Clearly, Roman was eager to begin the investigation into The Auction House with the FBI agents, and although I wasn’t nearly a thousand percent sure like Roman, I did want to help. After Roman shook the agents’ hands, I shook their hands as well. I would rather be back in the Bahamas for three more days as opposed to the city life of Washington D.C.

"What is there to do here for three days?" I asked Marcus and Ed.

"Plenty," Ed offered. "I would highly recommend the Smithsonian Institution. That is, if you’re into museums and art galleries. There’s also a zoo."

"Sounds interesting," Roman said. I eyed him and his optimistic attitude. Roman smiled at me.

"There’s also the historic monuments and memorials," Marcus added.

"There are performing arts theaters and city tours," Ed continued. "I’m sure you can find something you’re interested in."

"When will we know more about the bodyguards?" I asked them.

"In the next couple of days," Marcus said. "They’ll be at your disposal by the time you leave D.C."

Roman wrapped his arm around me, meeting my gaze. "We’ll get through it," he said to me gently.

"I just want to go home, Roman," I told him.

"I know," he said. "I know."

"You folks should go get some rest," Ed suggested. "We’ll contact you tomorrow evening." Ed began ushering us toward the door. "There are also some great restaurants for you two to try out in the D.C. area."

"We look forward to hearing from you," Roman said.

"I’ll walk you both out," Ed said, opening the door and following us into the hallway. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a business card, offering it to Roman. "That’s my number, just in case you can’t reach Marcus."

"Thanks," Roman said as we followed Ed to the keycard door and out into the lobby. "We’re staying at the Ritz-Carlton," Roman said, "if you ever need to find us for any reason."

"Nice place," Ed said. "We’ll keep you posted." Roman thanked Ed again before we parted ways.

"I’ll let the driver know that we’re ready," Roman said, sending a quick text to the driver. We only waited a moment outside before the driver arrived, but during the entire time, I glanced around wondering if we were being followed. I knew that I was only paranoid because of the conversation that we just had with Marcus and Ed about Fitzgerald having new patrons followed. I hadn’t noticed anything strange since going home with Roman after the auction, but still, my thoughts were tainted now.

Roman and I climbed into the car and headed back to the hotel. I stared out the window the entire time, watching the city go by. I was physically free, but now I felt trapped in the shadow of human trafficking. I thought that, before the investigation was over, I might drown in that dark and forbidden world. Roman must have been lost in his own thoughts, because he didn’t try to talk to me.

When we arrived at the hotel, Roman and I got out of the car in silence and didn’t say anything to one another until we were inside our room with the door locked behind us. "Do you want to talk about it, Hannah?" Roman asked me. We stood in the entryway of our room facing one another. I didn’t want to talk about any of it just yet. I wanted to relax in the tub and talk about something else, anything else, but I didn’t want to shut Roman out this time. I draped my arms over his shoulders and he wrapped his arms around my waist.

"How about we take a soak in the tub together and order room service?" I asked him. "I just want to relax."

Roman offered me his most charming smile. "How can I turn down a soak in the tub with my gorgeous wife?" he said, and I smiled up at him as I slid my arms from his shoulders and reached down to unbuckle his pants.

"I undress you," I said, "and you undress me."

"Done," Roman said quickly before moving in for a kiss. I unbuckled his belt and unbuttoned his pants as we parted our lips and deepened our kiss. Roman grabbed the bottom of my blouse, breaking our kiss momentarily to slip the shirt over my head. We started kissing again as he unhooked my bra, revealing my hard nipples. I began to unbutton Roman’s shirt as we kissed. He guided me backward through the entryway, past the main room and into the bedroom. The rhythm of our kiss increased as I finished unbuttoning his shirt, and he pulled it off impatiently. I slipped my thumbs into the waistband of his boxers and pushed them down. He leaned forward while we kissed to push his boxers the rest of the way to the floor before he grabbed my breasts and started brushing his thumbs over my nipples. I moaned and broke the kiss.

