The Morning After

I woke up to Roman's breathing against my neck, his arm heavy across my waist. For a second I forgot about everything — forgot about my legs, forgot about Jennie in prison, forgot about the pain that still lingered in places I didn't want to think about.
But then I tried to move and nothing happened below my waist. Reality crashed back.
Roman stirred beside me. "Morning," he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.
"Morning." I turned my head to look at him. His hair was messy, sticking up in all directions, and there were red marks on his chest from where I'd dug my nails in. "Did I hurt you?"
He chuckled. "Worth it."
I felt heat creep up my neck. Last night felt like a dream. Roman — my Roman — had finally made love to me. And it was... I couldn't even find words for it.
"Any regrets?" he asked, his voice careful.
"About what? Finally losing my virginity to the man I love?" I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, Roman, I'm devastated."
He grinned and kissed my shoulder. "Smart ass."
"Your smart ass now."
"Always was."
I was quiet for a moment, just watching him. His eyes were that perfect blue-gray color they got in the morning light. I could stare at them forever and never get bored.
"What?" he asked.
"Just thinking."
"About?"
"About how this changes things." I bit my lip. "I mean, we can't exactly go back to the way things were before."
Roman propped himself up on his elbow, studying my face. "Do you want to go back?"
"God no." The answer came out faster than I meant it to. "I just... I don't know what happens now."
"Now you get to deal with me being even more possessive than before," he said with that crooked smile that made my stomach flip.
"Great. Just what I needed."
He laughed and pulled me closer. I could feel him getting hard against my thigh and my breath caught.
"Roman..."
"Hmm?"
"We should probably get up. Check on things." But even as I said it, I was already pressing closer to him.
"Things can wait," he murmured against my ear. His hand traced patterns on my ribs and I shivered.
"What if someone comes looking for us?"
"I locked the door. And told everyone not to disturb us until noon."
"You planned this?"
"I planned to sleep in with my girlfriend. What happened after that was... unplanned."
I snorted. "Girlfriend. I'm your mate, remember?"
His eyes went serious for a second. "Yeah. You are."
There was something in his voice that made my chest tight. Good tight, not scared tight.
"So what does that mean? For us?"
Roman was quiet for a long moment. "It means you're stuck with me. For life."
"And you're stuck with me."
"Wouldn't have it any other way."
My phone buzzed on the nightstand. Roman reached over me to grab it, his chest pressing against mine. I tried not to get distracted by the feel of his skin.
"Melissa," he said, handing me the phone.
I frowned and answered. "Mel?"
"Emma!" Her voice was breathless, excited. "Oh my God, finally! I've been trying to call you for hours."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. Everything's perfect. Chad proposed!"
I felt Roman tense beside me. He could hear every word.
"That's amazing, Mel! When?"
"Last night! He took me to that place by the river, you know the one with the old bridge? And he got down on one knee and everything. It was perfect."
"I'm so happy for you."
"You have to see the ring. It's gorgeous. Not huge but it's exactly what I wanted." She paused. "Emma? You sound weird. Are you okay?"
I glanced at Roman. He was watching me with those intense eyes.
"I'm fine. Just tired."
"Were you sleeping? It's almost ten in the morning."
"Yeah, I was sleeping."
"Oh. Sorry. I was just so excited I had to tell someone. The wedding's in two months! Can you believe it?"
Two months. Melissa would be married in two months and here I was, can't even walk down the aisle if she asked me to be her maid of honor.
"Emma?"
"Sorry, I'm here. Two months sounds perfect."
"You're still going to be my maid of honor, right? I know things are... different now. With your legs and everything. But I want you there."
My throat felt tight. "Of course."
"Good. I was worried you might say no because of the wheelchair thing."
I winced. Roman's hand found mine and squeezed.
"No, I want to be there for you."
"Awesome. Oh, and Emma?"
"Yeah?"
"Bring Roman. As your date."
I felt my face get hot. "Mel..."
"What? You guys are together, right? I mean, he's been taking care of you this whole time. And the way he looks at you... it's obvious."
"It's complicated."
"Relationships always are. But he loves you. Anyone can see that."
Roman raised an eyebrow at me.
"I have to go, Mel. Congratulations again."
"Thanks. Love you."
"Love you too."
I hung up and tossed the phone aside.
"So," Roman said. "Wedding date?"
"Don't get any ideas."
"Too late."
I groaned. "Roman..."
"What? You don't want to go to your best friend's wedding with me?"
"That's not the point."
"Then what is?"
I stared at the ceiling. "People will talk. About us. About the age difference."
"Let them talk."
"Easy for you to say. You're not the one they'll call jailbait."
Roman went very still beside me. "Is that what you think? That I'm taking advantage of you?"
I turned to look at him. His face was carefully blank, but I could see the hurt in his eyes.
"No. That's not what I think at all." I reached up to touch his cheek. "I love you, Roman. I chose this. I chose you."
Some of the tension left his shoulders.
"But other people won't see it that way," I continued. "They'll see an older man and a teenage girl and they'll make assumptions."
"I don't care what other people think."
"You should. You have a reputation to protect. A career."
"Fuck my career."
"Roman."
"No, Emma. I'm serious. I don't care if the whole world thinks I'm a monster. You're mine and I'm yours and that's all that matters."
I wanted to argue with him, to make him see reason. But the fierce way he was looking at me made the words die in my throat.
"You're impossible," I whispered.
"And you're stuck with me."
"Yeah. I am."
He kissed me then, soft and gentle at first, then deeper when I responded. I could taste toothpaste and something that was just Roman.
"We should get up," I said against his lips.
"Should we?"
"Ruth will come looking for us soon."
"Ruth knows better than to disturb me when I'm with you."
"Since when?"
"Since I had a very frank conversation with her about boundaries."
I laughed. "You threatened your grandmother?"
"I established expectations."
"Same thing."
He shrugged and started kissing down my neck. I tilted my head to give him better access.
"Roman..."
"Hmm?"
"I can't feel my legs but everything else is working just fine."
He lifted his head to look at me. "Good to know."
"So if you want to..."
"Emma Lynn, are you trying to seduce me?"
"Is it working?"
His answer was to roll on top of me, careful of my injured body, and show me exactly how well it was working.
Later, much later, we finally dragged ourselves out of bed. Roman carried me to the bathroom and helped me shower, his hands gentle as he washed away the evidence of our morning.
"I love you," I said as he dried my hair.
"I love you too."
Simple words. But they felt like a promise of forever.