Free Teaching Roman by Gennifer Albin

held it up and begged out of spontaneous girls’ nights to read a book “for fun.”
    “Weren’t you reading that a few weeks ago?” Cassie asked.
    Busted .
    I shook my head. “Never finished it. I’m dying to find out what happens.”
    Actually I was dying to get my hands on Roman, something I suspected Cassie would readily approve of. I couldn’t risk her finding out about us though. First of all, she’d never let it go, but more importantly, she’d also asked me here for moral support as she healed from a break-up. I didn’t need to rub her nose in my fling, even though I was pretty sure she’d enjoy it.
    “If you finish, I’ll be in bed.” She dropped her voice and fluttered her eyes. “You can always join me.”
    “I’ll keep that in mind.” I pushed her toward her room. “Now go grab a shower. You’ll feel better.”
    “I know you always do after a shower.” Cassie stuck her tongue out at me before she disappeared into her bedroom.
    I was out the door before the water turned on.
    The warm air wrapped around me like a blanket, even the breeze was muggy. I loved it. Still I kept my distance from the waves lapping on the shoreline. I was feeling a little reckless, but not stupid. Technically, I could swim. I’d had lessons. I just really, really didn’t like it. I could handle a nice, shallow pool fine. The ocean was another story. I didn’t like water in my eyes. I didn’t like not being able to touch the bottom. I didn’t like the feeling of things brushing past my legs.
    But I didn’t have to think about the many dangers of the ocean for long. I spotted Roman ahead of me, sitting in the sand, close enough to the water that the tide washed over his feet. His white linen shirt hung unbuttoned over his cargo shorts, displaying his glorious, sun kissed chest. His jaw sported the same sexy scruff that had scratched along my thighs last night, but his wild, grab-on-and-ride hair was hidden under a straw fedora. With his dark good looks he didn’t blend in like a local, but he didn’t pass for a tourist. He looked like he owned the place and judging from the pulse building between my legs, he owned me.
    For a week, at least.
    Roman’s head swiveled in my direction and a slow smile slid onto his lips. I bit my own as a dozen fantasies danced through my head. I’d spent the day feeling like I was dreaming, but here he was and I didn’t have to touch him to know he was flesh and blood. Between the way my heart sped up and my breathing increased, I knew he was. I wanted to call it a purely physiological reaction, but last night’s memories certainly contributed. He patted the sand next to him.
    “Uh-uh.” I shook my head.
    “Afraid you won’t be able to resist my charms, mi bella ?”
    Oh, I already knew that was a lost cause. My panties were practically dropping themselves. No, there was a perfectly reasonable explanation for my hesitation. “I don’t like the ocean.”
    Roman’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Maybe Puerto Vallarta wasn’t the best vacation choice for you.”
    “You know I didn’t choose where we went,” I pointed out.
    “And still I’m glad you wound up here,” he admitted, “even if you’re afraid of the ocean.”
    “That’s not it. I mean, I like the ocean. I just don’t like touching it.” Judging from the look on his face, that wasn’t a better explanation. “I’m not what you’d call a strong swimmer.”
    Roman stood and brushed wet sand from his shorts. “I’ll teach you how to swim.”
    I raised an eyebrow at him. There was very little chance of him talking me into a swimsuit. Of course, I’d said the same thing about going to bed with him. Maybe it was time I took up gambling, the odds having shifted in favor of the improbable.
    “Don’t you trust me?” he asked, stalking closer to me.
    I backed up a few steps, shaking my head. “I trust you. I don’t trust the undertow.”
    “I won’t let it pull you under.” His eyes smoldered as he