- 6 4 -

"You make me weak, Heather." He whispered, our bodies joined as one as he moved in and out of me, his lips assaulting mine before kissing my pulse and making my breath hitch.

"You make me want to kill for you, and only you." He said strained, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead and I gasped as he thrust into me, hard, knocking the air out of my lungs.

Our hands intertwined beside on either side of me on the bed as he took his sweet time in torturing me, biting and sucking on my skin anywhere and everywhere he could.

"You make me want to give everything up for you if you asked me to." He looked into my eyes this time, and I saw it.

I saw the raw emotion in them, so many things that were left unsaid between us as his lips lowered to mine, both our eyes fluttering shut as he stilled inside of me, his lips brushing against against mine in a feather-like kiss.

"I'm in love with you, mio angelo." (My angel) He murmured against my lips as a lone tear streamed down my cheek, my eyes wide.

Did he just- No.

"Roman." I warned, because I really felt like killing him if he was joking right now.

"I love you baby, so fucking much, I can't think straight." He murmured, his eyes now boring into mine as I shook my head.

"You don't know what you're saying Roman, don't lie to me." I said, my voice cracking as he moved out of me, only to slide back in, my back arching off the bed.

"I'm not lying, angel, I love you." He said, almost desperately, as if he needed me to believe him as I shook my head.

You can't.

"You can't love me, Roman, I'll never be able to love you back the same." I whispered when he sighed, pecking my lips as he moved inside me slowly, steadily, the pleasure growing ten folds.

"But I do love you." He whispered back.

"I love every scar, every imperfection, every fucking thing about you. You make me feel like no one else, Heather, and I'm yours, for eternity. Ti amo." (I love you) He whispered as a whimper escaped my lips because God, this man would be the death of me.

"Don't." I shook my head, trying very hard to not break down because I knew I had wasted all my love on a traitor. Someone who never really loved me, and I gave it all to him. I would never be the same again.

"Please, baby, give me a chance. Let me love you." He spoke in a pained voice as I shut my eyes tightly, the burn in them making it hard to keep them open as I shook my head furiously when he grunted.

"Fucking look at me when I tell you I love you. Look in my eyes and tell me you don't feel anything for me." He growled lowly, his pace increasing as I opened my eyes.

"I do... I do, Roman." I whispered, his face nuzzling in my neck as I felt myself being driven to the edge as he thrusted in and out of me.

I do feel for you, more than you know.

I've fallen for you too, but it'll never be enough.

"You made me forget, and I warned you to not love me... But you did anyways." I said strained.

"And I always will, no matter what." He told me, pressing his lips to mine.

One final thrust from him made us both release the pleasure in the pain our hearts were thriving in, my chest constricting as we rode our high, his forehead resting against mine, our breaths heavy.

"I love you." He whispered once more into my neck, falling onto the bed right beside me and wrapped his arms around me.

A heavy sigh escaped my lips, the exhaustion too much before my eyes closed and I let sleep envelop me.

* * *

They say love made people weak, and it was true, but to some extent. If you loved someone in our world, you were making them a target for your enemies and unfortunately, we had a lot of those.

So as I stare at the insanely beautiful man who is asleep right beside me, I sigh heavily, because this was not how I imagined everything to play out.

I needed to leave.

And with that thought, I slipped out of his arms very carefully, replacing myself with a pillow as discreetly as I could and put my clothes from last night back on before practically sprinting out of the house after collecting my things.

I thought I had walked forever but it had only been a good few minutes until I was able to hail a cab and cry myself the ride home.

Tom, as usual, was the one who opened the door for me and my red eyes and puffy cheeks were probably not what he was expecting to see first thing in the morning.

"Heather, sweetheart, what's wrong? Should I call your brother?" Tom asked concerned but I shook my head.

"I-I'm fine, just really tired. Please don't tell anyone I'm home. I'll see them myself later." I told him.

He nodded rather hesitantly before I trudged upstairs to my room, stripping out of my clothes for a well-needed shower.

What was supposed to be a quick shower turned into a messy, crying session as I balled my eyes out, not because my heart was breaking, but because it was already broken, and somehow, Roman was putting it back together.

He was embedded deep inside of me, and I was scared. I was scared because I jumped into the fire willingly and had gotten burnt.

The fire's warmth seemed too good to be true and I knew we were heading towards something more serious, I just didn't expect those three words from him. At least not yet.

So I left. It was the only thing I did in situations where my heart was concerned. Run, and never look back.

But I did look back, and I wanted to go back and crawl to him, have him wrap his arms around me and kiss me to sleep, but I was scared.

He said he'd protect me, he said he'd never let me go, but did he mean it?

I hope he did.

All these thoughts made my head hurt as I dried myself and put on something more comfortable before hopping into my bed for a nap because I didn't have class for another three hours.

So I closed my eyes and let myself sleep, for at least a while, until I had to wake up and face reality again.

* * *

"Heather, darling..." I heard Alex's unmistakable deep voice from behind me as I turned my head towards him, my eyes squinting to look at him properly as a yawn escaped my lips.

His hands stroked my hair slowly before smiling a bit but I didn't smile back, I didn't know why, but I just couldn't.

Sitting up in bed, I cleared my throat before looking at him as his eyes searched my face curiously, probably wondering how and why I was back home.

"When did you come back?" He asked and I shrugged, briefly glancing at the clock.

"A few hours ago." I answered, my voice hoarse from crying before I cleared my throat.

"Do you want to tell me something? Anything?" His eyes searched mine in worry but I shook my head and forced a small smile on my face that only made my bottom lip quiver as I bit on it furiously.

