Page 49 of The Rancher's Vengeful Heart

"It's fine. Everyone thinks that of her the first time, and she knows it, too."

"I really didn't think—-"

Lucius' gaze bored through hers.

"Well, okay, I did think she was a bitreserved," Tassy allowed, "but that's it!"

Lucius just had to bend his head and give his wife's lips a little nibble. He loved Icelle as if she were his full-blooded sister, but she had also only started living with them when she turnedeighteen six years ago. It would take more time for Icelle to realize that with their family, there was no need to be perfect.

His gaze flicked back to his wife, and he was no longer surprised at how the mere sight of her had his chest clenching. Who would've ever thought it was possible for someone like him to still fall in love, and so obsessively at that?

"What about Arkane?" his wife was asking now. "Do you think he approves of me?"

He cupped her chin. "What a stupid question, wife."

Tassy could only sputter.Seriously.Was it so hard for Lucius to at least try—-

"I'm head over fucking heels in love with you."

—-being a lotlessperfect?

Because if he kept this up, he only had himself to blame once she started clinging to him for real.

"And so not only does my family approve of you, my Tassina—-"

He guided her hands up his chest, and she blushed a little even as she took the hint and curved her hands over her husband's broad shoulders.

"But they're damn grateful because..."

Her heart skipped a beat as his gaze locked with his.

"You're the reason I've started living again."

"Oh, Lucius."

She just couldn't help herself at that point. She took the initiative for the first time, her hands cupping his gorgeous face as she drew his head down. But before their lips could even meet—-

"We should go."

W-What? W-Why? W-Where?

Tassy found herself struggling to keep up with her husband's long-legged stride again.

"I just remembered we have additional company joining us tonight."

Oh.

Okay.

Who?

A name popped into her mind, and Tassy nervously combed her hair in a futile attempt to improve her appearance. Benedict had told them earlier that his wife Lana wouldn't be able to join them, but maybe something had changed?

Tassy gnawed on her lip as she heard laughter ringing out from the library down the hall. Benedict might only be two years younger than Lucius at thirty-six, but the two brothers were different as day and night. Whereas Lucius had the proud and harsh features of a Roman general, Benedict, having inherited his mother's blond hair and the cerulean eyes of Danico Young, had always been likened by the media to an earth-bound angel.

Come to think of it, that was often the description used for Benedict and his wife. When they had married in a lavish society wedding five years ago, the media had called the couplea match made in heaven because of their identically ethereal appearances.

Back then, the two had looked so passionately in love, which was the opposite of how dispassionately Benedict sounded when talking about his wife earlier.

---