Page 64 of The Rancher's Vengeful Heart

"I think you can answer the question for yourself."

While Fontana continued to bend over backward in entertaining guests while painting herself the villain, Lucius and Tassy were back in the cozy confines of Foxtown's lone detective agency, and Constable Dill stood before them as the reluctant bearer of bad news.

"I'm sorry, Your Grace. You failed to identify the correct suspect."

Tassy turned to her husband in shock. "Does that mean sheliedto me?"

"I believe it does."

"Howcould she lie to me? I can't believe it!"

"I can't believe it either," Lucius deadpanned while wondering at the same time how his wife could be so brilliantly resourceful and strategic at curating complex itineraries for the most demanding of clients...but be so woefully gullible in catching fake criminals, even with their hands already in the cookie jar right in front of her.

It was just too damn adorable for words, and the more he thought about it, the more he wanted his wife.

Now.

Tassy started in surprise when Lucius suddenly shot to his feet. "Lu—-" Her voice trailed off when his coppery gaze blazed down at her with in need.

Oh no.

She knew that look, unfortunately. Her husband had once told her she was 'insanely' gullible...and how that trait of hers never failed to turn him on.

Lucius raised a brow at the constable, who knew right away what the duke was asking of him.

However...

"I'm sorry, Your Grace," Constable Dill apologized gloomily, "but all rooms are currently booked."

Tassy let out a strangled gasp when she realized what the conversation was all about. But just as she started tugging her husband's sleeve—-

"I just remembered," Constable Dill exclaimed. "We do have the supply room at the end of the hall—-"

"We'll take it," Lucius said right away, and Tassy could only turn red while Constable Dill started whistling under his breath.

They were on the move in the next second, with Tassy forced once more to keep up with her husband's long-legged stride. "Seriously? Why can't we just go to our suite—-"

Lucius looked at her oddly. "Because I can't wait that long."

And so off they walked, faster than before even, and all Tassy could do was bite back a laugh even as her heart overflowed with love and joy. They had been married for there months now, and she woke up every day, thinking that surely life couldn't get any better...but it did.

Each day, God helped her see why every bad thing that happened in the past had a purpose. If Fontana had not set her eyes on Xylan, she would never have allowed herself to evenlookat Lucius. And if Lucius had not hurt her so badly, she would never have to learned what it meant to ask for God's comfort and truly trust in His plans.

Each day, she had a new reason to feel thankful, and—-oh my goodness!

Everything happened so fast. One moment they were still in the hallway. The next thing she knew, Lucius had locked them inside the supply room, her world plunged in darkness, and her husband kissing her hard...just before spinning Tassy around and pushing her up against the wall.

"We're a little tight on space here," Lucius whispered into her ear, "but we can make it work, don't you think?"

He was already pushing the skirts of her gown up as he spoke, and before she could answer him, he had already thrust inside of her—-

Aaaaah.

His every thrust had her senses spinning.

"Are you aware that there exists a cognitive dissonance and heightened arousal when—-"

"S-Stop turning me on," she moaned.

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