“These sessions are not about me. They are about you. Thank yourself for all the progress you’ve made.” We both get up, and she pats me on the shoulder. “And one more thing. Your brothers are great men. Being great, though, doesn’t mean you have to live your life the way you think they’d want. They’recapable of protecting themselves, and should your relationship cause chaos…everyone is old enough to handle their own emotions.”
“Okay.”
I give her a hug and get out of her office, passing through the hallway until I’m outside. I inhale the fresh air into my lungs, welcoming the warmth on my skin as honking sounds echo around me and people move quickly.
The world moves on no matter what happens.
Why can’t I?
Would it be so bad to let this thing with Levi flourish?
Not into the future, of course—a man like him will not choose a woman like me to spend his life with—but as no longer a dirty secret anymore?
I don’t want to be hidden in the shadows, even if it was my choice in the first place.
Gordon already has the door open for me, and giving him a small smile, I slide inside the car. The phone vibrates in my purse, and I snatch it out.
Do you like it, moy cvetochek?
My eyes widen at the sapphire bracelet, the stones so clear that one might see their reflections in them, along with small diamonds surrounding the larger stones.
However, this is not what has my attention.
It’s the nameThor, written in runes all around it, reminding me of the special talismans people used to wear to protect themselves and show their devotion to certain gods.
For whatever reason, Levi seems to have a soft spot for things like this.
It’s beautiful. Where did you get it?
I’d think it’s an antique piece except no one made jewelry like this back in the day.
Isabella designed it for me.
She’s amazing for such a young age.
I don’t care about Isabella.
His being this cold and rude whenever we talk about random things seemed strange to me at first. I got used to it over time.
Levi’sdon’t careusually meansI do not wish to talk about it, and that’s that.
That’s my gift to you.
I gasp just as Gordon gets into the car, and his brow furrows in the rearview mirror as he glances at me. “Everything all right?” he mouths, and I nod so he relaxes a bit. He’s probably waiting for my instructions, but I’m too preoccupied with the conversation to tell him anything.
I can’t accept that!
Expensive books and various antiques are one thing. I can always pass those as if I bought them myself.
I won’t ever be able to explain this piece of jewelry, and it would be a shame to hide it in my box.
It was made for you, and you will wear it.
While his dominant nature is hot as hell in bed, it annoys me to no end outside of it.
Is that so?
Yes. Besides, it’s my gift to celebrate our one-month anniversary. So it’s rude to refuse it, wouldn’t you say?
