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“He will.”
“Then I will encourage him to do so. I think he will listen to reason. If I can’t convince him, Papa will be able to.”
“I’ve been doing my best to avoid him, but honestly, I am very worried.”
“It is your training. It is natural for you to be suspicious. I, on the other hand, am his niece.”
“Shelene, it is commendable to support your family, but not after all the crimes he has committed. Not after all the people he has already hurt. He should not get the benefit of the doubt, no matter your desire to present a unified family front. I know you want a peaceful life here in the valley, but your uncle presents every kind of danger that is threat to my family, my wife, my child. I must do all I can’t to protect you from him.”
“He is an imperfect man, there is no doubt.” She was all buttoned up and proper, with quaint lace along her neckline and bodice. She wore a black skirt and white shirt but no jewelry. The flowers around the house did not compare to the freshly washed and scented body and hair of his wife. The sunrise did not compare to Shelene’s honest beauty.
He braced his arms on the table and leaned forward. “I will have proof soon. Until then, please be cautious.”
“So, this is the only reason you wanted to have breakfast with me?”
He bit his lip then squinted at her. “What I wanted was to drink coffee from your navel, but that may need to wait until another day.”
Shelene’s face flamed, and she took a steadying breath. It was easy to forget that his wife and the mother of his child was also naïve and innocent. She glanced around to see if anyone had heard him. “You shouldn’t speak so in a public area.”
“May I speak to you that way in your bedroom?” There was no one listening to them; they were all busy with their day-to-day activities, leaving the mistress of the house time for her duties. And her husband. They all treated him like Shelene’s husband even if she didn’t.
“Roman! Stop.”
“When I tell you that I want you more than I want anything in this world, do you believe me?”
“It’s hard to know what to believe with you.”
“Since we are talking about you being naked—”
“We are not having such a conversation.”
“Once you are naked, I would like to lick honey from your nipples.”
Her eyelids closed. She bit lightly at one corner of her lower lip. There was more he wanted to do to her. While he was determined to be patient, he was also determined that he would have his wife as only as husband could. Freely. Thoroughly. Devastatingly, if he could control his bodily impulses and keep her in bed from sunset to sunrise.
“I have several tasks that I must complete. I’m sure you should be about your business as well.” Her chest heaved and she tried to keep a direct gaze.
“We have servants, Shelene, who will do your bidding. We can escape for a few hours, and none will be the wiser.”
“To do what?”
“You can’t imagine? Or you can’t admit you want the same thing I do?”
“It is hard to believe I enjoyed the conversation about my uncle more than this.”
He laughed. “You know we will be married for the rest of our lives, don’t you? We might as well enjoy our time together. And we should start to build our family. I’m sure Antonio would enjoy having a brother or sister.”
“Almost,” she said.
“Almost what?”
“Almost you make me believe.”
“I believe enough for both of us, Shelene.”
* * * * *
Shelene stared at Roman, wanting to see what floated in his cunning mind where all his plans and schemes simmered with terrible efficiency. She understood why he was so valuable to the Home Office. When challenged, he didn’t flinch.
