Done Hiding

He frowned, deliberating. "I'll end up not... reporting what I should. Not being accurate. I can't afford any mistakes and not having you close to me makes me — uncomfortable, unfocused."
I shivered, I didn't like it when his eyes drank me in like that, when he melted my insides with his gaze alone.
"I'll do that." I took a step — unwillingly, towards the hallway.
"Nuru?"
I turned immediately, taking a step back towards him and froze, he was much closer then I'd anticipated. He leaned into me as he steadied my balance. His face fell a mere inch away from mine. At that moment the breath ceased out of my lungs.
He didn't speak, he trailed his long fingers against my jaw.
His finger brushed my lips and I still didn't breath. I wasn't even moving. My bottom lip tingled from the shock that hummed between us. I cleared my throat, hoping that would clear my suddenly unfocused thoughts.
I stood still for a moment longer, until my heart calmed down enough to allow me to think clearly. He took a step back, and I also stepped away from him towards the hallway awkwardly. My feet messily stepping in front of each other until I braced myself on the wall for support. Roman's touch was lethal.
I heard a faint sound, as though he was trying very hard to hold himself from laughing. I scowled him until I could no longer see him.
I tried not to think of Roman, in all his glorified beauty, waiting for me. My heart was in a state of chaos, it sped heavily against my chest. I raced through my shower, the hot water kissing my skin bitterly. I shampooed my hair absentmindedly, my focus much more on calming my racing heart.
After the rushed shower, I brushed my teeth at a fierce pace that threatened to hurt my gums. I couldn't possibly wait another long, agonizing second to see Roman. I toweled slowly, giving myself enough time to calm my stupid heart down.
I pulled on a black baggy old t-shirt, it was Roman's, for a while anyway, before I'd repossessed it. I used the hair dryer quickly, unknotting my hair with my fingers.
I dashed to the bedroom, Roman stood up the second he laid his eyes on me and groaned. He closed the distance between us in two powerful strides. He dropped his face slowly towards mine, to meet me halfway, his intoxicating breath came more quickly as his lips merely touched with mine.
It was very hard for me to frame a coherent thought while he was still touching me.
"Hehe," I laughed with no humor, moving swiftly away from him. "There's no way I'm kissing you."
"Should I take that as a challenge, Nuru?" his lips twitched almost exposing his perfectly straight teeth.
"Why the need for a challenge?" I looked around the room as if searching for people, and then sighed dramatically for the effect. "I see no real competition."
He stared at me in bleak mild surprise. "Careful now, Nuru."
I grinned at him and leaped across the bed to the opposite side of Roman. "Or what?"
He smiled one of his breathtaking grins at me that soon turned into a wicked smirk.
"I'm going to kiss you, Nuru Lynn, and there's not a damned thing you'll do about it," he threatened, his voice left no doubt in my mind that he was serious.
"You wouldn't dare!"
He stalked towards me in long, determined, powerful strides and all I could do was walk backwards matching each step with his. He closed in on me, his eyes on my lips, I refused to back down.
"I am going to kiss you." He leaned towards me and as my knees turned into jelly, he quickly wound his arm around my waist. "I've wanted to do this since the very first moment I laid my gaze on you."
I was trapped between the wall and his muscular body.
"No," I felt and sounded breathless.
And then he took my face in his hands with a feverish longing, and crushed his lips passionately against mine. His determined lips, roughly parting mine with his sulked tongue.
I gasped and he worked that to his advantage. I tried to push him back but his lips were unyeiding against mine.
Everything went blank.
"Oh no, Nuru?" he gasped breathlessly, caring me to the bed. "I'm sure you didn't just faint on me, did you?"
I fluttered my eyes open. "Damn it, Roman!" I cussed faintly. "If you want to kill me, use a gun instead."
He frowned disapprovingly at me.
"It's much quicker," I continued, "It will also save me the embarrassment."
He smiled and leaned into me.
"Hell no." I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and my head spun uncontrollably. I wobbled. "You don't get to embarrass me twice in one hour."
"Nuru," he said anxiously, as he caught and steadied me. "How are you feeling?"
"Disorientated... I think." I breath in and out slowly, making sure to look away from him, so that I wouldn't be forced to breathe in his delicious scent.
"I'm sorry," he mused. "I should've known better."
"It's fine, really," I said, voice still weak. "I just need to get used to you." I knew Roman wasn't the type of man anyone got used to.
He chuckled. "You're too innocent."
"Hah. Even after what I made you do to my body?"
"Yeah, I should enlist you with authorities for that."
I smiled. "You should."
"And risk not being able to see the lovely blush on your cheeks?" He ran his hands on both sides of my face for emphasis. "No, never."
I shook my head. The spinning worsened.
He made a face. "Where you planning to ever look at me again tonight?"
I didn't answer right away and he glanced up to check my expression. I closed my eyes. "It's your fault that I'm dizzy," I teased. "Show some sort of remorse."
"Something has been bothering me, lately."
Uh-oh. I opened my eyes, sensing the urgency in his voice. I frowned up at him. He was just so breathtaking. "The fact that you literally take my breath away, I hope." My voice was still weak.
"You're so funny, Nuru." He laughed, a throaty sound. "Actually that's one of the things I love about you."
I was somehow able to laugh. "There's a list?"
"Yes, but —" he paused "wait — you just side-tracked me."
"Sorry."
He looked down, pausing for so long that my chest closed and I began to worry. Finally, he looked at me and said, "I was thinking that I've done this the wrong way."
"What now?" I groaned.
"Us." He hesitated. "I've never asked you out on a date before."
I stared at him in mild surprise. I smiled, and my shoulders relaxed. "Now that... I wasn't expecting."
"So..." He sighed a heavy sigh. Then he reached over to hold my hand in his. "Nuru, would you go out on a date with me tomorrow night?"
I sighed. "I would very much love that."
He grinned. "Good."
I hesitated.
"Uh-oh. What's wrong?" he asked.
"Well..." I began, my heart in my throat. "We can't be seen in public anymore than we already had been together."
"Please... just this once."
"Hmm." I pulled him to his feet. "Let me wear the wig," I offered. "At least I pass off as twenty something with black hair."
"I don't want to hide you," he said. And then shrugged. "But if that will make you comfortable."