Craving My Ruthless Ceo novel Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Washing It All Away

Anna’s POV

Roman’s touch burned me, and I couldn’t think straight with him this close.

I jerked back, breaking contact, my heart racing. “What? No. I can’t just… you can’t seriously expect me to cut them off like they’re… my family, Roman.”

“Family?” he muttered, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

“You don’t understand!” My voice rose, desperate, as I tried to put distance between us, even though part of me wanted to lean back into his touch. “You come from money, from power. Your family probably actually cares about each other, supports each other. Mine might not be perfect, but they’re all I have left. After Dad died, they’re all I have. I can’t just abandon them because things get difficult sometimes.”

“Difficult?” Roman’s eyebrows shot up, and suddenly he was closer again, crowding my space in a way that made my pulse race. “Anna, they put your life in danger. This wasn’t difficult. This was criminal negligence at best. They could have gotten you killed tonight. That animal could have…”

He stopped himself, breathing hard, his eyes wild with an emotion that looked like fear.

“But they didn’t,” I murmured, my voice trembling despite my effort to sound firm.

“Only because I sent Thomas to follow you.” His voice rose before he caught himself, visibly wrestling for control. “Only because I got there in time. What about next time? There will be a next time, Anna. People like your mother and sister don’t change. They’ll drag you into another mess, and another, until eventually I won’t be there to…”

“Stop.” I pressed my hands over my ears like a child, unable to handle the truth he was forcing me to face.” Just stop.”

Roman pulled back and sucked in a deep breath. When he spoke again, his voice was much calmer.

“I’ll let this go for now.” He stood up, putting some distance between us, and I hated how cold I felt without him close. “But know this, Anna. I will not stand by and watch those…” He paused, and I could see him choosing his words. “People drag you into another mess that puts your life at risk. I won’t allow it.”

Warmth spread through me at his words, exhilarating and infuriating at once.

I won’t allow it.

Like he had any say. Or any right.

“Why?” The question slipped out before I could stop it. “Why are you being so… kind to me? I thought… I thought you believed I was seducing you, to extort money from you.”

Roman chuckled, low and rich, some of the tension finally leaving his shoulders as he shook his head. “I never said I’d changed my mind about that.”

“If you still haven’t, that leaves me even more puzzled. Why would you send Thomas to follow me past midnight? Run into that godforsaken club to save me? Beat Drago half to death? Bring me to your home? Why take such risks for me?”

He looked vulnerable, almost uncertain. His mouth opened, then closed. I could practically see him wrestling with emotions he didn’t know how to express.

“Risks?” he finally said, his voice slipping into that cool, dismissive tone he used when deflecting. “Not really. I had Thomas, and my security team was on standby. We were hardly in danger.”

“Mr. Blackwood…”

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“There’s no need to read meaning into this that isn’t there,” he continued, turning slightly away. “You’re my assistant. I wouldn’t stand by and watch you get hurt. I did what any reasonable boss would do in that situation.”

He was trying to pretend it was all a professional obligation, but now there was more, and I wasn’t willing to Successfully unlocked!

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Chapter 34: Washing It All Away

let it go.

“I think we both know you’re lying.”

“You must be tired,” Roman interrupted smoothly. “Let’s get you to bed.”

There it was again. The wall slamming back down.

I knew exactly what he was doing, shutting the conversation down before it could go somewhere he wasn’t ready for, before he had to acknowledge whatever this thing between us was.

I nodded slowly and moved to stand, but before my feet even touched the floor, Roman reached down and scooped me up into his arms.

The breath rushed out of my lungs.

“Mr. Blackwood!” I grabbed his shoulders on instinct, my heart jumping as I was pressed against his chest. “I can walk. You don’t have to…”

“I know I don’t have to,” he said, that familiar note of cockiness slipping into his voice. “But you’re hurt, and I’m not watching you limp up the stairs when I can carry you.”

“I’m not limping…”

“Anna.” He looked down at me, and the intensity in his gaze shut down my protest. “I’m doing this, and you’re not stopping me.”

I rolled my eyes at his arrogance, but the fight drained out of me.

As we climbed, I let my gaze drift around his apartment, forcing myself to focus on anything other than how good it felt to be held by him. The space was massive, larger than any home I’d ever seen.

Roman carried me down a long hallway, past several closed doors, until he reached the one at the end. He nudged it open with his shoulder and carried me inside, and then…

Oh.

He lowered me onto what had to be the most comfortable bed I’d ever felt. The sheets gave way beneath me, pulling me into a softness that felt unreal.

For a moment, Roman just stood there, looking down at me. His hand lifted, fingers brushing a loose strand of hair from my face with a tenderness that sent shivers down my spine.

He leaned closer, close enough that I could feel the warmth of his breath on my lips, close enough to see the conflict in his piercing blue eyes.

His gaze dropped to my mouth, and his fingers trembled slightly against my cheek.

Then he pulled back without warning, clearing his throat and stepping away, as if being near me was suddenly too much.

“Eva will bring you some clothes,” he said, his voice rougher than usual. “Get showered and changed. Try to rest.” He moved toward the door, putting distance between us with every step. “If you need anything, I’ll be in the next room.”

Then he was gone. The door clicked shut, leaving me alone with my racing heart and the lingering memory of

his touch.

I sat there for a long moment, trying to steady my breathing, trying to make sense of everything that had happened.

Finally, I pushed myself up and took in my surroundings with new eyes.

The room was stunning, easily three times the size of Zoe’s apartment. A king-sized bed dominated the space.

A plush white rug softened the dark hardwood floors, and floor-to-ceiling windows revealed a breathtaking view of the city below.

An en suite bathroom stood open, all marble and spotless surfaces.

I’d never stayed anywhere like this. I’d never even imagined it.

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Chapter 34: Washing It All Away

This was how Roman lived. Every day.

This was his world, one of wealth, power, and luxury.

And I was… me. Anna Winters. A girl from a broken home, with a gambling-addicted mother and a selfish sister. A girl who barely made rent. A girl who’d nearly been hurt tonight because her family had used her to clean up their mess.

Maybe he cared about me, but didn’t think I belonged in his world.

The thought hurt more than I expected.

A soft knock pulled me from my spiral. “Miss Winters? It’s Eva.”

“Come in,” I called, pushing the thoughts aside.

The door opened, and Eva stepped in, carrying a neat stack of clothes and toiletries. “Mr. Blackwood asked me to bring these for you.” She set them on the bed with a gentle smile. “The bathroom has everything you’ll need, but if there’s anything else, just press the intercom by the bed.”

“Thank you, Eva,” I said, managing a tired smile. “You’ve been very kind.”

“It’s my pleasure, dear.” She gave my hand a soft pat, her eyes warm with understanding. “You’ve had quite a night. Rest well.”

She moved quietly to the door and pulled it shut behind her.

Once I was alone again, I gathered the clothes and headed into the bathroom.

The shower was exactly what I needed. I stood under the hot spray and scrubbed my skin again and again, trying to wash away the stench of Drago, the memory of his filthy hands. I refused to stop.

I stayed there until the fear began to fade. Until the panic and the disgust loosened their grip. Until the parts of the night I didn’t want clinging to me anymore finally felt gone, and I could breathe again. Until I felt whole.

Afterward, I dressed and returned to the bedroom.

The bed welcomed me instantly. I curled beneath the covers, exhaustion pulling me under, my thoughts finally quieting as sleep claimed me.

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