One Night Before Goodbye

Chapter 3 – The Anniversary Plan

(Zara’s POV)

Petals were everywhere.

Roman filled the bedroom with roses; red, yellow, white, pink. They covered the bed and spilled onto the floor along a pathway that led to the bathroom.

Candles created soft glows against the cream wall. Inside the bathroom, a bath with champagne on the ice waited.

Roman leaned against the door frame, watching me with a lazy smile that always made my heart dance.

I couldn’t hold my gasp. I laughed happily, pressing my hands to my mouth.

“You’re insane,” I said, turning in circles as I tried to remove the petals clinging to my heels.

“Insanely in love,” he replied, grinning wildly as he moved to bed.

“Close your eyes,” he said, bringing out a velvet box behind his back.

I obeyed, my heart beating fast.

He wore the gold bracelet on my wrist, kissed my fingers and then pulled me against him.

I kissed him until I felt dizzy.

That night we didn’t sleep, we made love until dawn, until our bodies trembled.

The memory of our first anniversary flooded my mind as I lit the candles and arranged them across our penthouse. Soft music from the speakers, filled the house, slow and steady.

I uncorked the champagne and poured it into tall flutes. I smoothed the silk tablecloth, adjusted the wine glasses and stood back.

I saw my reflection on the glass wall. Hair pinned loosely. Silk robe slipping down one shoulder. Lingerie that made my skin glow, underneath the silk robe.

My heart beat with both hope and fear. This night has to be positive.

The clock ticked past nine before he got home.

Roman walked in slowly. His shoulders were tensed and his tie was loosed around his neck.

He paused, looking at the candles, the champagne and the soft light that bathed the room. His face was unreadable.

“You’re late,” I said softly.

He shrugged out of his jacket, dropping it on the sofa. “Work,” he answered. “You did all this?”

“It’s our anniversary tomorrow,” I said with a smile.

For a second, his face softened. He allowed me to take his hand and I pulled him into the dining room where dinner was waiting. Steak, roasted vegetables, wine already poured.

We ate in silence. His phone vibrated and lit up twice, and he flipped it face-down both times.

“You’re quiet,” I said.

He chewed and swallowed before he looked at me. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

I nodded, pressing my lips together.

“Do you remember our first anniversary?” I asked softly, refusing to let the silence win tonight. “The roses?” I probed gently.

His fork paused. Something that I couldn’t place, flickered in his eyes.

“Yeah,” he said in a low voice.

I reached across the table and slid my fingers over his fingers. “That’s the man I married. That’s the man I want back.”

For a long second, he didn’t move. Then his fingers wrapped around mine.

After dinner, I stood slowly and led him into the living room. The room was dim with candlelight.

I placed the champagne flute into his hand. “Drink.”

He lifted it into his mouth. Over the rim of the flute, his eyes were on me as he swallowed the champagne.

I untied my robe and allowed it to fall.

The red lace clung to me, transparent and sinful.

I walked closer to him. “Do you like it?” I whispered.

His hand slid to my waist. “You know I do,” he said, gripping me hard.

Relief rushed inside me as his mouth covered mine.

He kissed me hungrily in a way that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I moaned into the kiss, pulling him down until we stumbled against the sofa.

I sat on him, rolling my ass against his p***s that was already hard under his pants.

“Roman,” I murmured in his ears. “I’ve missed you.”

He groaned. I pressed my lips against his chin and kissed him down to his throat.

He pulled me closer and his hands slid up my thighs, pushing the panties aside. He found my v****a wet and waiting.

“Zara,” he muttered in a rough voice as his fingers entered inside my v****a.

My head fell back, and a cry escaped from my throat. “Roman, yes.”

I rocked desperately against his hand, clutching his shoulders.

His mouth moved down my throat, sucking at my skin.

“f**k me,” I asked. “I don’t want it slow. I want all of you.”

With a growl, he lifted me and carried me toward the bedroom. The candles danced as if the flames knew what was coming.

I bit his lip and he groaned into my mouth.

He pulled the thin strap of my lingerie until it slipped down to my waist. He grabbed my breasts in his palm in a rough way that is almost like punishment.

“Roman…” my voice trembled from how much I needed him inside of me.

His belt clinked, his zipper hissed, and then his p***s was inside my v****a, hot and hard.

I gasped, and my nails dug into his back. “God…”

“Zara,” he growled again, his body banging into mine.

He kept driving into me, raw and relentless. His mouth took mine, swallowing every moan and desperate plea.

“Yes,” I cried against his lips as I wrapped my legs tighter around him. “Harder, don’t stop, don’t stop.”

He groaned into my mouth, his movement was wild, almost angry, like he was trying to drown inside me.

I climaxed first.

I clung to him as my body shivered with pleasure. His climax followed with a broken sound and his d**k buried deep inside me.

He collapsed beside me and pulled me close. He buried his face in my hair with his arm resting heavily over my waist.

For the first time in months, I could feel his love for me again.

I closed my eyes, smiling against his chest.

Maybe this was the turning point. Maybe love wasn’t gone.