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"I appreciate your understanding, Coer to be back in Rome to assemble my team and put the new ation here is over" He paused to listen to the warrior on the other end, then exhaled a heavy sigh "No, I haven’t made Seraphina aware of my decision To be honest with you, sir, ive her any rooree"

He chuckled as if he and his coh she’d been punched in the gut

He was going back to Roet back to his teaarded her as if she didn’t matter to him at all

Sickness roiled in her stomach, in her heart She shivered, suddenly self-conscious of her nudity in the center of the romantic villa Silently, she retreated back to the kitchen and dropped the half-eaten peach in the trash

What a fool she’d been to let herself think this was anything ation he felt compelled to fulfill

One he just admitted to his commander that he would walk away from as soon as it ended

Thank God she hadn’t let herself look even s for him

Now she had severalthat Jehan couldn’t wait to be finished with the handfast and leave her behind

CHAPTER 16

Complaints of a headache had driven Seraphina outside to the sunshine for most of the afternoon Jehan had tried to persuade her that another vigorous round of orgasht make her feel better instead, but his attempt at humor--and seduction--had failed ht on the patio seemed no less deliberate now than it had that first full day they’d spent together at the villa When she’d gone there in an effort to avoid his co?

Or had she realized how close he’d been to burying his fangs in her carotid the last time they’d made love and was now determined to steer clear of him?

Whatever it was, it bothered hi to hi around the villa alone while she avoided hi He missed her, and she had only been away from him for a couple of hours

How eood?

That was the question that had ridden him most of the past twelve hours--ever since their escape froer at the camp Now that he’d had Seraphina in his life, in his arms, hoould he ever be able to return to his existence without her?

He thought he’d known the answer, but ht fell outside and she still didn’t come inside to face him, Jehan decided he had to know If she didn’t feel the way he did, then he was ready to call off the rest of the handfast and try to save so toward the patio doors when a knock sounded on the villa’s front entrance

Diverted fro around and went over to see who it was

Marcel stood there in theto his arm with an equally besotted smile on her face--was Leila

"You didn’t return h his mussed hair and blew out an impatient curse "Yeah I, ah, was just about to do that"

"Bullshit" Marcel gestured to the Range Rover "What the hell happened to the Rover? It looks like you drove it through a sand dune"

"Long story," Jehan said "Suffice it to say things have been sos have been a bit interesting with lanced at Leila, and she bit her lower lip as if to stifle the giggle that burst out of her anyway

Jehan glanced at both of the about?"