Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Blair stared at Roman, her heart pounding so hard she was sure he could hear it. Marry him? The words echoed in her head, loud and disorienting. It was insane. Reckless. Completely out of control.

And yet, a small, undeniable part of her wanted to say yes.

She had just ended her engagement with Dan last week. It felt like whiplash to go from that to standing here, listening to Roman ask her to marry him. But it was different with Roman. Everything about him, the way he touched her, looked at her, challenged her, made her feel something she had never had before.

Something intense. Something dangerous.

It wasn't love. Not yet. She wasn't willing to say that word, not when she'd thought she had loved Dan and look where that had gotten her. But this... what she felt for Roman was more than lust, more than attraction. It was raw, consuming, and completely outside her control.

She swallowed hard, trying to focus. "This is crazy." Roman's lips curled slightly, but there was no humor in his expression. “Is it?" She exhaled sharply. "You want to get married to protect yourself from Jessica's threats?" "To protect us both,” he corrected smoothly. "She won't be able to spin this into something ugly if we're married. It'll look like she's bitter and grasping at straws." Blair hesitated. That made sense. But it wasn't just about Jessica, was it? She searched his face, trying to see past the cool confidence to what was underneath. Was this just about damage control? Or was there something more? Roman wanted a family. She knew that. He had told her just minutes ago. And she wanted the sthing. That was part of why she had said yes to Dan in the first place, because she had thought they wanted the sthings. It had all been a lie.

But Roman was not Dan. Roman was intense, passionate, completely overwhelming at times. And unlike Dan, he could give her everything she hadn't known she was missing. In every way.

Her cheeks warmed as memories flashed through her mind. The way he touched her, the way he took control, the way he knew exactly how to unravel her. Dan had never made her feel like that. Dan had been... well, safe. Predictable even. Comfortable. The asshole had then cheated on her. But Roman? Roman set her on fire.

Could she really do this? Could she marry him? Blair bit her lip. "How do I know you won't cheat?" That had hurt her more than she had admitted to anyone, not even herself.

Roman's gaze darkened. "Because I know what it feels like to be cheated on." His voice was cold, controlled, but she could see the hint of old pain in his eyes. Jessica had done a number on him. "I wouldn't do that to you." She believed him. Roman had his faults, but he wasn't a liar. And he sure as hell wouldn't make a promise like that if he didn't mean it.

But still... marriage? She let out a breath. "This isn't real." There was no way Roman, her boss and recent lover, was asking her to marry him.

Roman took a step closer, his presence overwhelming. “It's as real as we make it.” Her stomach fluttered. God, he was impossible. She knew he was probably looking at this like a business deal. A way to secure what he wanted while eliminating a threat. But even if it wasn't love, it was more than he had offered any woman since Jessica. That had to mean something. Didn't it? 1/2 16:12 Wed, 18 Jun Chapter 37 She could say no. She could walk away. But if she did, what then? Jessica would still be a threat.

94% +28) Blair would still be here, standing on the edge of something with Roman, pretending like her feelings weren't getting stronger every second she spent with him. If he wanted to settle down, if he didn't do that with her, was she willing to watch him do it with someone else? Blair took a slow breath and met his gaze. "Okay." Roman's eyes flickered, a flash of something dark and satisfaction crossing his face. "Okay?" She nodded. "I'll marry you." A slow, wicked smile spread across his lips. He lifted his hand, his fingers brushing against her cheek, his touch possessive. "Good." Blair shivered, and she wasn't sure if it was from anticipation or fear. Because now that she had said it, now that it was real... she wasn't sure there was any way of going back.

"When is my first meeting this morning?" Roman asked, his voice husky.

Blair could guess why he was asking, but she said. "Why?" He moved forward to press his body against hers. "Because, my soon to be wife. I think we need to seal our agreement with a kiss, don't you?" Blair barely had tto register what was happening before Roman's mouth was taking hers in a demanding kiss. She knew this was going to be more than just a kiss. His hands were on her, his touch firm, demanding. His fingers skimmed up her arms before tangling in her hair, tilting her head back so she had no choice but to meet his gaze. She felt the pins give way.

"You don't know what you've just agreed to," he murmured, his voice thick with something dark and heady.

Her breath hitched. She licked her lips. "Show me."

A low growl rumbled from his chest before his lips crashed against hers again. The kiss was possessive, unlike anything she adever shexadever om experienced before. Roman kissed like a man who wanted to own her. And God, she let him. She opened for him, letting him devour her, her body melting against his like she had no control over it. "Say it again," he ordered against her lips.

Blair's head spun. "Say what?"

"That you'll marry me." His fingers dug into her hips, his control slipping just enough that she could feel the raw edge of his need. She swallowed hard, her heart hammering. "Yes, I'll marry you." she whispered.

Roman let out a shuddering breath before dragging his lips down her neck, his teeth scraping over hem pulse. She gasped, her fingers clutching his shoulders. He was already unraveling her. She was losing the ability to think clearly. This was more inte barely h 2/2 AD Comment Send gift No Ads 16:12 Wed, 18 Jun