A Decent Guy

Roman POV ...

Of course, Hannah would remember me with Jessica Sullivan. When Jessica was around, I was like a magnet to her. She was certainly hot, but definitely not long-term relationship material. We flirted, and I knew that was leading her on, but I was never looking for a committed relationship with Jessica.

"The blond that followed me around like a lost puppy is Jessica Sullivan, the sister of the guy that invited me to The Auction House," I said to Hannah. "Bernard Sullivan."

Saying his name brought on a sense of contempt that I didn't want to deal with right now.

Hannah was in the process of removing her robe when I glanced up at her. Even fully covered in silk pajamas, her body was incredible. Hannah pulled her knees into her chest, and I could see the curve of her thigh that led up to her hip. I pulled my gaze away from her hip and up to her chest. She was clearly not wearing a bra, and a deep need rose within me as I met her green gaze.

"I got a little warm," Hannah explained, noticing me staring at her.

"Do you ... I can have Geoffrey turn the thermostat down," I said to her, but she shook her head, swinging her damp red hair against her shoulders.

"No need. This is better," she said. "So, are you and Jessica Sullivan dating?"

I scoffed. "No, she and I are not dating," I said to Hannah. "But, if she had it her way, Jessica would marry me in an instant." I snapped my fingers to indicate just how quickly Jessica would have given me her hand in marriage. "She's made it clear, on several occasions, that she wants us to marry."

"Well, our situation could really throw a wrench into that plan," Hannah said. "I'm really sorry"

"Sorry?" I asked her. Hannah tilted her head at me questioningly. "Please, don't be sorry. I would never marry Jessica. That would be a mistake. It would quickly end in divorce. I don't plan on getting married to someone who isn't a good fit."

Hannah pressed her lips together and nodded. I hadn't thought about the situation between me and Hannah before I made that statement. "I mean you and me, this situation is unique, to put it mildly."

"That's an understatement," Hannah said.

She crossed her arms over her chest and sank back into the sofa. "A situation where fathers sell their daughters and men buy women for millions of dollars is unspeakable," Hannah spoke while gazing toward the coffee table, looking at nothing in particular. I ran a hand over my cropped hair and sighed.

This was certainly a therapy-worthy situation, especially for her. I moved a bit closer to her on the sofa and held my hands up when she pierced me with her green gaze. "I know I'm a part of the problem," I said, "but this is way worse for you."

When she didn't move away from me, I settled onto the sofa an arm's length away from her. "What can I say to you to make you believe that I'm a decent guy?"

"Actions speak louder than words," Hannah said, searching my face. I just wanted to pull her onto my lap and hold her. I understood her anger and I would take what I deserved, but if she needed to cry or talk it out, I wanted to allow her to do that too. I needed her to trust me.

"You're right," I said, meeting her gaze. "I will give you the space that you need, but I'm also here if you want to vent about anything. I need you to be OK."

Hannah leaned over and punched me in the shoulder, taking me completely by surprise. I rubbed the spot that she had punched on my arm. "What was that for?" I asked her.

Hannah laughed. The gentle sound nearly made me forget that she had punched me.

She was such a beautiful woman, even when she wasn't smiling, but the laughter brought a radiance to her face that I never wanted to see go away.

"That was me letting out my frustration," Hannah said with a little smile.

I chuckled. "That actually hurt," I said. "Do you box?"

Hannah smirked. "No way, I'm not a boxer," she said. Her smile faded for a moment and she cast her gaze down at the coffee table.

I gave her a moment, waiting for her to continue. "My brothers taught me some self-defense moves and I practice every once in a while," she said. "Back at The Auction House," Hannah continued, "I broke a guard's nose."

My brow shot up thinking back to the armed guards at The Auction House. They were well-built men, and I knew the guards in the back were likely no less intimidating.

"Seriously?" I asked her. "How?"

Hannah showed me her right palm, pointing to the heel of her palm with her left index finger. "I smashed this part of my hand into his nose when he wouldn't let me leave."

"Damn," I said on a long exhale. "That's ballsy."

"I paid for it," she said. "A guard caught me and dragged me by the hair." I frowned as she turned her right cheek to me and pointed at a pink mark located there. "I got this from talking back."

I couldn't hide the disgust on my face. "That place makes me sick," I said. "No human deserves to be treated like an animal." I balled my fists up on my thighs.

"I didn't mean to upset you," Hannah said, staring at me with pained eyes.

"It's not your fault," I said, unclenching my fists and relaxing my hands in my lap as best I could. "None of it's your fault." I paused. Knowing that small piece of information about what went on in the shadows of that flesh market was infuriating. I needed to change the subject.

"Do you like the bedroom?" I asked her. "Are you comfortable there?"

"It's a very nice room, Roman. Beautiful," she said. "It's not my room back home, but I'm sure I can make it work." She offered me a small smile before she was overtaken by a yawn. She covered her yawn with the back of her hand and then she stretched.

"Looks like it's time for us to go to bed," I said. Hannah's face drained of color and her green eyes went wide before I realized what I said.

"No, not together," I said hurriedly. "My room is at the complete opposite end of the corridor from yours." Hannah let out a shaky laugh. "I didn't mean to scare you like that, I'm sorry," I added.

Hannah picked up her shot and drank it, placing the empty shot glass on the table.

"Don't worry about it," she said.

"Can I walk you up to your room?" I asked her. "I promise I'll behave myself."

Hannah smiled and stood, grabbing the robe from the sofa. "I'd like that very much," she said. I stood, grabbed the contract from the table, and walked her to the door, opening it for her to allow her to pass through into the corridor. We made our way to the elevator, walking side by side, and when the elevator arrived I stepped in after her. The ride up was silent, but not uncomfortably so. We exited the elevator onto the second floor and began walking toward the Emerald Room.

"Hannah," I said, and she met my gaze with her green eyes. "If there's one thing I want you to remember about me, it's that I really just want to help you. I didn't bid on you with the intention of doing you any harm. Please believe that."

We stopped outside the Emerald Room, and Hannah turned to face me full-on with a skeptical expression. "Most men, in my experience, just want to have things their way," Hannah said. "Men are addicted to power and will take advantage of any situation to get it."

I smirked at Hannah, taking a step toward her. She didn't back away. Slipping my hand gently past her arm to rest it on the curve of her hip I drew her closer to me. Her green eyes were wide with anticipation, and they never left mine.

I leaned down closer to her face, hovering my lips barely an inch from hers, feeling her breath quicken from our closeness. I pulled her hip in closer to me until we were pressed together, our lips primed for a kiss. But I ducked my head past her face so that I could lean in and whisper close to her ear. My lips nearly touched the flesh of her ear.

"I don't need to buy a woman to get my way," I said softly to her. "I'm perfectly capable of seducing a woman on my own." I released her and took a couple of steps back. Hannah's lips were parted as she stared at me, her breath still moving rapidly. "Goodnight, Hannah," I said before walking away.

'Maybe I shouldn't have done that,' I thought as I strolled to the other end of the corridor toward my bedroom. But if that was what she needed then so be it. Being that close to her with her body pressed against mine was arousing. It had been a gamble. She could have broken my nose if she wanted to, but I thought Hannah had enjoyed the encounter, if her breathlessness was any indication.