“Viviana, nothing will happen to you. You’re safe with me,” I assure her, my tone dripping with resolution.
She shakes her head, sorrow striking her face. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I know exactly what I am talking about. I know exactly what I want. And that is you. Let us explore this between us.”
Give me a chance to give you the dream before dawn crushes it.
“For a while, until reality catches up with us.” She finishes my thought, making me believe she was made for me, which issuch a pity. This woman deserves a knight, yet she got me—the villain.
Moving into the kitchen, she sets the table, stealing glances at me as I heat the food.
The thought hits me out of nowhere. With her, I don’t have to be on alert, enjoying that she can’t take her eyes off me, but trying to be stealthy about that.
“How will this work? How often are you here?” She shoots questions that reveal her interest.
“Once in a while, when my busy schedule allows it.”
Her eyes sweep around the modern space. “It’s quite sad to have this place and not enjoy it.”
“You’re right.”
A surprised look contorts her features. My lavish lifestyle is nothing but a waste, keeping up appearances, I am a more fulfilled man than I actually am.
“Help me learn how to enjoy life more. I’ll spend every weekend here if you accompany me.”
She casts a contrite look my way once again. “You’re…”
“What?” I ask as we both take our seats at the shiny table.
The smell of glazed duck wafts through the air, complementing the truffle rice and asparagus, and a domesticated, serene atmosphere surrounds us.
“A conundrum.”
I chuckle. “You’ll have me figured out in no time.”
“I doubt that.”
We fall silent for a while as we dig into the scrumptious dinner.
“How have classes been going?”
“Harder.” She pins me with an accusatory look. I take immense pride in that being my fault. “How was work?”
“Harder.”
I wink at her, and she bites her lip, muffling her smile.
“You must be very successful. Your penthouse, this beach house.”
If she only knew.
I smirk. “I work hard.” I fuck harder.
She clears her throat. “And in your free time you like to read, play chess, and work out.”
“See, you already know the most important things about me,” I say good-naturedly.
She arches an eyebrow, not buying it. “You just appear open, Tristan. Don’t play games with me. I know when someone is hiding things. I’ve been looking at my reflection for the last twenty-one years.”
