Page 146 of Deadly Betrayal

A devilish smile toyed at the corner of hismouth. “This is why I stopped you.” He cupped her face and kissedher, the roughness of his tongue against hers making her clutch hisshoulders. She wanted to climb into him. To become a part of him.To be one with him.

“Kaden, please. I want us to continue.”

He gave her another swift kiss. “Are yousure?”

“Yes. I want to know you completely.”

Grinning, he rolled her off him and jumped tohis feet. “That’s going to take years. But we’re going to have alot of fun along the way.”

She pushed onto her elbows, watching as hefumbled with his shaving kit. “What are you doing? I do not mindyour beard.”

He chuckled and held up a small square foil.She frowned. “What is that?”

His expression grew serious as he rejoinedher and sat on the bed. “It’s a condom. You know what that is,right?”

Yes, she knew. Birth-control methods had beendiscussed during her medical training. “I do. However, they are ararity in Afghanistan, except amongst the foreign military troops.”Uncomfortable with the discussion, she pulled the blanket over hernakedness. They had never discussed having a family, at least notdirectly. “Why do you want to use one?”

“Are you on the pill?” He raked his fingersthrough his hair. “I didn’t think it was available here.”

“Why would I—?” She shook her head, unable toeven finish the question. She’d been married, then a widow. She’dhad no need to prevent pregnancy. What was he saying?

His confused expression turned into agrimace. “Shit. I’m saying this all wrong again.” He tossed thefoil onto the nightstand. “I think this is one of those areas whereour cultures are so far apart neither of us understands the other’sreaction.” He took her hands in his. “I didn’t mean any disrespect.In the West, women use birth-control pills for many reasons, notjust for preventing pregnancy. I certainly wasn’t implying thatyou’d slept with anyone besides your first husband.”

The air left her lungs in one big rush. Ifhe’d thought her a loose woman… she squeezed her eyes shut. Aftertaking a deep breath, she opened her eyes again. “Thank you forthat. Please share with me why you wish to use the prophylactic.”She looked toward the table. “Do you not want children? Ithought—”

“No, no.” He cut her off. “I do. Someday.” Hefinger-combed her hair, arranging it over one shoulder. That heconfirmed his desire to have a family was a relief, but why wait?She was already twenty-eight, and she hoped to see her childrenreach adulthood before she died. Feeling as though she’d lostsomething precious, a pit opened in her stomach.

Kaden’s hands slid to her face. “No. Don’tcry.” He pulled her to his chest. “Please. Fuck.”

He said he wanted children, but he seemed tootentative. Was he trying to protect her because he thought shemight be barren? It was definitely possible. Faroukh had fatheredseveral children with Freba and none with her. Azita struggled topull herself together. She was acting like a spoiled child. Hadn’tAllah already given her enough? She had Laila now. She already hadher family. Meeting his gaze, she smiled. “It is okay, Kaden. Notevery man wants children. I understand.”

“That’s not it.” He kissed her tears away,the tender action warming her from head to foot. She already hadeverything a woman could want, right here in her hands. “Idowant kids,” he said. “Just not right now. Before we growour family, I need to know that you and Laila are safe and that Ican bring you to Canada with me. We’re married, and I want to tellthe world, but we can’t. Once we leave here, we have to keep it asecret. Well, except for our friends at the ranch.”

“What? Why?” Didn’t being his wife mean shecould go anywhere with him?

“I’m not an expert at immigration to Canada,but from what I’ve heard, the easiest, surest thing to do is to getyou there on a visitor visa. Once you’re in, you apply for refugeestatus. After that, we can get married again, make it nice andlegal.”

“And then I should be able to stay?”

“I believe so. But if something goes wrong,I’ll apply to sponsor you for a green card in the States. One wayor another, we’ll be together.” He kissed her nose and smiled.“Always.”

“And if we told people we were alreadymarried?”

“You’d have to wait until they added you as adependent to my visa. But they could refuse.”

“And then you would not be able to work withNic and Jake. Is that it?”

“Yeah.”

“It is so complicated.” She sighed and pickedup the small square. “And this makes it less so?”

“Yeah.”

“Then show me how to put it on you.”

He rubbed his hands up and down her back andkissed her soundly enough to curl her toes. “I love you,” hewhispered.

“I love you too. Now please show me howmuch.”