I'mnot.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Dmitri
Vittoria sits across from me at Celestine, the same table I reserved last time.
Her jaw is set in that particular way that means someone is about to regret crossing her. Dark eyes burn holes through the menu she hasn't opened. Her fingers tap against the white tablecloth in a rhythm that screams controlled fury.
Beautiful.
Elio stands near the entrance, far enough to give us privacy, close enough to be useless if I decided to do something about the tension crackling between us. The Sartoris sent only one guard tonight. Progress, perhaps. Or a test.
I lift my glass of wine. Take a slow sip. Wait.
Vittoria's eyes snap to mine.
"Is this how you approach women?" Her voice cuts through the ambient piano music. "Sending them...thingsand expectingthem to just comply with whatever twisted fantasy you've cooked up?"
I set down my glass. "No."
Her eyebrows rise, surprised I answered so simply.
"This is actually the first time I've done anything like this." I keep my tone even, conversational. "But I'll do it again. For you."
Color rises in her cheeks.
"This wasn't part of our deal." She leans forward, lowering her voice so Elio can't hear. "Three months to prove you're tolerable, remember? Not three months for you to treat me like some kind of?—"
"I respect your conditions." I cut her off, holding her gaze. "The timeline. Your right to walk away. But what I choose to give you, what I decide to doforyou, that's mine to determine."
Vittoria laughs.
"You're not in charge here, Baganov." She sits back, crossing her arms. The movement does interesting things to her neckline that I force myself not to track. "You don't get to send me sex toys and act like you're doing me some kind of favor."
"Did you wear it?"
"No."
The word drops between us like a challenge. Vittoria's chin lifts, defiant. Those dark eyes dare me to push back.
I lean forward, resting my forearms on the table. Close enough to catch the subtle floral scent of her perfume mixed with something warmer underneath. Something that's justher.
"You'll learn sooner or later to follow my orders, solnyshko." I keep my voice low, intimate. "I know you can be my good girl when you want to be."
Her lips part. A flush creeps up her neck.
"I'm not going to fall for any of this." She gestures vaguely between us. "The possessive comments, the gifts, the... whatever game you're playing. It won't work on me."
I study her face. The rapid pulse visible at the base of her throat. The way her fingers have stopped their angry tapping and now grip the edge of the tablecloth.
Liar.
"We'll see." I sit back, letting the tension stretch for a moment before shifting gears. "What would you like to eat tonight?"
Vittoria blinks at the sudden topic change. Her mouth opens, closes.
"You're... seriously asking me about food right now?"
