Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Chapter 4

“You’re not just an asshole, but a shithead too… always thought so,” Blair slurred, her tongue feeling too heavy in her mouth. She knew she shouldn’t be saying this, but she couldn’t stop herself.

Roman chuckled, leaning back. “I think I should get you some coffee.”

“Don‘ want it.” Blair waved a hand dismissively, nearly hitting herself in the face. “I want… a man that ain’t a cheatin‘ rat.” Her eyes drifted over him, and despite her best efforts, she noticed–really noticed–how attractive he was. “Did you… did you ever cheat on your ex–wife?”

She’d met Jessica once. It hadn’t been a pleasant experience.

Roman’s expression didn’t change, but his voice softened. “Not all men cheat, Blair.”

“W–why’d she teave you then?” Her head tilted as if she were trying to piece together a puzzle.

“There are a lot of reasons marriages fall apart,” Roman said, dragging a hand down his face. “Not all of them have to do with cheating on the man’s part.”

It took Blair a moment to process that. Then her eyes widened. “She cheated on you?” she whispered, as if it were some great secret. “Was she an idiot?” Her boss was gorgeous–thick dark hair, intense gray eyes, chiseled cheekbones. And his body… well, from what she could see, it was fine. Not that she’d ever been interested before. She’d always been with Dan. Had been with Dan.

Roman reached over, gently lifting her chin with two fingers when her mouth fell open. “I worked a lot. Some would say I drove her to it.”

Blair blinked at him, then shook her head, making herself dizzy. “Thass not an excuse… nope… no, no, no.” She dropped her head back onto the couch, exhaling loudly. “Should get a divorce before that… cheaters… all of ‘em…”

Roman studied her with an amused expression. “You know, this is the most I’ve ever seen you relax around me.”

Blair lifted a hand lazily. “Thass ‘cause you’re… you’re normally soooo difficult to deal wit” she muttered, barely able to get the words out.

“I won’t apologize for that.” His lips twitched. “I expect the best. That’s why this company is where it is today.”

Blair made a sound that was half a grunt, half a laugh. “Suppose so. Her head felt heavy, her thoughts sluggish.

Roman let her sit in silence for a moment before asking, “What happened, Blair?”

She turned her head to look at him, her vision slightly unfocused. “I was an idiot.”

“Why? Because you trusted the wrong person?”

Blair let out a shaky breath. “Dan an‘ I grew up together, y’know?”noveldrama

“No, I didn’t,”

She nodded. “I… I was always going home… back home, all the time, when I moved to th‘ city for this job. He… he got a job at Kingston’s, and I was happy ‘bout it. Now I wish he wasn’t here.” Her voice wobbled, but she refused to cry. Not again. Not for Dan.

“So, the wedding’s off?” Roman gestured to her bare finger.

Blair lifted her hand, staring at it for a second before letting it flop back onto her lap. “Yep. We didn’t even have a date set.”

“Who was holding it up?”

She blinked at him. Why was he askin‘ so many questions? Why was he bein‘ so… nice? “Me. He wanted to get married last year. I wasn’t ready.”

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Chapter 4

Roman’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Why? If you loved him, why did you want to wait?”

Blair shrugged, though it was a little sloppy. “If what I saw t’day was anythin‘ to go by…” She trailed off, frowning. Maybe… maybe she’d always known somethin‘ was off. There was no passion. No fire. She’d loved Dan, but maybe not the way she was supposed to love the man she was gonna marry.

Right now, she wasn’t even sad. Just… angry.

“What happened?” Roman pressed, his voice gentler now.

Blair’s face scrunched up as she remembered. “Saw him,” she slurred. “H–havin‘ sex with… ugh.” She waved a hand, unable to finish the sentence.

Roman’s jaw tensed. “I see.”

Blair stared at him for a long moment, her head swimming with thoughts she couldn’t quite hold on to. Then, suddenly, she reached out, grabbing his tie between her fingers.

Roman froze.

Blair stared at the fabric, tracing the pattern with unfocused eyes. She didn’t know why she did it. Maybe ‘cause she needed to know. Needed to feel something different.

Without another thought, she pulled at the tie, closing the space between them, and pressed her lips to his.

For a moment, he didn’t move. But then… Heat. Raw, consuming heat.

Blair gasped into his mouth, the shock of it searing through her. Her hands flew to his shoulders, gripping the fabric of his shirt, desperate to hold on to something solid.

This was different. So different.

Roman pulled back, breathing hard, his gray eyes dark with something unreadable. “Blair,” he murmured, voice rough. “We shouldn’t-“

She cut him off with another kiss, moving closer, pressing against him.

“Please,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

She needed to forget.

And she wanted… to feel.