“Roman,” Jessica pulled his head back a little to be able to see his face, “I want you inside me. I… need you inside me.”

Roman was up off his knees faster than Jessica could register. He picked her up and carried her over to the bed, and she had a weird flash of the old-fashioned tradition of brides being carried over the threshold. Whatever. It certainly didn’t last more than a nano-second before Jessica was up on her knees undoing his pants while he pulled his shirt over his head. Roman then undid the front clasp of her bra and finished sliding the bra off her shoulders.

She followed his lead, shimmying his shirt and pants off. He stood before her, the toned ripples of his muscles, begging to be caressed. Roman seemed to enjoy her gaze and momentary pause for consideration.

“I won’t hurt you, Jessica.” He moved forward, laying her onto her back and positioning himself between her legs. Roman rubbed his cock through her slippery folds while licking her nipple. They were both moaning and writhing as Roman grabbed hold of himself and positioned his tip at her opening. He paused and looked at Jessica, who was breathing heavily in anticipation.

“Oh my god, Jessica, you’re so wet.” Jessica barely registered whatever he was saying as he began to provide sustained pressure, slowly inching into her.

“Oh god, Roman,” Jessica uttered as she tilted her head back and brought her legs around his backside to pull him in deeper.

“Hold on, kokhana, no need to rush. I promise to fill you up.” Roman eased himself slowly into her center, taking her mouth with his in a hungry kiss. Jessica could feel him all the way inside her, deeper than anyone had ever been in more ways than one, and yet it still didn’t feel close enough. She wanted more: more of him inside her, more of him wrapped around her, more of… him.

Jessica had never experienced anything like this; the orgasm building around her had such an unfamiliar intensity. She could feel her pleasure and need for release mounting, but it was almost like she could feel Roman’s as well. It was almost terrifying, and if the feeling of him in her, on her, all around her wasn’t there to ground her, she might have panicked.

“Jessica, baby, I need you to come now.” He leaned down so his mouth was just at her ear. “Come for me.”

She didn’t need any more encouragement than that. Jessica let loose everything she was holding back, ripples of ecstasy emanating through her core. She felt Roman’s pulsing in time with her own, which sent her into eye-rolling, orgasmic bliss.

When they finished coming down and their breathing settled, Roman lightly brushed the hair out of Jessica’s face, trailing his fingers down her neck to softly circle her nipple. He slowly slid himself out and laid on his back next to her, both staring at the ceiling.

Well, that was amazingly terrifying, Jessica thought to herself.

CHAPTER 4

Roman stared at the ceiling in utter disbelief over something impossible to forsake. Over the course of nine hours, his entire life had been simultaneously upended and locked into place. For so long, he had pushed against the bonds of his world, the bonds of marriage—the bonds of his mate.

Fuck me, he thought, I’m really rollin’ in it now, aren’t I? I can’t believe… a human? Really? Well, not just any human… I mean of course it would end up being someone like Jessica. Jesus Christ, this is bad. Roman’s anxiety was quickly rising which he knew wouldn’t sit well with Jessica and tried to pull his spiraling thoughts back under control.

“So… um,” Jessica started, and Roman realized he’d been laying there quiet for longer than was appropriate.

He propped himself up on his elbow and gave Jessica a smile. “So, would you like some breakfast? I have a favorite spot here at Muse at a table with my name on it.”

“I’m sure you do,” Jessica said, a bit admonishingly, “but I should probably go. I have work in a couple hours and need to get ready. Plus, after last night,” she eyed him, “I likely have some explaining to do, so earlier is probably better.”

Roman’s brow knitted together in confusion, then he remembered. “Oh, I took care of it. No need to worry about the five-star, professional service I received last night. I believe the review says, ‘best massage I’ve ever had.’” It was Jessica’s turn to be confused, and her face displayed this. “I let the spa know I’d send everything back this morning.” Roman gestured to the folded-up table and cart that Jessica clearly hadn’t noticed.

“Oh. Thank you for that,” she breathed a sigh of relief, “I really appreciate it. But I do still need to get ready.” She seemed at a loss for a moment, and Roman realized she was looking for her clothes. He popped up, pulled on his briefs, and put his shirt over Jessica’s head. She visibly relaxed and then proceeded to get up and look around the room for her belongings.

“Why don’t you stay and get ready here? You can use my bathroom; the shower is amazing. I’ll order room service. An even better idea would be to take a day off and spend it with me. You know, I am personal friends with the owner, and it would be an easy ask.”

Jessica rolled her eyes a little bit. “I’m not crazy about the idea of special favors,” she said in a tone that gave Roman the feeling of being scolded. “Plus, when someone doesn’t show up for work, it puts a lot of strain on the rest of the team. I’m still new and don’t want to give anyone the wrong impression.”

“And what impression would that be?” Roman teased.

“The impression that I’m sleeping with a close, personal friend of Mr. Novik and getting special treatment,” she winked which lightened the conversation a bit.

