Dancing with Time

Love the second you meet in Rome

Dedicated to rollssroycee

"You don't have to promise me the moon or the stars. Just promise me you will stand under them with me."― Danielle Paige, The Wicked Will Rise

Like golden fingers, sunlight pierced the gauzy silk curtains, stripping Juliet's eyelids with warmth. She fluttered them open, a slow smile blossoming across her face as the realization of where she was hit her - Rome, the city she'd dreamt of since childhood!

Two weeks. Two incredible weeks of this arranged marriage, and somewhere along the way, waking up to the solid presence of Keith beside her had become a new kind of normal. A delightful normal. She let out a contented sigh, snuggling deeper into the warmth of his embrace.

Before she could even contemplate exploring the wonders of Rome, a gentle hand tightened around her waist. "Stay," Keith's voice rumbled in her ear, sending a shiver down her spine that pooled delightfully in her stomach. She turned to playfully swat him away, but the words caught in her throat.

No matter how often she saw him, Keith always managed to take her breath away. His raven hair, thick and luxurious, seemed to beckon her touch. His jawline, a sharp contrast to the high planes of his cheekbones, made her wonder why he wasn't gracing magazine covers. A slow smirk played on his full lips, the amusement mirrored in his steely grey eyes that seemed to hold a glint of something more. Her gaze drifted lower, tracing the defined lines of his bare chest, the sculpted muscles of his eight-pack rippling beneath his tanned skin.

A sudden realization jolted her. Shirtless! He was shirtless and holding her! Her heart stuttered for a beat before taking off on a frantic drum solo against her ribs. Heat flooded her cheeks, turning them a vibrant crimson.

"Like what you see, darling?" Keith's voice, laced with amusement and a hint of something else, sent shivers down her spine. She shook her head mutely, trying to tamp down the inferno his nearness ignited within her.

Her lips, suddenly parched, felt like sandpaper. She darted a nervous tongue across them, only to feel Keith's gaze flicker downwards, a spark of heat igniting in his dark eyes. "Don't get too full of yourself, Keith," she managed, a playful lilt to her voice that did little to mask the rising warmth in her cheeks. "I've seen better abs," she lied. Liar! Her subconscious taunted, sending a jolt of traitorous pleasure through her. Juliet tossed him a mock-smug look, silently declaring a personal victory - Juliet 1, Keith 0.

Keith's movements were a blur as she began to push herself away from the luxurious sprawl of the king-sized bed. One moment, he was beside her; the next, he loomed over her, a powerful presence that both captivated and caged her. His strong arms bracketed her on either side, pinning her against the mattress. Juliet's breath hitched as she saw his eyes darken, a storm brewing within their depths. It was a look that sent a shiver down her spine, a potent mix of anger and something else, something primal and possessive that sent a tremor of fear through her.

I am so screwed! the thought echoed in her mind, stark against the frantic drumming of her heart that seemed to pound a wild rhythm in her ears. Her emerald eyes darted to meet Keith's, a flicker of wariness battling Juliet's undeniable pull towards her husband. "I'm only going to say this once, Juliet, so listen carefully," he said, his voice a low growl that sent shivers cascading down her body.

"And what's that?" she countered, her voice surprisingly steady despite the rapid pulse thrumming through her veins. The vulnerability of her position did little to quell the sudden surge of defiance that welled up within her.

He leaned closer, their faces a mere breath apart. The heat radiating from his body was a tangible presence, scorching Juliet's skin. "I wasn't raised to share what belongs to me," he said, husky, "and I don't intend to start with you. You. Are. Mine. Juliet, understand? Only mine. Never again do I want to hear another man's name whispered on your lips." The possessiveness in his voice was a stark contrast to the playful banter they'd shared moments before.