"That's how it will be."
"I'm not some kept woman who needs a man to pay for her things. I have accounts. Investments. Money I earned myself through?—"
"I know exactly how much money you have." His thumb strokes across my pulse point. "I know about every account. Every investment. Every stock you've purchased in the last five years."
"That doesn't mean you get to control how I spend it," I snap.
"I'm not controlling how you spend it." His grip loosens. His hand slides up my arm. Cups my face. "I'm telling you that you won't need to spend it. Because everything you need, everything you want, I will provide."
"This is ridiculous."
I pull my face from his grip. Slide back on the mattress until my spine hits the headboard.
"Vittoria—"
"No." I cross my arms over my chest. The sheet slips lower, but I don't care. "What am I supposed to do with all the money I already have? Just let it sit there collecting dust while you play sugar daddy?"
His jaw tightens.
"You're not listening."
"I'm listening just fine." I gesture between us. "You're telling me I can't spend my own money. Money I worked for. Money I earned through years of building security systems and consulting for?—"
"I said that I know how you earned it."
"Then you know I didn't earn it so some man could swoop in and tell me I'm not allowed to use it."
He moves.
Fast.
One second he's sitting beside me. The next he's caging me against the headboard. His hands bracket my shoulders. His face hovers inches from mine.
"What do you gain?" His voice drops low. Dangerous. "Is that what you want to know?"
I lift my chin.
"Yes."
"You gain a husband who will give you everything." His breath fans across my lips. "A home. Protection. A life where you never have to worry about money again."
"I already don't worry about money."
"Then consider it a bonus."
I shove at his chest.
He doesn't budge.
"Move."
"No."
"Dmitri—"
"We're going to have children, Vittoria." His eyes burn into mine. "A lot of them. You can leave your money to them."
My heart stutters.