"I-I'm okay. I have to be, right?" I whispered softly, looking up at him when he nodded, pulling me into his arms and hugging me tightly as a sigh escaped my lips.

"You'll be okay, kiddo." He mumbled, kissing the top of my head before pulling away and standing up.

"Do have classes today?" He asked and I nodded.

"Alright then, I have to go to your college for a board meeting, I'll take you, yeah?" He asked wiping a stray tear from my face.

"Okay." I whispered.

"Alright, get ready then. We'll leave in half an hour." He said moving away before he stopped in his tracks, as if realizing something as he turned to face me.

"Does he know that you're here?" He asked when I bit my lip, averting my gaze and shrugged, hearing his hum in response.

"I'll be waiting." He said before leaving me alone in my room. I got out of bed, heading to the bathroom to freshen up before going to my closet and picking out clothes to wear.

Getting ready, I slipped on my shoes and looked at myself in the mirror, nodding to myself once in approval.

With a deep breath, I grabbed my bag and phone and made my way downstairs and into the dining room, everyone's voices coming to a halt when they saw me.

"Heather?" Zarina questioned confused before coming over to me and pulling me in a hug.

"You okay?" She whispered in my ear and I nodded slowly, my eyes meeting dad's who smiled briefly.

"Hi daddy." I whispered, going towards my father and letting him pull me into his warm embrace as he pecked my forehead.

"How is my little girl? Good?" He asked and I nodded before pulling away, briefly meeting Anton's eye but averting my gaze just as quick.

"When did you come back?" I asked sitting on my seat.

"A few hours ago." He answered and I nodded, looking back at Anton who raised his brow at me in question.

"Breakfast?" Anton asked when I shook my head.

"Not hungry, thanks." I answered just as Ana entered with a smile on her face and said hi to my dad.

"Oh, hello Heather." She said looking at me a bit confused, probably knowing I didn't come hoe with the others last night but now here I was.

"Hi." I said, clearing my throat and looking at Alex.

"Can we leave now?" I asked, pleading with my eyes and he realised what I meant as he nodded and stood up, wiping his hands on a napkin.

"We're leaving." He told everyone who simply nodded before he shared a look with Anton, something passing between them before both brothers looked at me.

"Take care, darling. I'll see you at home." Anton looked at me intensely, and I knew what he really meant, he wanted to talk. Probably about why the hell I was back home.

With a small nod his way, Alex and I left the house and decided to take his car.

"How did you come home?" He asked after a while after the partition had slid up between us and the driver.

"Took a cab." I answered, looking down at my hands when he sighed.

"Darling, I need you to talk to me. I'm worried about you." He spoke softly and I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat as my eyes burned with unshed tears.

"I-... I left before he could wake up." I told him and saw him nod, urging me to continue.

"Last night, he-... he..." I couldn't say it, no matter how much I tried as Alex's eyes widened.

"Darling, he didn't force himself on yo-"

"No!" I suddenly cut him off, making him frown as I shook my head furiously, because Roman was not like that. He would never force someone.

"He didn't do anything of the sort, quite the opposite, actually." I said and saw his frown deepen.

"What do you mean?"

"He made sure I was okay, that I was feeling better after he had shown up last night. He took care of me, told me he'd keep me safe but I-... I couldn't stay, Alex, I-... I got scared." I admitted when he smiled sadly, taking my hand and squeezing it once.

"Why are you scared, darling?' He asked softly when I shrugged, knowing I'd have to spit it out sooner or later.

'I'm in love with you, angel.'

"He loves me." I whispered, a tear falling down my eyes when Alex sucked in a sharp breath.

"He-... Did he say that?" He asked slowly, shock and surprise evident on his face and in his tone.

"Da." (Yes) I whispered, looking out the window as I wiped my tears with the back of my hand.

"He said he was in love in with me. That he loved every scar, every imperfection of mine. He wanted me to give him a chance to love me." I said, gazing out the window before smiling sadly.

"You do realize what this means, right?" Alex asked me after a few seconds and I nodded slowly.

"Did you-... Did you say it back?" He asked but I shook my head, looking at my hands in my lap.

"I couldn't... I told him I couldn't love him back the same way. I gave it all to a traitor." I gritted out, when Alex grunted and shook his head.

"What are you going to do now? He must know by now that you left... He'll be looking for you." He said and I nodded.

"I know. I just-... I need some time to think things through. Till then, I guess it'd be best if I didn't see him." I said a little defeated.

"Whatever you want, darling. I'm always with you." He said reassuringly and I smiled, knowing I could count on my brother, always.

"Thanks, Alexander. I really need my brother right now." I whispered and he nodded with a small smile as we parked inside the college.

"Mr. Elias, we have arrived." The driver's voice came through and Alex gave me a reassuring smile before getting out the car and holding the door open for me, he helped me out too.

"I have class right now, so I'll probably come back with Zeph." I told him and saw him nod.

"I might be here by the time you're done, but we'll see. Take care sweetheart." He said pecking my forehead and I smiled a bit, waving goodbye before going to my class.

After class had ended, I was called to the Dean's office and knocked on the door twice before I was let in.

"Mr. Brown, you called?" I asked stepping in and saw him nod with a smile.

"I did. Since you're the only one free right now, Mr. Angelo has some queries, if you could answer them." He said gesturing to the man sitting in the chair in front of him when I felt myself freeze in place.

"M-Mr. Angelo?" I asked, somewhat scared before said man turned towards me, and my eyes widened because it wasn't the one I thought would be here.

It was his father.