Raw, straight off the laptop. A snippet from my 3rd century AD historical romance Dark Heart:
Decadence, decay, end of empire… Ancient Rome’s Dark Heart
Kyna glanced pointedly at the door to where the guard stood, still no doubt listening in. She tapped his arm softly and with an incline of her head urged him into the shadows.
He waited a moment for her to speak. She seemed nervous, her tongue peeked out once more to lick her soft pink lips. He imagined the roses, the scent of which filled his nostrils, had been just that colour.
The beginnings of arousal stirred in him. He tamped it down.
“I know Philomen was working on something secret over the past few months,” Kyna whispered, “something he would never tell me about, if it had something to do with his death, then I need to know.”
Marcus nearly tossed out his earlier resolution. Philomen had always spoken highly of his protégé and part of him wanted to confide in her. She was a doctor, she could help him. But it was too risky, as the old doctor’s death proved, the fewer people who knew the better.
“Where else would Philomen keep notes, papers, anything he was working on?” he asked, keeping his voice low.
“His study in the villa. What should I be looking for?”