Chapter 34 You Started This “Let go of me, Roman!” I thrashed against his grip as he carried me up the stairs like I weighed nothing. Thankfully my family had dispersed— talking about the wedding rehearsal and a little about the drama earlier, after this son of a dragon, Roman, betrayed me for no reason. It's my fault for trusting him. Stupid me. He didn’t flinch. He just climbed steadily, ignoring the fact that I was draped over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. “Put me down, you asshole!” I shouted, landing my fists against his back. He didn’t respond. Not even a grunt. Just kept moving steadily, unbothered, as if I were a misbehaving kitten he had to haul off to bed. “I'm going to kill you. I swear it!” I threatened. He chuckled under his breath. A deep, infuriating sound. “You’re not helping your case, love.” “Asshole!” “Correct. Keep going.” He replied. He didn’t stop until we reached the bedroom. The second my feet touched the floor, the room tilted. I staggered and grabbed the nightstand to steady myself, vision swirling from being carried like that. A hand rested on my shoulder. “You okay, Sav?” The casual concern in his voice made something in me snap. I spun, fury flooding my veins, and slapped him hard across the face with everything I had in me. The sound cracked through the room. He didn’t flinch. He didn’t even blink. He just stood there, jaw clenched. It was like slapping a wall. A very angry wall. “How could you do that to me?” I yelled, stomping hard on his foot. He stared at me like I’d just done the unthinkable. But that was it. Just stared. No action. He didn’t budge nor move a muscle. His jaw flexed—tight, tense—but his expression was unreadable. His hands were still clenched at his sides. “Are you satisfied now?” he asked, voice deadly calm.“Why did you do that?” I shoved at his chest. Still, nothing. Not even a step back. I raised my hand again, but he caught my wrist in mid-air. His grip was firm but not painful. “If you try that again,” he said, voice razor-sharp, “you’ll be owing me damages.” “Damn you, Roman!” I hissed, “Why would you betray me like that?! I'm your bestie. Why?!” He let out a bitter smile. “I didn’t betray you, Sav. I’d never do that. Not knowingly.” There was a muscle twitch in his jaw, “I was protecting you.” That word—protecting—itched under my skin. My fist slammed into his chest. Once. Twice. It wasn’t just about hurting him—it was about doing something, because if I didn’t, I was going to fall apart. “Protect me?! What do you mean by protect me?! You made me look like a liar!” But even as I hit him, he grabbed my other wrist, trapping both against his chest like I was nothing but a flailing little girl. Then he stepped in, pressing his body against mine, steel and heat and danger wrapped in one infuriating man.I twisted, writhing like a woman possessed, but he didn’t let go. He pulled me tight against him, his arms caging me. I hated how familiar he felt. Even now. Even after everything. “Enough, Savannah.” He said. Low and dangerous. I didn't listen. “You want the truth?” he said, voice low, not cruel but worn. “I’d never hurt you, Savannah. But you never asked what I had to give up to protect you.” “What are you talking about?” He kept quiet. I looked up into his eyes. That calm mask. I hated it. I wanted it to crack. I wanted him to break the way I was breaking. And without thinking—I did it. I connected my knee to his balls with as much force as I could muster as if kicking a ball. “Screw you, Roman.” His grip vanished instantly. “Fuck!” he gasped. “Now you know how I feel,” I said, chest heaving. He dropped to his knees with a strangled groan, clutching his groin in agony. “Seems you've got plans to end my bloodline, Savannah!” He growled. “If that’s what it takes to get my revenge, then I hope they fall off.” “Jesus, Savannah…” He roared in pain, still holding his precious jewels. For a second, I was scared and almost ran to him after seeing how much pain he was in. But I stopped myself before I could take a step. The sound he made—half snarl, half growl—sent another jolt of guilt through me... then I remembered: he deserved it. He didn't tell the truth. I relished the look of pain splashed across his face. How his face twisted in agony. How he hissed and cussed and turned red. I stood over him, chest heaving, heart pounding. His face contorted in pain, red spreading across his cheeks. He slammed a palm onto the floor like a wounded beast, snarling and hissing in pain. “I hope that hurts.” I taunted him. “Fucking hell, Savannah!” he groaned. “Are you trying to make me dickless?!” “Yes, Roman,” I shot back. “So consider your favorite body part at risk.” He barked out a laugh, still hunched over. A pained, maddened sound that made me blink twice. “What the hell is so funny?” I demanded. “Want me to go again?” “I haven’t felt pain like that in a long time,” he muttered, more to himself than to me— like it unsettled him. “It's… refreshing.” I crossed my arms. “Well, lucky for you, I’m a generous refresher. There's plenty more where that came from.” Then he looked up at me. Lips parted. Eyes dark. And something shifted in the air between us. “You’re going to pay for that, Sav,” he said, voice gravelly now — dark, low, and promising. “For the slap. For the kick. And you’re going to beg while I make you pay.” My mouth went dry. My boldness faltered. And yet... my stupid body betrayed me. The look he gave me ignited a wildfire beneath my skin. I hated that my breath hitched. Hated that I could feel the pulse between my thighs throb like a traitor. Hated that coil of heat tightening low in my belly. I hate him in this instant... but god help me, I want him too. I tried to cross my legs subtly, trying to suppress the ache growing inside me. But his eyes caught the movement—of course they did. He tilted his head slightly. Smirking. “Someone’s excited.” I tried to suppress my raging hormones, arms folded across my chest in defense. “And someone’s on the floor, whimpering like a kicked puppy.” He chuckled. “I was letting you enjoy your little moment. Are you done now?” “Keep talking and I’ll see if those balls do burst under pressure.” His gaze dragged over me, slow and deliberate. “Why don't we find out, love?” He groaned again, still hunched before straightening slowly, like a beast rising from the ashes. His eyes were blazing now. The pain was gone—or buried beneath something darker. In a flash, he surged from the floor like he hadn’t just been writhing in pain moments ago. Before I could blink, he lunged at me and pinned me down on the bed, face pressed into the mattress, my wrists captured behind my back by his unrelenting hands. “Roman!” I struggled, but my body was already betraying me. The heat in my core flared, fed by the way he held me—tight, commanding, overwhelming. His breath was hot in my ear. I could smell passion and heat and Roman, and my body betrayed me all over again. His hand came down on my ass. Firm. Sharp. A jolt of surprise and sensation lanced through me. I jumped. “Roman!” I gasped, struggling, but even I could hear the want threaded through my voice. “Careful,” he said, voice velvet and fire. “You're the one who started this.” “Let me go!” He leaned in close, mouth at my ear. “Congrats, bestie,” he murmured. “You’ve successfully turned me on.”