Roman moved toward her and put his arms around her waist, crossing his wrists just above her bottom. “Okay. I understand. But please consider the first offer of a shower and room service. In fact, I think this opens up your morning as you won’t have a commute.” Roman really felt he was winning her over, which he was deeply happy about; however, he also thought maybe she should leave and never come back.

He’d always championed the stance that he didn’t want this. He would just live the rest of his life—his incredibly long life—knowing his mate was out there but not shackled to her.

“Well… I do hate my shower,” Jessica mused, “and the breakfast spread here is pretty fantastic… I’ll take you up on it.”

Roman gave her a light pat on the butt as he pointed her in the direction of the bathroom. Before she went through the door, she turned back to look at him, and when she smiled, Roman felt his heart drop to his stomach. This is really bad, he thought again as he pulled up the room service app and the room service menu.

Roman had no idea what Jessica wanted, but it didn’t matter; he ordered one of everything. He was about to go make some coffee when he got an overwhelming feeling of distress coming from the bathroom.

Knocking lightly on the door first, he eased it open and asked, “Is everything alright in here?” Jessica was standing, leaning against the shower wall, with her head hanging down, letting the water cascade over the back of her. She pulled herself up quickly and looked at him over her shoulder.

Roman’s body swelled to attention, seeing her naked back and a bit of breast, but it was her biting her lip that almost made him come in his briefs. “Oh, okay, good, you’re good then,” he stammered as the blood in his body abandoned his brain.

“Don’t leave,” she said.

That was all Roman needed. He ripped off his underwear and was in the shower faster than Jessica could turn around. She widened her eyes in surprise and puzzlement, but there was nothing confusing about what they needed; there was a frantic energy surrounding them.

As Roman picked her up, she wrapped her legs around his body, and he pressed her into the shower wall as he devoured her lips. He broke the kiss as Jessica was grinding up against him, moaning her pleasure into his ear, which made everything fade away for Roman except instinct. He fixed her with his gaze, effortlessly held her with one arm, reached down between them, and aligned himself with her pussy.

Staring into her unbelievable eyes, he thrust himself all the way inside of her. Jessica gasped loudly, but Roman knew this was not from pain. He could feel every piece of her; he could smell her sex, hear her heartbeat. He knew what he felt like inside her. She was open to him, all of him, demanding it, claiming him as he was claiming her. Roman held her, locked together in a bonded frenzy as he continued to push deeper and deeper in mind, body, and soul, until he felt she was ready to explode.

“Ahhh,” Jessica screamed as Roman felt her clamp down around his cock. He roared as he released himself into the warm center that belonged to his mate and remained sheathed in her embrace. They stared at one another, and then he kissed her, conveying a deep sense of intimacy. Roman slowly pulled out of her, setting her feet on the shower floor. Jessica didn’t say anything, but she didn’t need to; Roman could sense what she was feeling.

“Let me wash you,” he said as he turned her around and reached for the luffa buff. They didn’t speak as Roman cleaned her, washing her body and then her hair. Jessica seemed to relax into her body as he touched her, as he worshiped her.

When the shower was over, Roman dried her off with a towel and then wrapped a robe around her, wearing one as well.

“There is nothing I’d rather do today than spend it doing that on repeat with you,” he said with a smile. “Please, Jessica, let’s blow off whatever we planned for today and spend it together.” Roman thought he had her, finally. How could she possibly resist after what they just shared?

“I… I don’t know…” Jessica was wavering, and Roman felt victorious.

“Oh, I think the room service is arriving. Hold that thought or rather, change that thought to a solid affirmative,” he winked as he headed out of the bathroom. “Come out whenever you’re ready.”

Jessica wasn’t sure she’d ever been so confused in her entire life. Seriously, what the fuck is going on with me? This is ridiculous; I’m being ridiculous, she thought as she walked over to the mirror.

Standing there, looking at her reflection, she had an out-of-body experience. The robe she was wearing was one from the luxury line they offered in the spa. She’d never actually put one on, although she’d imagined wearing it every time she laid one out for a client. She looked around the opulent room—the bathroom—thinking that her whole kitchen and living room would fit within this space.

What am I doing here? she asked herself. I mean, besides having the best and weirdest sex of my whole life, that is, she clarified. Jessica peeked out into the rest of the room and had flashbacks of all the places she’s ever lived, realizing that Roman’s suite was larger than any home she’d ever had. She didn’t grow up lacking anything really; her grandmother provided everything for her including a warm and safe sanctuary, but they did struggle from time to time as her gran sometimes worked on a barter system.

Jessica sighed, trying to decide if she should just go along with this fantasy experience while it lasted or end it before it broke her into a million pieces. The second she thought this, Roman glanced up at her sharply with a questioning look. It’s like he can read my mind or something. She wasn’t crazy about that thought as the possibility for embarrassment was too much to entertain.

“Would you like something to eat? I didn’t know what you wanted, so there’s a little bit of everything,” Roman said. A little bit of everything? For some reason, this comment pushed Jessica firmly back to her reality of worrying about taking extra shifts to pay her bills.

“Thank you, this is generous.”

“It’s nothing,” Roman said with a smile, not realizing he wasn’t helping Jessica’s inner conflict.