Chapter 6

When Kate woke up the next morning and reached for Roman he was gone. She found him intensely examining her painting. When he realized she was watching him he turned, "Kate...Did you...," he looked from her to the painting and back. Kate smiled and nodded. "It's amazing, beautiful, I had no idea you could paint." His face held an expression of delight with a hint of shock and Kate had to laugh.

Her expression became solemn as she began to speak, "You know you're the only one who has ever seen one of my paintings and you're the only one who I would ever want to see them." Kate looked down and took a deep breath, "I paint from my heart and my soul and I feel very vulnerable when I see the finished product. It's like I have exposed myself, my deepest emotions, those feelings we all keep hidden inside." She reached for his hand and they smiled at each other.

As they stood together in the silence a look of fear began to creep into her eyes and it was like a knife slowly sinking into his heart, "Kate, baby, what's wrong? Talk to me." Her chin dropped and he squeezed her hands, "Kate?," he said softly, "Please tell me what's bothering you."

She chewed on her lip searching for the right words, "I will tell you everything but..." she finally lifted her head up and looked at him, "There's something I want to do first, if you will let me."

"Anything. Anything you want Katie girl."

"I want to paint you Roman, all of you. Will you pose for me?" she asked softly.

His eye widened, "Uhh, you mean like a nude portrait?," he said hesitantly. Kate nodded her head. "Well I'm not exactly male model material but if it's what you want Kate I'll do it."

Kate placed a warm hand on his cheek, "It's what I want, it's what I need." She grinned wickedly at him, "You're too modest Roman," Kate run her hands up his smooth chest and down his strong arms then gently slid off his boxers, "you are a perfect model. Every inch of you." Kate looked up and down his lean body, eyes lingering here and there. She kissed him softly as his cheeks flushed slightly. When she tried to pull away he held her tight and began to kiss her again. She stopped him, "Okay let's get started."

Roman groaned in frustration taking a deep breath, "I may need a cold shower before we start."

Kate giggled slightly as she looked at him, "Yes I think you do, I have to get my things ready anyway, you've got 10 minutes."

**

He returned a few minutes later with a towel around his waist and water droplets clinging to his body. Kate had her easel set up and palette ready. He removed the towel and patiently allowed her to position him. She decided to go with the classic pose and had him lie on his side propped on one elbow, front leg outstretched, back leg up bent at the knee. Kate stepped back and smiled, finally satisfied with the pose, she was ready to begin.

"Hey don't I get a fig leaf or something?" Roman asked.

"Sorry honey but I'm afraid a fig leaf wouldn't do anyway," she teased.

Roman grinned and shook his head then relaxed as Kate sat down and went to work. He had no trouble holding the pose, he could have stayed there forever. Watching Kate's expressions as she painted mesmerized him, he was enchanted by the honesty and determination that radiated from her. With each passing minute, with each heartbeat, his love for her consumed him. He couldn't move, he could barely breathe. Roman had never seen Kate look more beautiful. Her hair was a mess, she had no makeup on, she wore a paint- smeared apron over her royal blue housecoat but she was exquisite, stunning, her natural beauty sparkled casting a heavenly glow over the room.

It seemed like only minutes had passed when Kate spoke, "I'm done," she said with a satisfied sigh. Her words snapped him out of his trance and he glanced at his watch. He'd been there for hours, not minutes, he couldn't believe it. Roman sat up and reached for his boxers lying on the floor.

"Can I see?" he asked sliding his underwear on.

Kate placed a sheet over the easel, shaking her head, "Not yet. We need to talk first, I'm going to tell you what I've found out. If you still love me after you learn the truth then I'll show you."

Roman's heart pounded, "If I still love you? Kate, nothing could change the way I feel about you. Each minute, each second that passes I love you even more."

She interrupted, "Shh, please don't. Just wait until you hear me out okay, because this secret could change everything."

**

They got dressed and had a quick bite to eat then Kate led the way out to the porch and they sat side by side on the swing. Kate's mind drifted back to the other night when she thought about sitting on the swing with the man she loved, the man who loved her. Now here they were, her dream had come true, but it wasn't exactly what she'd imagined.

Kate reached in her pocket and pulled out the tiny photo, "That's my mom Roman. Isn't she gorgeous?" Kate whispered.

He looked at the picture then looked at her, "I can see where you get your beauty from Kate, your mother is a knock out."

Kate smiled. He handed her the photo and she stared at it, just looking at her mother's face gave her the strength she needed to continue. She glanced at Roman, run her fingers through her hair, and began her story. Kate told him everything. She cried through most of it but managed to get through it all without completely breaking down. She talked about her childhood and her miserable life with her father. Then she went into the details she had learned the day before, the story Jasper had told her.

Roman watched her intently, the agony, the hurt, etched on her face was torturing him. He wanted to reach out to her, to pull her close and kiss her pain away. He almost did reach out to her but her final words caught him off guard. "My real father, his name was Corrado...DiMera. Roman I am a DiMera."

Before Roman had a chance to say anything Kate turned and dropped to her knees in front of him. She could not remember a time she had done something so impulsive but as the words slipped from her mouth they just seemed right, "If you still love me.... Marry me Roman. Make me a Brady, forever."