Total pages in book: 184
Estimated words: 188108 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 941(@200wpm)___ 752(@250wpm)___ 627(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 188108 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 941(@200wpm)___ 752(@250wpm)___ 627(@300wpm)
“No, it smells very good.” He cleared his throat as he realized he’d basically just told her that she smelled good.
Smooth, Roman. Really smooth.
He moved toward the bench before he could say something else ridiculous.
Plus, he wanted to stop touching her.
Well, he should want to stop.
“Good to know,” she said, sounding surprised.
The feel of her pressed against him was . . . amazing. He had to force himself not to take in more of her scent.
She was firm and lean. Was she too small? Did she get enough nutrition?
You’re one to talk.
You barely remember to eat.
Yes, he wasn’t very good at taking care of himself. But that didn’t necessarily mean that he couldn’t take care of someone else.
Perhaps he needed another focus other than his work.
Wait. Was he really thinking that?
He lived for his work.
Yes, and what do you have to show for it?
Bugger all, if he was honest with himself.
“Hey, are you all right?”
He startled and turned his head to find a pair of blue eyes staring up at him.
“Yes, of course. I’m fine. Do I not appear all right?”
“You just stopped and went quiet.”
“Bloody hell, my apologies.” He kept leading her toward the bench and then helped her sit. “I was having an epiphany.”
“An epiphany? While helping this idiot to a bench?” she asked in an amused voice. “That must have been some weird epiphany.”
He scowled. “You’re not an idiot. And I won’t have you say that about yourself.”
“Oh, yeah? And what will you do if I say it about myself again?” she challenged.
Well . . . he wasn’t sure.
But perhaps he would scold her.
Okay. That thought even surprised him.
Maybe he really did have a dominant streak. The only time he ever felt in control was with his work. He’d never had the opportunity to take charge in the bedroom, because he’d never had a real relationship with someone.
It took a bit to get him turned on.
Although his dick seemed to be waking up. What on earth was wrong with it?
Had it gone barmy too?
“I would find some way to correct your behavior,” he said stiffly.
Great. Now, he sounded like a total nitwit.
“Would you? You sounded very professorish right then.”
He gave her a startled look. “I did?”
“Uh-huh. It was hot.” She looked as startled as he felt before she grinned. “Sorry, that was a bit much, huh? I don’t even know your name and I’m calling you hot.”
“Um, well, that’s all right. And it’s Roman.”
“Roman? Huh, that wasn’t what I was expecting you to say.”
“No?”
“No, you seem more like a William or Harry.”
He snorted. “I am far from royalty.”
Well . . . he guessed he was distantly related on his father’s side.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to insult you,” she told him.
“Ahh, no, you didn’t. My father is a history buff. He studied it at university. He also likes archaeology. So he decided to give each of his children a name related to his interests. And the Roman Empire has always fascinated him.”
“Wow, I guess you’re lucky he wasn’t fascinated by the Ottoman Empire,” she replied.
He grinned. “You don’t think I could pull off the name Ottoman?”
She tilted her head to the side. “Hmm. Perhaps. Rome suits you better.”
“Rome?” No one had ever shortened his name. His mother would gasp in horror. He smiled. “I like it.”
She smiled back.
“I’m actually lucky. I have two older brothers called Tiberius and Hadrian and an older sister called Carthage.”
She winced. “Wow. You got off lightly. Carthage? He didn’t think Alexandria would be a better choice?”
“She wishes. She gets all sorts of pronunciations as well. Lots of people just end up going for Cathy.”
“Cathy? But it doesn’t sound anything like Cathy.”
“I know.” That reminded him, he needed to call his sister. She was the only family member he still kept in touch with. She’d stuck by him when his mother and father disowned him.
Although Tiberius had helped him get everything he wanted from the family estate. And Hadrian checked in every once in a while.
Perhaps not all members of his family hated him.
“Another epiphany?” she asked.
He shook his head, suddenly realizing that he’d been standing there like a numpty while she sat with unattended scrapes.
“I apologize.” He kneeled in front of her and reached for the laces of her skates.
“What . . . what are you doing?” she asked in a strange voice, reaching out a hand to touch his.
He froze.
He hated being touched.
Detested it with strangers.
He snatched his hand away. For some strange reason, he didn’t feel completely disgusted at her touch.
“I’m so sorry,” she said. “Did I hurt you?”
“No,” he replied in a husky voice. “I’m just a weirdo who doesn’t like being touched.”
“Don’t call yourself that,” she said fiercely. “There are lots of people who don’t like to be touched. And I should have asked first.”
Wow.
Not everyone was that accepting of his ‘quirks.’