I keep telling myself, if I just see her once, I’ll stop thinking about her all the damn time.
I grab the leftovers and take them with me. When Ma suggested I take some more for my friend, I didn’t stop her. Now, here I am, standing in the elevator, staring at the buttons. Quickly, without thinking about it, I press the button to her floor.
Tingles of nerves dance all around my skin as I ride the elevator up. A bunch of billionaires who basically run the city of New York don’t draw out the kind of nerves that Eva does. It’s terrifying, but I know I can’t stay away.
I knock on her door, all while my heart seems to beat out of my chest. After a minute of no response, I take a step back to walk away when the door swings open.
Eva is in tight black pants and a sleeveless red top. Her brown hair is down in waves while her green eyes are amplified by her makeup.
“Roman,” she says flatly, no excitement in her voice. “What are you doing here?”
I hold up the bag filled with Ma’s cooking. “Tuesday night dinner at Ma’s. She gave me more food to bring to you.”
“Aw, that’s so sweet of her.” She looks behind her. “I was just getting ready to leave in a couple of minutes.”
“Oh, no problem. Here.” I hand her the bag. “She’ll want you to enjoy the food eventually.”
She takes the bag from me, and I place my hands in the pockets of my pants, not willing to leave yet. I need more time with her.
“So, where are you headed?” I ask, hoping I don’t sound like a damn fool who would do anything to spend more time with her.
“Oh, Drew has this reservation at?—”
I cut her off, unable to hear the details of their date, “Got it. Have fun. Sorry to interrupt.”
I walk away, not looking back, taking aggressive steps until I’m back in the elevator. I nearly break the button on the elevator—I press it so hard.
My fingers curl into my palms, the muscles in my forearms tensing under the stress of my anger.
Once inside my penthouse, I go straight to my wet bar. Grabbing a crystal glass, I place it down on the counter and reach for my strongest whiskey. I pour two fingers’ worth of it and shoot it back in one gulp. It does nothing to mask the feelings flooding through me, threatening to take me down.
Why is she doing this? I told her I didn’t want her getting involved with one of my employees. It’s like shewantsto piss me off.
I’m used to women fawning over me, willing to do anything I ask of them. Eva would never do anything unless she wanted to do it. No one can push her around, and fuck if I don’t respect the hell out of her for that.
She’s too good for Drew. Drew just sees the pretty face and perfect body. He doesn’t know what makes her truly stand apart from other women.
I think about her out on a date with him tonight. Him trying to push his luck, maybe even getting a kiss.
Just like that, I’m storming out of my place and going back to the elevator. The adrenaline coursing through my veins is enough to make me pace back and forth the entire way until I’m standing in front of her door.
I bang loudly, powerless to knock calmly. This is it. I’m making a decision I cannot go back on. One that is dangerous and could end in disaster. But I also know that it’s been months since I’ve met her and my feelings have only grown stronger.
I can’t fight it anymore.
The door swings open.
She crosses her arms across her chest, looking completely unimpressed with me. “You’re back.”
I advance, eyes locked on hers, then place my hands on her cheeks and touch my lips to hers. In an instant, I feel the weight on my shoulders disappear. For something I’ve fought so hard against, it feels like exactly what I’m supposed to be doing.
Her lips move against mine with perfect rhythm. At the same time my arms wrap around her waist, hers go around my neck.
I push us farther into her apartment and kick the door closed. Spinning us around, I press her back up against it as I claim her mouth with my tongue.
“I’m done fighting this,” I whisper into her mouth. “I’ll burn the world down before I let anyone else have you.”
She moans back at me, kissing me back before she replies. “If you had let me finish,” she starts, then kisses me again, “you would have heard that Drew made reservations for the staff.”