Shadow Warrior (Shadow Riders 4)

“I don’t know for certain.” That much was true, but he had a gut feeling and his feelings, so far, had never been wrong. “Most likely,” he conceded. “I’ll tell you when I find out.”

Once in her room, he closed the door and turned to frame her face. “It’s almost over, Grace. We’re going to get him, and his reign of terror will be over. You can live free.”

Her green gaze moved over his face for what seemed like forever. He found himself holding his breath. She reached up with her injured arm, her fingers brushing his five-o’clock shadow, sending fingers of desire dancing down his spine as if that intimate touch could be felt all over his body.

“I’m already living free, Vittorio. You gave that to me. I breathe easy when I’m here. I feel safe when I’m with you. I know he’s out there, but the longer I’m with you, the more I believe I’m safe and I feel it.”

He wrapped his arms around her and brought her in tight against his body. “I’m having your clothes moved to the master bedroom today. Merry’s arranged for three women we trust to come in and make the move for us.”

Alarm turned her eyes a dark emerald. “Wait.” One hand went defensively to her throat.

He smiled down at her. “I’ve been sleeping in your bed for a while now, gattina. Why would you object?”

The tip of her tongue moistened her lips. “It’s my space.”

He threw his head back and laughed. “Are you thinking that if you’re annoyed with me you could just kick me out of the bedroom?” Vittorio never took his gaze from hers. His beautiful woman. She lit up his world.

“Well,” she hedged. Her nod of assent was slow. “I did have that in mind, yes.”

“Bella, you’re priceless.” Laughter welled up and he didn’t try to stop it. Happiness was something he wasn’t used to, and it felt good to just bask in it. She was going to be the best mother, the best partner. She would give their children a happy childhood filled with laughter and fun.

She glared at him. “It isn’t funny that I need the room to be mine, so I can kick you out of it.” She took a step away from him to look around at the large space.

“What’s funny is just how you think you’re going to get me to leave. I’m twice your size. Size does count in these situations,” he was compelled to point out.

She gave him her snippiest look. “I will ask you to be a gentleman and leave.”

“Gattina.” His voice was very gentle. “We talked about what kind of man I am. There will be no throwing me out of the bedroom. If you’re upset, we will talk it out. I think this is about you having your own space, not your own bedroom. You don’t mind me being with you at night, sleeping the way we do.”

His body was always tightly around hers, so much so that there was no getting a thin piece of paper between them. He liked it that way. He wanted to feel every inch of her soft skin. He enjoyed being able to stroke caresses over her breasts, or feed there, his mouth hungry for her, his fingers curling into her to feel her waiting reception. He loved waking up to her mouth on his cock and the feel of her hair sliding over his thighs. He wasn’t giving that up.

He wasn’t going to get into the fact that if he was in that room with her, aside from his need to spend as much time with his woman as possible, he knew he could protect her. Should Haydon find a way to penetrate his security, he would still be there to keep the man from getting to Grace. It was important for that alone that they stay in the same bedroom.

She wrapped her hand around the bedpost. “I think that’s partially right. I do want to sleep with you at night and yet at the same time, I like knowing I have my own place.”

He heard reluctance to take the conversation any further. “I’ve had a room fixed up for you. You clearly need an office here at the house. It has a private bath as well as a sitting room. Having your own office will allow you and Katie to have privacy when you need to discuss details of upcoming events. The phone and Internet systems are fast and reliable. And don’t worry, I didn’t have it painted some bizarre color. I should have clarified, I had the phone system installed but the rest is up to you. I thought you might have fun designing exactly the way you want the interior to look.”

She practically beamed at him. “I’ve always wanted an office. It will make things so much easier, and knowing Haydon can’t get in and look at anything I’ve put together about clients and vendors will be such a relief. Thank you for thinking of that.”