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"By accident," I defended, regarding the whipping part My eyesa twinge of guilt

He took a strand of ers at the side of my face as he tucked it behindme feel all ju ainst my own, picture the taut muscles beneath his clothes My eyes moved to his beautifully carved mouth, and I remembered the feel of it on mine The memory jolted me back to reality

"I know," he said, looking thoughtful Myabout "For so to be searching for the right word

"Reptilian?" I offered, standing up straight and trying to shake off his effect on me

"Terin meant to disarm me, I was sure It didn't work Mostly

His eyes moved overto do Youexperience—"

"Yes, I worked at"

"Good The office up at the house is yours now I' recently You'll have your work cut out for you"

I nodded "I'm not afraid of hard work"

His face becaarded me—his eyes dark and fatho lashes He looked around at the roo on the vases of flowers I'd put out thatto the open doorway of the tiny bathroom "I can see that"

Whispers of pride filled my chest I'd had precious few compliments about my character or work ethic from men in my lifetime I was almost embarrassed by how much those four words meant to me I wanted to turn them over in ain "It occurs toour relationship We're married, Kira There's obviously an attraction between us Is there any reason we shouldn'texplore that?"

My breath caught in my throat He was attracted to me? Hewanted me? Why? Because he was horny and I was convenient? Butterflies took flight in e as I pictured the first time I'd been with a man I stepped back and looked down, unable to hold eye contact with those dark eyes—eyes I no from up close were the rich color of coffee beans Not black at all, but the deepest, darkest brown

"Why do you need me? You have Jade" Not bitter—not at all

"I didn't sleep with Jade, Kira You were right It wouldn't have been discreet But ht"

I scoffed, but relief was secretly flowing through my body; not only hadn’t he slept with Jade but he'd realized his actions could have caused our relationship to look far less than legiti discreetly, but I hardly care what you did with Jade for any reason other than that," I insisted, lifting my chin