Roman

Savannah

Dean was still watching me, the smug smile wiped clean off his lips.

"You're crazy," he said, swimming back a little.

I tilted my head, and shrugged a bit, "It's not a bad diagnosis. At least I own it."

Before he could say anything else, an angry voice sliced through the air like a whip.

"Sav, get out of the pool."

My stomach dropped.

I turned-and there he was. Roman.

He stood at the edge of the deck, fists clenched, jaw tight enough to snap. His eyes were dark, livid. locked on mine like I was a lit fuse.

"Roman?" I said, blinking.

He extended a hand. "Come with me."

I glanced around, noting the subtle looks from a few lingering onlookers. Eyes were already turning our way. Including little Emily.

His nostrils flared. "Now."

"Is everything okay, Roman?" I asked carefully. trying to keep my tone neutral.

Dean moved beside me, chest puffed with something like arrogance."She's clearly not done with her swim-"

"I wasn't talking to you." Roman snapped, eyes not leaving mine.

The tension in the air was suddenly electric.

"Get out of the pool, Sav." He ground the words through clenched teeth.

I hesitated. Not because I was scared, but because I was confused.

"Roman, what's the matter?"

I climbed the ladder slowly, aware of the silence building around us.I pulled on a robe, tying the sash with trembling fingers.

Roman didn't say another word. Just grabbed my wrist and towed me into the house. His grip was firm but not painful. Still, it was the kind of grip that said you don't get to walk away from this.

When we were inside, with the door shut behind us, I yanked my hand free.

"You wanna tell me what that was?"

Roman turned on me like a lit match. "You think he wants you back?"

I blinked, taken aback. "What?"

"He's trying to get in your head and in your pants. He knows you still feel something, and he's playing on it. That son of a bitch was ogling you like you were dessert. And you-you let him."

I let out a sharp breath. "Jesus, Roman. That's not what this is."

He laughed. Bitter. Hollow. "Right. Totally innocent. Just you, half-naked,giggling in the pool while your sister's fiancé practically drooled over you."

I narrowed my eyes. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," he bit out. "Why did you even wear that bikini?"

My jaw dropped. "Oh, I'm sorry, should I have worn a nun's habit to the pool?"

"Savannah," he barked, stepping closer. "You think I didn't see the way he was looking at you? You think he wasn't undressing you with his eyes?"

"Why are you being like this?" I hissed, backing up a step.

"Because I know guys like him." Roman's voice dropped, dark and dangerous. "Because I used to be one."

That stopped me.

We stared at each other, breathing hard, the silence thick between us.

And then it hit me.

Oh.

Ohhh.

I tilted my head. "Wait, bestie... is this about Dean or is this about you being weirdly horny and territorial?"

He blinked."What?"

I smirked. "You're all worked up. Pupils dilated. Breathing like you just ran a mile in a minute. You sure this isn't just a classic case of sexual frustration,Roman?"

His jaw ticked. "Sav."

"Because if it is," I teased, poking his chest, "that's not my problem.Blackwood."

He caught my hand.

I tried to pull away, laughing, but he didn't let go.

"Roman-"I warned, but his eyes darkened.

"You think you can provoke me and get away with it?"

I arched a brow. "I know I can."

I took a step back, playful. He stepped forward.

To annoy him further, I picked up a rolled pool towel from the side table and smacked it playfully against his arm.

"Stop it," he warned,not moving.

I hit him again, giggling this time. "Admit it. Roman. You're not mad.You're just frustrated you haven't gotten laid since we got here."

He caught my wrist mid-swing. "Savannah..."

"What?" I teased, lifting the towel again with my free hand.

He caught it mid-air and threw it across the room.

I turned, chuckling, and grabbed the nearest object-an inflatable

flamingo floatie-and began hitting him again with it.

"Down, boy." I teased, whacking his chest lightly.

He didn't smile. "Savannah,stop."

I kept swinging. "What? You gonna cry?"

"I said stop."

He yanked the float from my hand,tossed it aside, and in one swift move, he backed me into the wall.

"I said stop it," he growled.

"Roman-"

His mouth crashed onto mine, hot and fierce, tongue parting my lips as he kissed me like he was starving. I moaned before I could stop myself.fingers tangling in the wet strands of his hair. The towel slipped from my hand.

His hand went to my sash.

"Roman-"

He undid the knot with one swift tug, the robe falling open to reveal my bikini-clad body. His mouth left mine just long enough to kiss down my jaw, along my throat, trailing heat straight to my core.

Shit! This feels too good. How does he move his mouth so well?

What the hell are we even doing?

"You drive me insane," he muttered against my skin.

Then his hand came up, cupping my breast through the fabric, and I gasped again, arching into him. He squeezed-firm,possessive-and the sensation hit me like lightning. His mouth returned to mine. rougher this time,hungrier.

I felt him-hard, undeniable-pressing into my hip.

Oh.

His body pinned me to the wall, and mine was suddenly hot everywhere. Breathless. Throbbing.

"Roman," I whispered, hips shifting.

His other hand slid to my thigh, gripping, fingers teasing the edge of my bikini bottoms. "You don't know how hard you're making this."

"I think I do," I breathed.

His teeth clamped down on my neck.

"We shouldn't be doing this, Roman." My voice was only a whisper.

"I don't care."

He kissed me again, deeper this time, hand kneading my breast,

thumb flicking over my nipple through the fabric, making me tremble.

Just as his hand slipped lower-

A scream.

High-pitched. From outside. Then another.

Roman froze.

My body went cold immediately.

We pulled apart instantly, both of us breathless and disoriented. My robe hung open, my lips swollen, his chest heaving. His erection still pressed against me for a beat longer before he stepped back, jaw tight.

"What the hell-?"

We rushed toward the patio doors. Another scream followed.

Someone was yelling by the pool.

Roman threw the doors open, and chaos met us.

And just like that, our moment was gone.