Hired Love
Chapter 45

Stacy couldn't stop thinking of what Claire had said. God, how she wanted to hold him and kiss him again. Somewhere deep down, she knew he felt something strong for her. He might not have known it, but he cared about her more than he wanted to admit.

Could she make him see the light?

If so, how?

It didn't matter. All she had to do was see him first. It had been too long. Everything else would figure itself out. She longed to kiss him again, to have him kiss her as fervently as he'd done. She wanted to feel his arms wrapped around her, wanted to remember what it felt like to be in their own bubble again. The thought of him turning her down a second time didn't even bother her. She was taking his advice anyway.

Roman had been the one to teach her how to stand up for herself and how to take what he wanted. Did that lesson also apply to him? She giggled as she threw on some clothes. She would figure it out on the drive to his house. Thankfully, Grace had been a little too confident in her and had dropped his address before leaving a few days ago. It shouldn't be hard from there.

She grabbed her car keys and her purse with a speed that would've put The Flash to shame on the table before bolting for the door.

Nothing would change her mind. This was what she wanted, and she was going for it, vulnerability be damned.

But the second she pulled her door open, the sight that greeted her had her screeching to an abrupt halt.

Roman stood there with his hand fisted in the air as though he'd been about to knock. His eyes snapped to hers and widened before growing back to normal.

"Stacy." He breathed.

"Roman."

What happened next could be best described as an ambush. She practically attacked him, lunging forward and wrapping her arms around his neck.

He was here. He'd come.

Oh, God. She didn't care that he didn't love her yet. He would grow to. Whatever it was that had happened, they would fix it together.

She attached her lips to his, kissing him. Roman wrapped his large hands around her waist, holding her to him as he returned her kiss eagerly.

"You came," She breathed shakily, pulling away so she could look at him. He had a slight stubble around his jaw like he hadn't shaved in a while. It only made him look more appealing.

"I'm sorry it took me so long." He whispered, kissing her again. "I needed time to figure things out-❞

If you're loving the book, nel5s.com is where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "It's alright. You're here now."

"Let me talk, Stacy." He said, pulling back. "I need to say this."

He hung his head low like it was too hard. She wanted to tell him that he didn't have to say anything, he didn't have to do anything. He just had to be here with her.

"I'm sorry I hurt you. That's the last thing I ever want to do to you, make you cry. You deserve everything and then some. If everything that has happened in my past led me here to you, now, then I don't regret it. Stacy, you've made me see life differently in just a few days. You've made me feel and want and need all at once. I didn't think it was possible to crave a human being the way I do you right now, yet I know I will crave you even more tomorrow.

What I'm trying to say is, I want to be with you. I want to learn from you and teach you as well. I want to take a chance at love with you. I know I'm not perfect and I might probably fuck up a few hundred times but if you'll have me, then you can have me."

Stacy couldn't speak for the life of her. She'd planned to go to him and make him realize that he felt something for her. She hadn't expected him to find her first and she'd certainly never expected him to say he wanted to be with her. "I love you, Stacy."

Tears rolled down her face. She wanted to speak but her mouth refused to open. Immense joy filled her heart. This was what real love felt like. To love and be loved in return. He'd said he loved her. Roman loved her.

If you're loving the book, nel5s.com is where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you!

"Roman, if you're trying to make me feel better, I suggest you "

"I'm not trying to do anything, baby." He took a step closer to her until they were less than a hairsbreadth away from each other. "I love you, Stacy, all of you. Your imperfections and your flaws and your tendency to laugh like you have a cockroach stuck in your throat. I love you and the horrible way you snore when you sleep. I love you and your kind heart. I love you and the way you love your family. I love you and the way you love me. So please," He lifted a hand to hold her face, kissing her tear-stained cheek. "Please, let me love you."

"Roman, I...I don't know what to say." She sniffed.

"Say yes." He murmured against her lips, holding her to him. "Say yes and you'll never have to worry about being alone anymore because I will be there for you. Say yes and I promise you'll never have a reason to doubt my love for you. Say yes and I'll try my hardened best to be better for you. Say yes, baby, and make me the happiest fucking man on earth because I can't imagine a life without you in it."

She laughed through her tears, wondering what she'd done to deserve such a man. "Yes. Yes. Yes. Fucking yes."

Maybe she didn't have everything she wanted yet, but she definitely had everything she needed.

He kissed her one again, their laughter mixing together. There was nothing more beautiful than having the taste of someone's laughter in your mouth.