28 Chapter 28

Sneaking into the bathroom, Roman didn't even think twice about watching Poppy shower. Thinking he was watching Claudia; it wasn't as if he was doing anything he hadn't done before. This was just the dirty games they played. How was he to know that Poppy was telling the truth?

When her body went closer to the shower door, brushing away the mist, he saw it. A tiny tattoo on her right hip with small thread and needle designed with a vintage flair, marking the fashion designer side of her. Stepping closer, Roman was in awe. Her soft delicate frame was perfect, and not so much as a scar from breast implants he remembered once being there.

What was going on? He never remembered a tattoo.

Roman's heart lurched in his chest as he watched this goddess run her hands over her body, washing away all her worries. Leaning against the tile wall, he could smell the soft scent of the shampoo as it trickled down her body, with bubbles caressing each curve.

Adjusting his growing member, Roman moaned at the sight as her hands lingered over her breast. "That's it. Give me a show, darling."

Jolted from her quiet peace, Poppy jumped and turned around, wiping the shower door to see through the fog.

"AHH!" she shrieked, jumping from the shower and grabbing a nearby towel. "Get out! Get out! Get out!"

Slowly slinking closer, Roman moved a strand of wet hair from her shoulder, smelling her clean scent. "So damn beautiful. Why weren't you like this when we were together? Why did you have to be so hard all the time? This side of you is what I always wanted."

Pushing him away, Poppy was in utter shock. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Come on, Claudia. I'm sick of playing this game with you. You know I don't like to play hard to get."

Stepping closer, his arms snaked around her like a cobra as his breath tickled her neck. "I could join you in that shower and we can make the best of this situation. While you're here, we could have some fun. Luke already accuses us of cheating, anyway."

"No, you can… not… don't… mmm…" she moaned as his lips grazed over her collarbone. "Roman, stop. Please. I can't do this."

"Darling, your body is giving me mixed signals when you're opening those legs so easily for me right now," He mentioned as his hand went between her legs. "See, so wet and it's not from the shower."

"No!" she said, jumped back. "I'm not her. Please, you have to believe me."

"Damn it, Claudia. Stop playing games. Get over here."

Pulling her back against his body, Poppy practically collapsed into him, and she gripped his shirt to keep from falling. When his hand ran across her abdomen, Poppy reeled in pain.

"Oooh! Don't… It hurts."

Taking note of the genuine pain she was showing, Roman held her gently, suddenly more worried than turned on. "Princess, what's wrong?"

"My stomach. It hurts. Roman, please. Help me to bed."

Scooping her up into his arms. Roman quickly went to lay her on the plush queen bed. All he could see now was her in pain, and the hint of that tattoo on her hip had his head in a tailspin. He never knew Claudia to have a tattoo and she had been acting so strange. Running his fingers over it, he looked back to her questioningly.

"Where did this come from?"

"I got it when I was in fashion design school. Please, Mr. D'Amico. I'm really hurting. Can't you get me something for pain?"

And there it was. Pain. She needed drugs. He wondered how long it would take. Turning his head away, he was in utter disgust.

"No. No drugs."

"Please. An aspirin, anything," she said, holding her stomach. "I feel…"

Rolling over, Poppy got sick in the trash can she had placed by the bed. Noting the can had been used, he realized she wasn't showering for the alone time as he suspected. She was sick.

"Are you pill sick? Drug withdrawal? What can I do?"

"No… cramps maybe. My stomach hurts bad."

Looking her over, she did seem pale.

"All right. I'll go get you something to calm your stomach and some soup. I'll bring up some aspirin, but that's all."

"Yes, please, anything. Ouch! Please hurry Roman, it hurts."

Lifting her from the bed, he took her back to the shower.

"What are you doing?"

"Cleaning you up. I'll have the maid come and clean the room."

As he placed her back in the shower, he stepped inside with her, pulling the towel from her body. Without looking down, he helped her wash while trying his best to respect her privacy. He was fully dressed and seducing a woman in distress was not his style.

"Why are you helping me?" Poppy whimpered.

"Because I cared for you once. Whoever this is now, it's not Claudia Ricci. I don't know what he did to you, but you're sick. I won't let Luke hurt you again. It's clear he's done something to make you snap."

"I'm telling the truth, Roman," she said as the water washed over her.

Holding her close, he didn't care what the truth was. All he knew was this woman, the one he wished Claudia was in real life, had taken over his home. Soon she would take over his heart. Maybe she already had, and they didn't even really know each other.

"Claudia…"

"Yes, Roman."

"I could have loved you."

"Loved?"

"Yeah, something you just don't possess. I wish you did."

"I'm not her, but if I was, I wouldn't go around breaking people's hearts. Luke is hurting too," Poppy said as the warm water started to soothe her stomach. Wrapping her arms around him, she rested her head on his chest. "Please. Let me go home. You'll never have to see me again. I'll leave Chicago and never come back. I won't tell anyone."

"You know I can't do that."

"Then let me help you. Let me find who hurt your bother."

"For now, we get you well. And you start by telling me where the hell that tattoo really came from."