No Second Chances Ex-husband (Lauren and Ethan) novel Chapter 201

**TITLE: He Chased 201**

**CHAPTER 0201**

**LAUREN’S POV**

“Well,” Roman started, his voice steady yet imbued with an undercurrent of emotion that hinted at something profound. “There’s me.” As he took a few deliberate steps closer, his eyes locked onto mine, unwavering and intense.

“What do you mean by that?” I inquired, my brow furrowing in confusion. The shift in his tone caught me off guard, stirring a mix of curiosity and apprehension within me.

“With everything that’s transpired,” he paused, as if weighing his words with utmost care, “I’ve come to a realization.” A soft sigh escaped him, laden with unspoken thoughts. “You and Aria are the most significant people in my life at this moment. When Aria was taken, I felt like I was unraveling. I can’t bear the thought of that happening again, not with you or with her.”

“So…” I replied slowly, stretching the word as I awaited the completion of his thought, my heart racing with anticipation.

“So, I want you to be by my side.” His voice shifted, gaining strength and conviction. “It’s painfully obvious how I feel about you, yet I’ve held back, thinking you weren’t ready for something like this. You’ve always had this defensive barrier that keeps everyone at arm’s length. But I can’t hold back anymore.” He took another step forward, closing the distance until he stood directly in front of me. “I want you, Lauren. I truly want you.”

I blinked, my mind racing to digest his words. My breath hitched as my chest rose and fell, a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me. “What about your employees and everyone else?” I managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper, uncertainty creeping in.

He shrugged lightly, a soft smile gracing his lips. “How about we stop worrying about what others think?” he proposed, his tone lightening. “I’m not the first boss to fall for someone on his team, and I certainly won’t be the last. I’m ready to tell Aria that I’m her dad whenever the moment feels right. Maybe, with the bond we already share, she’ll take it better than we expect.”

His voice softened with each word, almost a tender whisper now. “All I’m asking for is a chance. I’m not like Ethan, and I would never treat you the way he did. I’m sure you know that deep down.”

—

The air between us felt charged, warm and electric.

He stepped even closer, erasing the remaining space between us. My heart raced, the proximity igniting a flutter of excitement within me. His clean, faintly musky scent enveloped me, and suddenly, I found it hard to maintain eye contact. My gaze fell to the floor, overwhelmed by the intensity of the moment.

“I promise to treat you right,” he continued, his voice low yet unwavering. “Like the queen you are.”

His fingers brushed against my chin, gentle yet confident, tilting my head upward until our eyes locked once more. My lips parted slightly, but no sound escaped. For a heartbeat, it felt as if the world had faded away, leaving only the rhythmic cadence of our breaths in the quiet space between us.

My heart raced faster than it had in what felt like ages. His gaze was steady, searching mine, almost challenging me to look away—but I couldn’t. I tried to muster the courage to speak, to articulate my thoughts, but the words eluded me, dying on my lips before they could take form.

I found myself captivated by his lips, which appeared soft and inviting from this close. I could almost feel the warmth radiating from him, and my mind wandered to how it would feel if they were pressed against mine.

Why was this overwhelming desire surfacing now, especially considering the fresh wounds left by Ethan? My emotions were a tangled mess, yet my body seemed to disregard all logic. Perhaps it was the years of longing, the absence of touch, that made this sudden rush of heat feel so intoxicating.

A shiver coursed through me at the intimacy of his words, and then I heard the soft click of the lock turning. My heart raced—he was serious.

Before I could respond, his lips captured mine again, more urgent this time, and his arms slipped under me. He lifted me effortlessly off the ground, as if I weighed nothing at all.

A small gasp escaped my lips as my arms instinctively wrapped around his shoulders. My legs moved of their own accord, locking around his waist, as if they had a mind of their own.

He carried me a few steps forward, the air thick with heat and an intoxicating sense of comfort that felt almost dangerous.

He laid me gently on the bed, his movements slow and deliberate, his gaze unwavering. For a fleeting moment, time seemed to stand still, and nothing else existed beyond the two of us in that room.

Suddenly, he pulled away from the kiss, his hands moving swiftly to remove his shirt.

My eyes roamed over his sculpted abs and biceps once more, but this time, I wasn’t just going to admire them from a distance like I had in the office.

His hands moved quickly again, sliding my panties off, my chest rising and falling rapidly as this moment stirred up a flood of memories from the past.

Every touch, every breath, every whisper. The walls that had taken years to build began to crumble with each passing moment, and the rest of the night unfolded like a dream, surreal and intoxicating.