Savannah

"Get off me!" I thrashed against the mattress, but Roman’s strength was an absolute constant.

"Not a chance, Sav," he said, holding me down with a calm authority that only fueled my frustration. "Not when you’ve officially declared war on my patience."

"You betrayed me!" I yelled, my voice cracking.

"I told you, I was protecting you," he repeated, his voice dropping to a low, steady vibration. "Because if you knew the reality of what I saw—what he’s capable of—you’d never be able to look me in the eye again."

My heart thumped furiously. "What does he have on you, Roman?"

"When the time is right, you'll find out," he answered, as if reading the frantic loop of my thoughts.

"Why won't you just be honest with me?" I kicked my legs out, trying to dislodge him, but he used his weight to pin me down, his body a wall of heat pressing against mine. Through our clothes, I could feel the tension radiating from him, a raw energy that made it impossible to ignore the physical magnetic pull between us.

"Roman, stop... I'm being serious. Don't try to distract me with this," I said, though my voice had lost its edge, turning into a breathless whisper.

"You’re the one who pushed this to the limit, love," he murmured against my ear, his breath a warm curl of heat.

"Let me go."

"Say please."

"Roman—"

"Say it."

I felt a sharp, sudden tap against my leg—a reminder of his control. My breath hitched. "Never!"

He let out a short, dark laugh. The sound of him moving behind me made every hair on my arms stand up in anticipation. "Roman? What are you doing?"

He didn't answer with words. Instead, I heard the distinct slide of leather through metal. The sound of his belt being unlooped from his jeans was soft, yet it made my entire core tighten. Before I could process it, he grabbed my wrists and brought them above my head.

The cool leather of the belt brushed against my skin, warming quickly as he looped it around my wrists. It wasn't painfully tight, but it was firm—a tactile reminder of who was in command of the room.

"Keep them there," he murmured.

"Roman..." I whispered, but it didn't sound like a protest anymore. It sounded like an invitation.

"Shh," he breathed, brushing his lips along my jawline. "I want to hear you admit the truth without any more distractions."

He turned me over, laying me on my back. My bound wrists were positioned above my head, leaving me completely open to his scrutiny. I swallowed hard, hating how much my body seemed to crave this intensity.

"Now, we talk," he said, his eyes searching mine. "About Dean. About the club. Now that I know you’re not going to try to kick me again."

I glared at him, though the heat rising between us was becoming undeniable. "Don't think this makes us even."

"I seem to have mistaken this for a game," he teased, his smirk returning.

"Stop the games and tell me the truth! I know you’re hiding something."

Roman leaned back slightly, his green eyes squinting as he studied me. "Games? I don't see any games here, love. But... don't you want to find out the truth?"

I nodded warily. "Yes."

"Then let’s play one of our old favorites," he said, his voice dropping to a low, intimate register. "Remember the game you used to hustle me with? Truth or Transfer?"

My breath hitched. "You want to play that now?"

"You remember the name," he smirked.

"How could I forget? I invented it when I was trying to swindle lunch money off a rich guy."

"You weren't broke, Sav," he drawled, settling on the bed beside me. "You just liked the challenge. But this time, the currency has changed."

"Oh?" I arched a brow.

"No more money." His mouth hovered just inches from mine. "This time, I take my payment in kisses. Every time you fail to answer or try to dodge the truth... I get to claim a kiss. Wherever I want."

A rush of heat spread through me. I knew this was a dangerous path, but the urge to uncover what Dean was holding over us outweighed my common sense.

"And what do I get if you lose?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper. "I don't want money either."

He cocked his head. "What do you want?"

"I want leverage," I said slowly. "Secrets. Something real that no one else knows. And if I win, I get to touch you. Anywhere."

His jaw clenched. "That’s a dangerous deal, Savannah."

"You tied me up," I challenged. "We’re already in the danger zone."

He stared at me for a long beat, then nodded. "Alright. But fair warning—I intend to win. I’m not going to give you the answer directly. I’ll give you clues. You're a smart girl; you’ll piece it together."

"Why won't you just tell me? Is he blackmailing you?"

"On me? No, love. This isn't about me. It’s about you. I’m trying to keep you safe." His voice dropped, losing its playful edge. "That’s all."

I groaned in frustration. "Game on, then. Ask your first question."

Roman leaned in, his eyes blazing with a calculated intensity. "First question, Sav: Who is Professor Kingston?"