Chapter 8

JADE

"Kiss me," I whispered, pulling him down onto me.

He stopped himself, his hands pressing into the sides of the bed beside me. I let go of his neck and slowly traced my finger along the lines of his chest as his eyes followed every inch of my face.

"Are you sure you want me to—"

I didn't let him finish before I raised my head and captured his lips in one motion. He froze for a second before he began to kiss me back.

His kiss was aggressive and passionate. He explored every inch of my mouth like some kind of animal in the heat.

My eyes were closed, and my heart raced. I tried to make out what he tasted like, but it felt tasteless—almost like water.

I opened my eyes to stare at him, but the ceiling stared back at me. I blinked rapidly and then realized I had been dreaming.

Not just any dream but a sex dream where I was forcing my husband to sleep with me.

"Let go now." His voice, which had been gentle before in my dream, was now cold. It made my skin crawl.

I turned slowly to an angry Roman with a scowl on his face. I was wrapped around him—my hands locked together, my head buried against the side of his shoulder.

I gulped when his gaze fell on my face. I was holding onto him like my life depended on it. He was clearly not enjoying my sudden closeness.

"Jade?" he called again when my hands were still wrapped around him like I was going to die if I let go.

I pulled away, my hand brushing against his arousal. I buried my face in the pillow. I couldn't believe I had a sex dream about him while clinging to him like a fool.

"You still have to get to work, don't you?" His morning voice was deep—the kind authors wanted you to imagine.

I pulled my head out of the pillow. Our eyes met and I nodded slowly.

"Then get out of bed," he ordered, the side of the bed shifting as he got up.

I sat up in bed.

My eyes fell to his crotch that I had just brushed a minute ago. It stared back at me.

My eyes widened at the size and the realization that one day that was going to be inside me. And when it happened, I wouldn't be able to pretend it wasn't real.

I was supposed to be cross-referencing historical art from the nineteenth century. Instead, all I could think about was my erotic dream and the size of my husband's dick.

I groaned, trying to focus, but my mind kept spinning with the embarrassing memory.

"You are blushing so much. It seems like you are thinking of your boyfriend?" Lily—my colleague—said.

I raised my head to her. She had spun her chair to my side and was looking at me eagerly, like I was supposed to share some news with her.

"What?" I murmured, catching myself. I had been daydreaming the entire morning. "What boyfriend? I don't..."

"Don't lie," she said, waving her hand. "I saw a very handsome man dropping you off in a very expensive car."

I had insisted on taking the bus to work, but Roman had refused to let me. He instructed the driver to take me all the way to the front door of the company.

I thought I had been careful enough not to be seen, but apparently my colleague had already noticed. She was still watching me, waiting for details.

"Well? Aren't you going to—"

"He is my husband," I cut her off with a whisper. I was not afraid of declaring I was married. I was not sure Roman was okay with me using his name.

So I didn't go into details. I was married was enough to get her off my back.

She smiled slightly, then gasped. "You are married? I don't see a ring.

"I don't really like wearing a ring," I lied.

The real reason was that the ring Roman gave me was too much. It was the kind that made people stare. I feared I might have to give it back. What if I ruined it? What if I lost it?

"I was going to invite you tonight to a singles party, but I guess you wouldn't be able to come with your husband..."

"It's fine. I have plans tonight with a friend."

She looked at me like I was crazy for refusing to spend my evening with my husband, but she didn't say anything.

She nodded and rolled her chair away.

I was going to meet Mia—a friend I had grown up with. The one Victoria had said was a bad influence on me. She had made me cut off all contact with her and monitored who I met.

I had set up the meeting because it had been too long since I last saw her. Now that I was no longer under Victoria's control, I could see her without sneaking around.

"We are going to have so much fun!" Mia stood at the door of the restaurant she had booked for us.

"Fun?" I paused and stared at her

.

I knew what that meant in her language. She must have planned something she would consider fun—and I wouldn't.

"What have you done?" I asked, raising my brows.

She laughed nervously and gestured toward the restaurant. "I got together a few of our friends. They were happy to see you again, and I thought you might like it as well. Just come in first, and if you don't like it, then we don't have to stay..."

"It's fine," I said, tapping her shoulder to stop her rambling.

She sighed and grabbed my hand with both of hers. "Thank you," she whispered.

"I have no idea what I would have done if you refused to meet them."

"Lead the way."

She grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the private room she had booked. "Trust me, you are going to have the most fun."

The door opened, and inside were a few people I had not seen in a long while. Sitting right opposite the door, with a huge smile on his face, was Caius Vire—once again.

I turned to Mia, hoping she would explain, but all she had on her face was a guilty expression.

"I couldn't stop him. When he heard you were coming, he said he had to come as well."

I sighed. Things were over between us. Having dinner with him and a few other friends didn't mean anything.

I was fine.

I was over him now.