Chapter 16: Terms

Vivi's POV

He was standing behind his desk when I opened the study door.

He had a white shirt on with the collar open, and I could see the edge of the bandage under it.

"I'm telling the man at the door," I said. "I'm not asking you."

"I heard."

"I have terms first."

"All right."

I shut the door and stayed with my back against it.

"I don't forgive you," I said. "I'm saying it so you don't think tonight means I do."

"I wouldn't."

"No lies in this house. If you know something about me, or Edoardo, or my father, you tell me the same day."

"Yes."

"No money for me, ever. Not an envelope, not a deposit, not a favor with my name on it."

"Yes."

"And if I say no to you, once, in any room, you take me at my word."

He came around the desk slowly.

"Viviana," he said. "I'm going to say one thing and then do whatever you want."

"Say it."

"I spent five years deciding things about you without you. I'd like to spend the next five being told."

I crossed the room.

I put both palms flat on his chest, and I felt his heart under the bandage, hard and fast.

"Then I'll tell you," I said. "Sit down."

He sat in the leather chair behind the desk.

I undid his shirt one button at a time.

The stitches ran in a long dark line low on his right side, with the skin pink around them.

"Does it hurt?"

"Yes."

"Good."

I kissed the skin beside it, and his hand came up into my hair, gentle at first.

Then I climbed into his lap, and he stopped being gentle.

He kissed me hard and long.

I pulled his mouth to my throat and he bit down.

I made a noise I had never made for the man I was engaged to.

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