The way she’d held her breath as she came, arching her back as I kissed and licked her breasts.

The way she’d wrapped her legs around my body and begged for more.

Every single moment.

I remembered.

Because, soon, that was all it would be.

Nothing but memories and dust.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Mel,

Don’t stress over your finals. You know you’ll do great. When have you ever not aced an exam? I know, I know… except that one spelling test in first grade that you always bring up when I ask that question… so don’t bother replying with that.

But seriously, stand up. Do it. Right now. Stand up, blast that horrible music I know you have on, and dance around your dorm. It will help.

P.S. Why don’t you come visit when you’re done with finals? You can fly home and meet Roman and me there, and maybe your presence will help smooth over the new boyfriend introduction? Yes? Please say yes.

Love you,

Cara(-saurus)

Melissa had sent me an SOS message late last night, panicking over her finals. She’d done this every semester since I’d met her. She was quite the neurotic genius.

I had a feeling her new roommate had something to do with it.

That, or it was the lack of sex.

I really wasn’t sure.

But I really was serious about her coming to visit. I knew she’d come here to help smooth things over for me, but really, I thought we’d done each other a favor. By the time she’d left, her state of mind had seemed to be in a much better place.

Or at least it had been.

For a few days.

I also really loved the idea of having her with me when I introduced Roman to my parents. They had been, understandably, cautious when I told them about the new man in my life. For as long as they could remember, I was going to marry Tyler. Even when I was in high school, they’d thought it was absurd and rolled their eyes, telling me I was far too young for such things.

But now I’d done a complete one-eighty, dumping the long-term boyfriend and replacing him after what seemed like a day.

Okay, it was a few days.

But still…

For my conservative, married-for-a-thousand-years parents, seeing me basically jump in bed with a much older, incredibly rich man, who also happened to be my boss, was… well, startling.

The thought of bringing Roman home to my small town in a few weeks? I might as well be bringing home Ryan Gosling because that was what it felt like.

My mother had already Googled Roman. I hadn’t even known she knew how to do that, and she’d sent his picture around to all her girlfriends. No doubt, the entire town knew about him now.