His Woman

e. Valencia blinked against the light, her eyes dry, her body sore-not from touch, but f

t up s

The kind of silence

ard the leather armc

pt

was

dn't know what she'd expected-an argument, a demand, may

et. The white nightgown they'd laid out for her was still in place, untouc

note on the

tairs at ten.

cked th

:

d through her n

might have ended, but now came the part where s

man she'd have to b

she'd chosen. Someone had already anticipated what she'd

cticed hand. Her hair was pulled into a low, n

ked into the dining

s alrea

able, coffee in hand, suit crisp as

the second

, neither of

is fingers, he gestured

at, quiet

of coffee himself. N

tatement: "We l

d her gaz

new home. The

this was

e took a slow sip of coffee-"

ly. "Will my fa

ost amused. "You stil

hat he's

o. He won't be there. You

omach

m the weight of wh

ive wa

ing in her chest like steam, pressing ag

idn't

thigh, watching the trees blur past the tinted window. He looked more lik

black gates of the Moretti main esta

pped br

empire-five stories tall, with carved pillars, wide

er attention were

the g

s of

Alert.

," she whispered.

her, unfazed. "Y

him. "Why br

ning his door, "this is

ors polished like mirrors, and halls wide enough to disappear in

door. Luca turned the knob and

e

-walls of books, a massi

" he

ob

he edge of the d

rules in this house. Non-negotiable. You'll f

ened, but she

ed. "No sneaking out.

wai

ally respond

. "You don't want

at followed wa

voice calmer now. "

" she repli

ou're ever in danger, you call me. N

ed. "Why

come. And I'

ers, and for a secon

ry

e rules?"

band, Valencia. I'm your shiel

thudded

moving to face him. "

, close enough to

ead. "You're the only