Page 72 of Barristers & Bones

When I disconnected, his hand slid around me, and he grasped the hair at the base of my neck. “Keep provoking me. Give me a good reason to re-consummate our marriage and carve out time for an extended honeymoon.”

My insides tingled, and visions of us tangled together in a hotel room bed somewhere swam through my mind. But I needed to step back and slow this down. We’d kissed for the first time a few days ago, and now we were married and sharing a room and a bed. I’d also just had the best sex of my life–by far–with no end in sight until we annulled the marriage.

Suddenly, nerves and uncertainty welled up inside me. I needed time and some distance to process what was happening between us.

I gazed at him cautiously. “Is there a quiet place somewhere I can use to study?”

He stared at me as if he knew what I was thinking. “The second guest bedroom has a desk by the window. It’s all yours.”

It was just what I needed–a place to escape, step back and process all these strange feelings before I got into this sham marriage too deep. Maybe I could sleep there. I looked down at my phone to escape his stare.

“Luna.”

“Yes?” I didn’t look up.

“You can use it as an office, but you’re not sleeping there.”

My shoulders tightened. “Fine.” I hated that he read me so well.

He took my hand and pulled me to my feet. “Give me a kiss, wife.” This time, his kiss was soft and probing, and my body loosened and melted into him.

When Roman left for the office, I cleaned up and dutifully texted Milo about Sylvie’s visit. I didn’t want him harassing her. He showed up less than two minutes later, walking in through the garage door.

“How do you know Ms. Spade?” Milo asked. By his tone, I could tell he believed all the rumors about the Spade family.

“She’s my best friend.”

“How long have you known her?” I could hear a hint of disapproval.

“Since elementary school. She and her grandfather took me in when I turned twelve, and I’ve lived with them since.”

He stared at me. “Youlivedwith the Spades?”

“Yes. Ezra was my guardian, and Sylvie’s my foster sister. All of them are family in the ways that count. Don’t make her uncomfortable.”

Milo let Sylvie in a few minutes later, and she looked him up and down. “Who are you? Does Roman have a damned butler?”

Milo shook his head. “He doesn’t need a butler, he has Gideon. My name is Milo Carlson, and I’ll be Luna’s bodyguard for the foreseeable future.”

She nodded approvingly and turned to me. “I can tell you don’t love the idea, but you need one.”

I sighed. “Milo is retired FBI and Gideon vouched for him, so I think besides being a judgmental dick, he’s safe.”

Sylvie smirked. “You’ve heard of my family, I take it.” Then she turned back to me and looked me up and down. “What’s on your neck?” She marched over and glared at the necklace. “There’s a fuckinglockon it. Why?”

My face flushed, and I turned to Milo. “You’ve met Sylvie. If I go anywhere today, I’ll let you know.”

“If Roman isn’t here, I stay in the house.”

I folded my arms. “You don’t need to stay in the same room with me.”

He nodded. “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me. If someone comes to the door, let me answer it.”

I took Sylvie to the guest bedroom I planned to turn into my office. It looked out onto the pool on the other side of the kitchen and had its own luxury bathroom with a steam shower and a soaker tub.

She wandered through the space. “His guest bedroom is bigger than our living room.”

I sat on the bed and gazed around the room. “I know.”

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