hmm..." His lips moved from my forehead to my cheek, feathering light kisses along my jawline. "So how do you suppose this relationship will work if I can't even kiss you?"
His hand was suddenly against my curves, trailing up towards my ribcage. He gently traced the outline of my bra. His mouth gently nipping the sensitive skin on my neck. I inhaled sharply, my lips falling apart with a wild gush of air.
"R—Roman... please..." I didn't even know what I was begging for. "I'm dying here."
His hand released my breasts from the restraints of the bra. My nipples were hard and begging for his relentless attention. His thumb grazed the soft peak of my nipple and then his hand fell upon my globe and I buckled under him, he used his free hand to support me.
"Please..." I breathed again in a hoarse whisper. "I can't take any more."