The Perfect Stroke (Lucas Brothers #1)(108)

She goes still, but most of all she shuts up. “You don’t know me.”

“I know all I need to know and I plan on learning much more.”

“You might not like what you find.”

“And I may like it even more,” I tell her.

She’s cute. Is she worried that her past is something that will bother me? That I will hold it against her? It’s her that needs to learn who I am. I’ll teach her that, too. In time. It’s occurred to me that what I’m talking about is something more than just sex. I’m not going to spend time thinking about it. I want her and it’s not showing signs of lessening. Actually, something that has never happened to me in my lifetime is going on. The more I’m around Ana, the more I want her. I’m not growing bored. I’m showing no signs of boredom. Usually one time is enough to take off the new, wear the edge down. Maybe it’s because I haven’t actually been inside of her yet. Fuck if I know; I just know nothing is happening like I thought it would. I have a sneaking suspicion Ana is a game-changer.

“What am I supposed to do if I don’t work? Jesus, Roman, I have to work. I have bills and I like having a roof over my head. Besides that, I’m not one to sit around and do nothing. I’ve worked since I was sixteen.”

“You’ll live with me.”

“I can’t—Wait a minute. What did you say?”

“You don’t need to worry about a roof over your head. You’ll stay under my roof.”

“I can’t move in with you! We just met.”

“I’ve had my face buried between your legs and my dick in your mouth. I think that means more than how long we’ve actually known each other.”

“That’s what you’re basing asking a woman to move in with you on? Because we got each other off? Jesus, your house must be crowded. Where do you keep all of the women?”

“You’re entirely too mouthy for my peace of mind, pet. Believe it or not, there’s never been another woman in my house. For you, I’m making an exception. I have a feeling it won’t be the first.”

“Mouthy? I’d take exception to that, but I think you just shocked me into silence.”

“I’m not sure that’s possible.”

Ana does something else that shocks me. She sticks her tongue out at me. For the first time that I can remember in what has to be years, I throw my head back and laugh.

“You’re really beautiful when you laugh, Roman,” Ana whispers softly.

I bring my eyes back to her face at her words and take in the sweet way she’s looking at me. Men would go off to war and die, all for the chance to protect that face. I pull her to me and take her mouth. Five minutes. Five minutes until we get to her apartment and then I’m f*cking her brains out.

My cell phone rings in my pocket and I pull away from Ana after dragging my tongue against hers one last time. I look at my phone. When I see Bruno’s number, I know I’m in trouble.

“Yeah?” I grunt, answering it.

“Boss, we got problems.”

“I’m getting f*cking tired of hearing that.”

“The warehouse was just broken into.”

“What happened to the guards?” I growl, anger rolling through me.

“Two dead. Four unconscious.”

My hand tightens up on the phone. I’d like to throw the damn thing. “Who are the two who died?”

“Ivan and Reese.”

“Fuck,” I groan, holding my head down. “Have you told their families?”

“No, boss. I just called the rest of the cleanup crew out and called you.”

“Any idea who did it?”

“They were gone when we got here, but, boss…”

“Spit it out, Bruno, what did the cameras show?”

“One of the security cameras, the new one we put in across the street, showed Banks.”

“I’ll be there in five. I want the cleaning crew called out and I’ll go talk to Ivan’s wife. Reese didn’t have anyone but his mother. She’s still in that nursing home. I’ll go there tomorrow. Keep a lock on this shit. The last thing these ladies need to hear is about their men before I can talk to them.”

“You got it,” Bruno says and I hang up.

I turn to look at Ana and worry is etched all over her face.

“I take it our plans have changed,” she says as the car comes to a stop.

“I’m sorry, Ana. I can’t.”

“It’s okay, Roman. Go do what you have to do. I’ll be here when you get back,” she tells me as Robert opens the door.

I cup her face in my hand. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Her hand moves over my wrist that is resting on her collarbone. She squeezes it, encouragingly. “Someone died?” she questions, and I fight against my need to reassure her. I can’t trust anyone—especially a woman—with my business, no matter how the look in her eyes makes me want to trust her.

“Two of my men,” I answer, compromising. Even giving her that much makes me want to kick my ass.

Ana doesn’t push me, however. She leans up and kisses me lightly on the cheek, and then stretches up to whisper in my ear. “Be safe, Daddy.”

The whispered words make me want to smile. I would if I didn’t know what was waiting for me. I watch as she slides out of the car. It’s not until I’m ten minutes down the road that I realize I didn’t walk her to her door and make sure she was safe. I’ve never felt the urge to before, but I vow that will never happen again. Ana’s mine. I’m keeping her.