- 5 2 -

"Noooooo..." I whined, swatting away whatever was placing butterfly kisses on my face with a groan.

"Wake up amore." A sexy voice called out, making me shiver at the tone.

"You like that baby?" He asked when I nodded absent minded, my hands finding their way to his soft hair, tugging at them.

"Come on baby, it's past ten and your phone's blowing up." He said, my smile disappearing immediately at the thought as I frowned with my eyes closed.

"Open those beautiful eyes for me angel." He said again and I forced my eyes open, meeting beautiful forest green ones as I squinted to get a better look.

As soon as I had adjusted to the light in the room, Roman placed his lips on mine, my eyes closing again as he kissed me, his tongue swirling in my mouth, making a moan escape my lips.

I felt his smile against my lips as my hands framed his face, his own running over my body and leaving me a shivering mess.

I felt a knot form in my stomach and suddenly pushed Roman off of me, effectively throwing him on the other side of the bed as I climbed over him and sprinted towards the bathroom, hurling out the contents of last night.

Just as I slumped on the floor, I felt the same nauseating feeling, turning towards the toilet once again and emptying my stomach and what felt like my guts too.

Ugh.

I felt my hair being pulled back from my face and caught sight of Roman from the corner of my eye, my face red from embarrassment as I tried to shove him away.

"Nooo, get out. I look horrible. You'll die from a heart attack and I'll die from embarrassment." I groaned, hearing him chuckle when a kiss was placed on the back of my head, a hand rubbing my back soothingly as I relaxed once again.

"It's alright angel, I'm right here." He cooed, his words making me warm everywhere as I pulled away from him, slumping against the wall beside the toilet while he watched me carefully before taking a tissue and wiping my face with it carefully.

"Thanks Romy." I gave him a cheeky grin and watched as a small smirk pulled at his lips, his eyebrows raising in question.

"Romy? Again?" He asked me amused and I nodded eagerly.

"I like it. Don't you?" I asked him with a grin, my head still a little dizzy.

"Hmm. And do you like me too?" He asked leaning forward with a teasing smile on his lips, causing me to blush as I stood up from my position.

"Yes." I mumbled with a shy smile and turned towards the sink when I heard his chuckle from behind me as he reached out towards a drawer and took out a spare toothbrush, handing it to me.

"Kiss?" He asked with a smirk when I shook my head, noticing his frown as I turned away from him to brush my teeth.

There's no way I'm kissing him after hurling my guts out.

I started to brush my teeth while he stood right behind me, his front pressed against my back when he wrapped both his arms around my waist, our bodies flushed together while I brushed my teeth.

I bent down to rinse my mouth, my butt pressing against his crotch while I kept eye contact with him, his eyes turning a shade darker when I heard him suck in a breath.

Ha, sucker.

"Don't be trying things with me now angel. I won't be able to stop myself from taking you right here on the vanity." He warned, his grip on me tightening tremendously as the heat rushed to my face at his words.

"And you know what baby?" He asked, a challenging glint in his eyes when I cocked my head to the side in question.

"I won't even try to stop myself." He whispered huskily in my ear, his eyes on mine through the mirror as my mouth hung open at his bold choice of words.

Who am I kidding though?

"I'll be waiting downstairs for you." He said with a smirk before leaving the bathroom empty and me completely flustered.

I fanned my face in an attempt to cool myself as I strode out of the bathroom, spotting my phone on the bedside table. I opened up my messages and saw a few from Jane, a few from my family and one from Chase.

I opened Jane's and immediately answered them.

"I'm fine and awake now, just a little dizzy from last night's drinking shenanigans." I wrote when she immediately answered.

J: "Good, glad to know you're not dead."

J: " How's Roman? *wink* *wink*" I laughed at her message before answering.

H: "He's fine."

J: "Glad to know ;) Are you still coming over to mine so you can practice for the dance rehearsal?"

J: "Yeah, I'll come to your place in an hour or so."

J: "Kay great :) See you then."

H: "See you."

I opened Anton's message next and answered him too.

"I'm still at Jane's and won't be back till the evening since I've got to practice for a dance rehearsal." I answered and opened Alex's message.

"Ask Anton, just talked to him dumbo." I gave him a reply when he asked me where the hell I was.

Classic over protective brother move.

Opening Chase's message last I smiled at his concern for me before answering.

"I'm fine, thanks for asking. See you tomorrow handsome ;)" I replied and closed my phone, running a hand through my hair and tying it into a ponytail.

Straightening Roman's over sized t-shirt I looked in the mirror, my eyes bulging out of my head when I caught sight of all the hickeys on my neck.

Asshole.

Rolling my eyes, I walked downstairs in only the large t-shirt that came mid-thigh and my black lacy panties and bra.

I just hope there's no one else downstairs.

Walking into the kitchen, I noticed Roman behind the stove making something. I moved towards him, standing on my tip toes to look over his shoulder and smiled.

"Pancakes?" I asked smiling when he threw me a casual glance and smirked, pecking my cheek.

"Only the best for my girl." He said, making me blush as I placed a chaste kiss on his jaw, his free arm coming around my waist and pulling me close to him while he flipped the pancake expertly.

"I don't think I'm ever going to get tired of watching you cook for me." I said leaning my head on his shoulder, looking up at him and watching a small smile forming on his lips.

