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‘Yep.’
Matteo lay back in the water and closed his eyes again.
Of course she was.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
ABBY WENT INTO her bedroom and the same tree that filled the view from her lounge was there in her bedroom window.
They could never end on a row.
In a few days the bruises would be gone, that gleaming smile would be back in place and Matteo would be off to pastures new.
Now though, even if he had lied to get past the locked door to her heart, she was very glad that he had.
In the past few weeks she had opened up and become more trusting, less wary. Matteo was right—had he told her then she would have walked away.
She had changed.
Everything had changed.
Right down to the fact that she took off her dress and she put on the necklace and then naked, save for the Lost Mistress, she walked back into the bathroom.
She loved him.
He had stood up for her, fought for her, and completely he accepted her and she accepted him.
Not quite perfect.
She wouldn’t have him any other way.
For however long they had.
Abby didn’t want to change him, nor for Matteo to change for her. She just hoped that one day he might lose his dark self-image and know the amazing man he was.
He was lying, dozing in the steamy water, but he opened his eyes when she walked in.
Yes, that shy nervous beauty had gone, as had that guarded woman, yet her eyes were a bit wary, no doubt wondering as to her reception as, for the first time, she initiated things.
‘Do you be naked, Miss Abby?’ Matteo said in a servant’s voice and he held out a hand and helped her into the bath.
‘Enough of that talk, young Matteo,’ Abby said and any trace of awkwardness evaporated like the steam from the water as they made each other laugh. She sat between his big long legs as he eased himself up and she just wished they could stay in the bath for ever and that he would never have to leave.
‘Oh, and you be wearing that lovely necklace,’ he said. ‘Can I feel your jewels?’
‘You can.’
His hand slipped under the water.
‘That’s a fine one there,’ Matteo said and he watched her bite on her lip.
God, it felt good, Abby thought as he moved deeper inside and his legs hauled her closer towards him.
‘Can I show you something, Miss Abby?’ Matteo asked and she could only guess what it was.
She was wrong.
‘Lose the voice,’ Abby begged. She didn’t want to play servants any more and, as she climbed on, Matteo completely forgot he’d been about to produce a ring.
