Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Blair stared at Roman, her heart pounding so hard she was sure he could hear it. Marry him? The words echoed in her head, loud and disorienting. It was insane. Reckless. Completely out of control.

And yet, a small, undeniable part of her wanted to say yes.

She had just ended her engagement with Dan last week. It felt like whiplash to go from that to standing here, listening to Roman ask her to marry him. But it was different with Roman. Everything about him, the way he touched her, looked at her, challenged her, made her feel something she had never had before.

Something intense. Something dangerous.

It wasn’t love. Not yet. She wasn’t willing to say that word, not when she’d thought she had loved Dan and look where that had gotten her. But this… what she felt for Roman was more than lust, more than attraction. It was raw, consuming, and completely outside her control.

She swallowed hard, trying to focus. “This is crazy.”

Roman’s lips curled slightly, but there was no humor in his expression. “Is it?”

She exhaled sharply. “You want to get married to protect yourself from Jessica’s threats?”

“To protect us both,” he corrected smoothly. “She won’t be able to spin this into something ugly if we’re married. It’ll look like she’s bitter and grasping at straws.”

Blair hesitated. That made sense. But it wasn’t just about Jessica, was it? She searched his face, trying to see past the cool confidence to what was underneath. Was this just about damage control? Or was there something more?

Roman wanted a family. She knew that. He had told her just minutes ago. And she wanted the same thing. That was part of why she had said yes to Dan in the first place, because she had thought they wanted the same things. It had all been a lie.

But Roman was not Dan. Roman was intense, passionate, completely overwhelming at times. And unlike Dan, he could give her everything she hadn’t known she was missing. In every way.

Her cheeks warmed as memories flashed through her mind. The way he touched her, the way he took control, the way he knew exactly how to unravel her. Dan had never made her feel like that. Dan had been… well, safe. Predictable even. Comfortable. The asshole had then cheated on her. But Roman? Roman set her on fire.

Could she really do this? Could she marry him?

bit her lip. “How do I know you won’t cheat?” That had hurt her more

on.” His voice was cold, controlled, but she could see the hint of old pain in his

believed him. Roman had his faults, but he wasn’t a liar. And he sure as hell wouldn’t make a promise

But still… marriage?

real.” There was no way Roman, her boss and recent lover, was asking

presence overwhelming. “It’s

God, he was impossible. She knew he was probably looking at this like a business deal. A way to secure what he wanted while eliminating a threat. But even if

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Chapter 37

say no. She could walk away. But if she did, what then? Jessica

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stronger every second she spent with him. If he

breath

a flash of something dark and satisfaction

“I’ll

his hand, his fingers brushing against her cheek, his touch possessive.

anticipation or fear. Because now that she had said it, now that it was real… she wasn’t sure there was any way of

meeting this morning?” Roman asked,

guess why he was asking, but she said.

hers. “Because, my soon to be wife. I think

register what was happening before Roman’s mouth was taking hers in a demanding kiss. She knew this was going to be more than just a kiss. His hands were on her, his touch firm, demanding. His fingers skimmed up her arms before tangling in her hair, tilting her head back so

he murmured, his voice thick