Page 86 of Cage of Thorns and Blood

“Of course.”

“We’ve just done it.”

“Once is never enough with you.” It’s the truth.

I kiss her then, needing her mouth on mine. “I need to talk to you too.”

I take her hand, but she pulls it free. “No, tell me now.”

Ah, my Renata, always thinking the worst. She always has that gut reaction that she’s going to be hurt. I hate her parents for doing that to her, and I hope in time that insecurity will fade away and she’ll continue to let her guard down as I earn her trust.

I sigh and smile at her. “It’s nothing bad. Just that I have a bank account for you. In your name. It’s legally yours now. You can drain it if you want and spend every penny in it. But I’d rather you didn’t as it’s there in case anything ever happened to me.”

“No, Matteo.” She scrunches her eyes shut as if she can shut out the harsh reality of this world. “Don’t say that.”

“Renata, it’s just an insurance. It’s so you never have to rely on your family. There’s two million in there.”

Her eyes pop open, comically wide. “No, that’s insane. I can’t.”

“You can and you will. Please. I love you. I’ll give you the account number.” Then I grin, wanting to lighten the atmosphere. “It means you can rip up that check for two hundred thousand you wrote yourself on my checkbook.”

Her cheeks redden, and she glances at her hands. “How do you know about that? I never cashed it; I wrote it when I was so angry with you. When I found out you were having me followed.”

“I saw it in your bag one day when you asked me to grab your phone.”

“I’m so embarrassed.”

I laugh. “Don’t be. I find it romantic.”

She shakes her head, but her lips twitch as she meets my gaze. “You would because you’re unhinged.” Then she bites her lip. “I took some money too. From the books, where you keep the cash.”

I laugh. “Did you spend it?”

“Yes.”

“What on?”

“Sexy underwear.”

My laugh deepens. “Then I consider it an excellent investment.”

She shakes her head with a sneaky grin tipping the corner of her lip.

“I love you,” I say softly.

“I love you too.”

I take her hand and lead my fiancée out of the room and up to bed where I plan to keep her for hours to come.

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