CHAPTER 95: CLOSER THAN EVER

Rome couldn’t move after hearing Sylvia’s words. He just stared at her, watching the way her lips moved and the crease forming on her forehead.

"H-hey, Rome, say something... I said—"

Before Sylvia could even finish, Rome silenced her by crashing his lips against hers, pressing her firmly against the wall.

They were in the farthest corner, where the shadows cloaked them, and the dimness gave Rome the courage to devour her lips with a kiss.

Damn... it’s only been three days since I last saw her, but it already feels like forever. I missed her sweetness, her lips, her scent, everything about her. Addicting.

He didn’t even notice how the kiss deepened, growing hotter, until Sylvia, startled at first began to respond, her lips moving back against his.

They only pulled apart when their lungs begged for air, both of them gasping, their breaths uneven.

Rome’s gaze lingered on her flushed face.

Sylvia’s cheeks were scarlet, her lips swollen, and her expression dazed as if she, too, had been intoxicated by the heat of his kiss.

"Damn..." he whispered, brushing his thumb across her cheek. "I can’t get enough of you. Why don’t you just live with me at my condo?"

Her whole face turned even redder, and she lightly smacked his chest in protest.

Cute, Rome thought, his lips twitching at the sight.

"W-what are you saying? We can’t live together, what if your family finds out? What would they think of me—"

But she stopped mid-sentence, realization flashing across her face as her own words contradicted what she had promised earlier.

"I-I’m sorry... I said I wouldn’t let myself be influenced by anyone else’s opinion, that I’d only listen to us, but—"

Rome cupped her cheek gently, cutting her off with a quick kiss on her slightly pouting lips.

"If you’re really sorry, then prove it," he murmured. "Live with me. Let’s stay together so you won’t have to worry about expenses or anything else, except me."

It was true. They already spent so much time in each other’s apartments, switching back and forth, but it wasn’t enough anymore.

Rome wanted more. He wanted Sylvia with him every single day. He wanted her presence to fill his home, his mornings, his nights.

He wanted to wake up each morning with Sylvia as the first thing he saw, lying right there beside him, just like a wife would.

He wanted her as his partner in everything.

"Y-you want us to live together? B-but... that’s what married couples do... and we’re not there y-yet..." Sylvia murmured shyly.

Rome leaned in closer, closing the little space between them until their noses almost touched, their lips hovering just a breath apart.

He couldn’t hide the smile tugging at his lips as he gazed into her alluring eyes, noticing the faint embarrassment flickering across her face.

"Marriage, huh?" he said gently.

A part of him wanted to tease her, that there wasn’t much difference between the things they were already doing and what married couples did behind closed doors. But he held himself back, afraid it might ruin the moment and make her retreat.

Now that Sylvia had brought up marriage first, he just needed to nudge her gently toward agreeing.

"If marriage is all you’re worried about," Rome continued softly, "then we can get married anytime. I don’t mind marrying you, Sylvia. What matters most to me is being with you."

Her eyes widened in shock, her lips parting slightly as if she hadn’t expected him to speak of marriage so easily.

To Rome, marriage didn’t matter anyway, if anything, he wanted it sooner. The earlier they married, the sooner no one could interfere or tear them apart.

"If you want to get married first before moving into my condo," Rome continued earnestly. "then let’s get married right away—"

Sylvia quickly pulled her face back, cutting him off before avoiding his gaze. Her cheeks flushed a deep red as her fingers fidgeted nervously.

"H-how can you talk about marriage so casually when we’ve only just started? If I do agree to live with you, will you promise to stand by what you said? Will you wait for me until I finish school... and only then marry me?"

Rome pause. He had expected her outright refusal or for her to think he was just joking. But instead, she was considering it. She was agreeing, in her own way, with a promise.

How can I love her this much when she’s this adorable?

He reached out, gently lifting her chin so her eyes met his again. That pout of hers made him want to claim her lips all over again.

"That’s all you’re worried about?" he murmured softly. "Then why not start tomorrow? Live with me, Sylvia. And when you graduate, we’ll make that marriage happen. I promise you—I’ll wait. I’ll keep my word."

Sylvia’s eyes widened slightly, her gaze never leaving his. She couldn’t see any flicker of doubt in him, only a spark shining in his eyes, as though even a part of her was secretly thrilled at the thought.

Rome smirked as he cupped her cheek once more, pulling her gently closer.

"Damn... how could I not be in love with you? You drive me crazy, Sylvia. Every time I’m with you, I feel like I can’t control myself. Just say the word... say you want to be with me the way I want to be with you—and I promise, I’ll make you happy every single day."

He noticed the way she swallowed hard, her eyes searching his, as if she wanted to see for herself if every word he spoke was real.

Slowly, she leaned in, closing the space between them until her lips brushed against his in a soft, fleeting kiss. Then she rested her face against his chest, as if she wanted to listen to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

"Don’t move." she whispered.

Rome didn’t dare. He froze on the spot, his body stiff, his mind blank.

The only thing that seemed to function at that moment was the thunderous pounding of his heart.

God, if she can hear this, she’ll laugh at how weak he is right now... It was beating so fast, it sounded louder than their breaths.

"I agree" Sylvia finally said.

Rome’s breath hitched, his eyes widening as she lifted her gaze to meet his.

"I agree to live with you."

A wide grin began to spread across his lips until she quickly added her next words.

"However... we will not be sharing a room in your condo. I’ll live with you, but you’re not allowed to take advantage of that situation just to get your way with me. Understand?"

Rome’s grin faltered.

Damn it... why does she have to make it sound like I’d pounce on her the moment we’re alone?

Yet as he looked at her flushed cheeks and the fire in her eyes, all he could think was how much he wanted her, all of her....

"What do you think of me? Do you really believe I’m only after your body?" Rome’s brows furrowed.

"Can’t it simply be that I just love you this much, that I can’t stand the thought of being apart from you?"

A giggle slipped from Sylvia’s lips at the sight of his pout. She leaned in and teasingly pinched his cheeks.

"Why? Am I wrong? I’m just afraid that if I agree to live with you, I might end up pregnant too soon. You know I love you, Rome, but pregnancy isn’t part of my plans yet. So please, don’t try to tempt me with your tricks." She gave his cheek another playful pinch.

Rome smirked at that, sliding his hands around her waist and pulling her closer.

"You think I’m the one doing all the tempting between us? Want to bet on that? Because I have a feeling you’ll end up eating those words." His grin widened mischievously.

"Tsk. No matter what, I won’t give in to you. Never. So don’t even try sneaking under my bed the moment I move in with you." Sylvia declared stubbornly.

***********

Howver, the Next Day.....

"D-Damn it, R-Rome... w-what the heck? Ahhh... I knew it... you wouldn’t keep your word..."

Sylvia gasped, unable to suppress the moans escaping her lips.

Rome’s mouth was everywhere, exploring her body with hungry kisses, while his hands slipped beneath her undergarments, moving with intent.

It was as if he were drunk on her, intoxicated by every sound and every shiver he drew from her.

A smug smirk curved on his lips even as he devoured her with kisses, yet Sylvia, though breathless, was equally lost, her resistance melting under his touch.

The moment they had settled into his condo and finished arranging her things, Rome had completely lost control. He couldn’t stop himself, couldn’t restrain the wild need that consumed him the second Sylvia was finally living with him.

She was just too irresistible. The thought of having her under the same roof, close enough to reach out and hold, drove him insane.

He felt like a man possessed, an animal unable to hold back his hunger, thrilled by the idea of finally sharing his life and space with her.