"Then I'll always do it for you angel." He said kissing the top of my head before grabbing our plates and leading me towards the kitchen island.

We both sat down and dug into our pancakes, me dripping too much chocolate syrup over mine and secretly putting some on Roman's too when he wasn't looking.

But he obviously noticed.

After finishing our delicious breakfast, I took both our plates and washed them in the sink while Roman stood beside me, watching.

"I need to go to Jane's." I told him as I dried the plates and noticed him frowning.

"Why?" He asked when I turned to him.

"I need to practice for a dance rehearsal with her." I told him.

"Stay with me." He said immediately, my heart warming at his words and a small smile playing on my lips as I hooked my arms around his neck.

"As much as I'd love too, I really have to go. But I really do want to stay with you." I said with a sad smile as his arms took hold of my waist.

"Then stay." He said, his eyes full of emotion when I pressed my lips to his. He immediately kissed me back but before we could go any further, I pulled away, hearing a low grunt leaving his lips in frustration.

"I can't." I whispered, one of my hands cupping his cheek and the other around his neck as I pecked his lips once more. But before he could say anything, we heard the elevator chime.

I looked at him confused as he gently took my hand and made me stand a little behind him as a pair of heavy footsteps walked over to us, finally revealing the person as he walked into the kitchen.

"Ah, figured I'd find you here." A man with black hair combed back neatly stood watching us, his hawk like gaze on Roman.

His lips seemed to be pressed into a thin line, his eyes cold and emotionless, much like Roman's but there was something colder about him. Something evil.

He wore a crisp black suit with his tie clipped neatly in place, his shoes shined to perfection and some wrinkles around his eyes and face which showed his age, and I guessed he must be near dad's age.

"Why are you here?" Roman bit out, his voice suddenly so cold I felt a shudder go up my spine at his tone and looked at him, his features stressed and his jaw clenched as he unconsciously pushed me behind him.

This little action of his brought the man's attention on me, and I finally noticed his lifeless, dark brown eyes that seemed to be seeping through my soul, making my blood run completely cold as my eyebrows furrowed in confusion when an unreadable emotion passed his face.

Have I seen him before somewhere?

"So this was your emergency?" The man asked Roman humorlessly, eyes moving between us accusingly as I felt my body heat up under his gaze while he studied me.

"Who's the girl, son?" The man now asked, my eyes widening at the way he addressed Roman as I looked between the two men and for sure, saw some similarities.

Cold eyes, emotionless faces, sharp features and same posture. The only differences were that Roman's eyes were a beautiful forest and emerald green with golden specks in them if you looked close, and his hair had a slight wave to them whereas the man had straight hair.

"Son?" He asked again, my eyes snapping to Roman's who was watching his father under his calculating gaze as if pondering on what to say.

"No one important. You can leave." He said harshly and I nearly flinched. But then his dad looked at our joined hands, an evil smirk gracing his face when he looked back at me.

"Doesn't look like nothing. Questa è la tua regina?" (Is this your queen?) He asked almost amused but Roman didn't break his expressionless face.

"Non sono affari tuoi chi sia." (None of your goddamn business who she is.) Roman spat, his hand tightening around mine causing me to nearly yelp at the pressure.

"Beh, lei è sicuramente una cosa carina. Allora è la tua ultima puttana?" (Well she sure is a pretty little thing. Is she your latest whore then?) His father spoke, eyeing me while I squirmed under his gaze which was making me very uncomfortable.

"Stai zitto, cazzo. Lei non è nessuno." (Shut the fuck up. She's no one.) Roman said, standing in front of me protectively when I squeezed his hand gently for reassurance as his father hummed in response and walked over to us slowly.

"Hello mio cara. I'm Ferruccio Angelo, Roman's father. And you are?" He asked holding out his hand as I eyed him warily and looked at Roman for anything at all, but he stood there like a statue, glaring daggers at his father.

"Heather. Heather Elias, sir. It's nice to meet you." I said with as much confidence I could muster under his calculating gaze because something about him felt so damn suffocating, and so damn familiar.

"Elias? Interesting. You must be Zavid's daughter then." He said, my eyebrows furrowing a little when he called my father Zavid.

No one knows my dad's Russian name.

"Jon Elias." I corrected as I shook his hand and a knowing grin spread across his lips, making me frown as I watched him closely.

"So Alexander and Anton Elias' sister then, yes?" He asked and I nodded meekly.

"I'm sorry, have we met before? I feel like I've seen you somewhere." I said and watching his grin turn into a smirk as he looked me up and down.

"I don't think so cara mio. I'd never forget a pretty face like yours." (My dear.) He said as I pulled away from him, finding my safe place in front of Roman when he wrapped an arm around me protectively and possessively.

"Oh. I just thought I'd seen you somewhere. You looked familiar, that's why." I said softly and once again made eye contact with him, a knowing look in his eye.

"Yes well, you must have confused me with someone else, I never forget a face." He assured me and I nodded.

"Very well then, have a good Sunday. I'll be off, Roman, Heather." He said with a smirk when he said my name.

Roman grunted from behind me as we watched his father walk back toward where he came from, the sound of the elevator door chiming as we reveled in our thoughts, lost in our own worlds.

But something about his father was deeply unsettling, like a nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach while his words replayed in my head like a broken record as I tried to remember where I'd heard them before.

"I never forget a face."