Bad Blood (Book 4 of The Warden series) by Felicia Jedlicka Page B

more detail? “I am always…” He lowered his voice as if there might be someone else in the house to overhear him. “…gentle and patient. I’ve never once given her room to think I am cruel or barbaric. How can she think that I would be ruled by my desires?”
    Danato didn’t wince at hearing the inference to their love life. He took in the information, just as he would the details of a report. Ethan was thankful for that. “I don’t think Cori suspects that you are a lecherous man. I don’t think she thinks that Leona will seduce you. I think she thinks she will rape you.”
    Ethan furrowed his brow and laughed. “Is that even possible?”
    Danato tipped his brow and shrugged. “The male body is not without its faults. Even in the face of something as undesirable as wrecking your marriage, it is possible that your body would betray you against your will.”
    Ethan leaned back from his plate. He had just lost his appetite. “Do you think she could accomplish that in her pregnant state?”
    “I think she would have a marginal upper hand, but that might be enough, if you are in the least bit incapacitated by wounds or…mixed feelings.”
    Ethan all out glared at Danato’s second underhanded accusation. “Stop accusing me, Danato. I love her too much to be that cavalier with her trust.”
    “I know, but sending you away, isn’t just making Cori nervous.” Danato looked down at his cooled pancakes. He must have lost his appetite too.
    “What? Please tell me this isn’t about danger. Our plan is sound. I will barely have to fight. I’ll be lucky to get a scratch out of this trip. I’ll have the offending pack leader on your doorstep in two, maybe three, days.”
    “Yes, I know. I’ve never doubted your skills at hunting. You were always well suited for the violent profession. Perhaps better suited than for warden.”
    Ethan took in a deep breath. “So, my wife thinks I’m going to cheat on her, and you think I’m going to abandon you.”
    “No, I know you will return.” Danato leaned in on the counter. “I just don’t think you understand how much guilt I have for bringing both of you here against your will. It was a choice made out of desperation, and I abhorred doing it.”
    “You’re afraid I’ll get back into the big bad world and resent being cooped up in here with you?”
    “Essentially.” Danato nodded.
    “Well, I guess I could tell you the same as I did Cori: I love you and I will never betray you, but that isn’t quite what you need is it?” Danato arched an eyebrow at the sarcasm-laced comment. “Nothing is going to change, Danato. You’ve given me more in this confining lifestyle, than I ever had in my life of foster homes and juvenile incarcerations. However,” Ethan winced. “Now that you bring up the outside world, there has been some discussion between myself and Cori about changing things up a little.”
    Danato crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes in preparation for the subject. “What changes?”
    “Well,” Ethan pulled his plate back into him, feeling his appetite re-emerge. “Just as I mentioned last night, Cori and I like having you around, but our evenings are starting to feel repetitive. We eat, we do dishes, you fall asleep in your chair reading, Cori and I play games. Frankly, we are bored.”
    “I told you I’d order new games.”
    “Yes, yes, the games are fine, but we want new people to play them with.” Danato’s face was vacant, he either didn’t understand or he was still thinking of a response. “I wasn’t sure how you would feel if I invited some of the guards to play a poker night. And Cori has been talking nonstop about an outdoor BBQ.” Ethan knew Danato was likely to decline both suggestions, but it didn’t stop him from wearing his best pleading face. He probably looked like a teenager begging to borrow the car.
    Danato’s face fell and he looked admonished by Ethan’s words. “I’m so sorry.”
    Ethan nodded. “I understand. I