"We still have my skirt and your undershirt," I said breathlessly.

"I’ll get rid of them," Roman said, pulling his shirt over his head and immediately moving to unzip the side of my skirt. I pulled his face back to mine and we began kissing again. His fingers slid into the front of my panties and found the nub of my clit. I moaned into his mouth as he rubbed me in slow circles. Roman broke the kiss but continued to rub my clit, watching me enjoy the sensation. "I’m going to show you pleasure," he said before lifting me up by the waist and tossing me onto the bed. Roman slipped my underwear off and dropped them on the floor before slowly rubbing his hands from the tops of my thighs to my knees and gently spreading my legs. I gasped in anticipation of receiving his hard dick, but instead Roman got down on his knees in front of the bed with his head level with my pelvis.

"What are you doing, Roman?" I asked him, pushing up onto my elbows to watch him. Roman didn’t answer; he only smirked at me before kissing the wet spot between my thighs. I squealed and nearly jumped up, but Roman held me in place with his hands wrapped around the tops of my thighs where they met the hip joint. "Roman!" I shouted as he licked my slit, and I couldn’t speak anymore. I fell back onto the bed in ecstasy as his tongue flicked my clit and licked my slit. My entire body was a hot mass of sensations that kept building. He moved his tongue faster and faster until I was begging for him to take me. Just before I could feel my climax approaching, Roman stood and slipped his dick inside of me, moving his hips and pulling my body into his each time that he thrust. "God, Roman!" I shouted before I came, tightening around his dick as my muscles spasmed in pleasure. Roman continued to thrust into me until he groaned and I could feel his warm cum burst inside of me. He continued to hold onto my hips as he stared up at the ceiling, breathing heavily.

"That felt amazing," I said to him. He looked down at me and smiled.

"Good," he said, reaching for my hands to help me stand up. He slapped my bare ass and pulled me closer to him. "Now we can take that bath together." I laughed before moving toward the bathroom, and he slapped my ass again before I went. The tub in the bathroom was large enough for four people. I started the water and poured in the blue bubble bath liquid that was lying on a stack of towels nearby. Roman watched me from the doorway. "I will never get tired of watching you move around naked," he said.

"I’ll do it more often if you do," I teased him, staring at his naked body.

"Deal," he said, and he grabbed me, pressing our naked bodies together again. We made out while the tub filled with hot water. When it was full, we climbed in and sat across from one another, our legs intertwined. "What do you want for dinner?" he asked me.

"Something super healthy, like a cheeseburger and fries," I said sarcastically.

Roman chuckled. "Comfort food?" he asked me.

"Yes," I said. "Among others. Pizza, triple chocolate ice cream, popcorn. The usual."

"Noted," Roman said. "I think a burger and fries should be easy to come by."

"What fun and exciting things do you want to try in D.C.?" I asked him.

"I was thinking about the theater," Roman said. "I haven’t seen a play in a long time."

"I can understand that," I said, pushing the bubbles around in the water. "You do have a lot of work responsibilities."

Roman shrugged. "I try to make time for fun with my friends," he said, "and I’ll certainly make time for you, Hannah."

"I hope so," I said. "I would hate to be the lonely trophy wife in that big house all by myself all day," I teased him.

"That won’t happen," Roman said with a smirk. "I try to work from home two or three times a week. I can relax at home. Take a call while I’m floating in the pool."

"That sounds like the life," I said. "Speaking of work, don’t forget to call them and let them know about our extended honeymoon," I said.

Roman smiled. "You’d be a great secretary. A sexy, fiery, unforgettable secretary. I’d never get any work done around you."

"You’re such a tease, Roman," I said, moving around the tub to sit next to him and rest my head on his shoulder. The warmth of the water and Roman’s nearness were comforting, nearly making me forget the worry that I felt about our dangerous, upcoming battle to take down The Auction House.