Page 18 of Sweet Venom

Placing a hand on either side of her head, I gently lift it away from her chest, bringing her eyes to mine. Her cheeks are now streaked with mascara as her beautiful brown eyes pierce my soul. "Do you plan on taking employees from Covet?"

She shakes her head before running her tongue over her dry lips. "No, I would never do that."

"She's lying." Sebastian snaps, but I raise my hand to silence him once more.

"How much did it cost you to shut down my club?"

Vivian pulls in a stuttered breath as the grip she currently has around my waist tightens. "Twenty-five girls, one night's salary, room buyouts, plus tips for their cooperation. I'm out one hundred grand."

"Was it worth it?"

Her brow slightly furrows and she thins her lips before saying, "If you're asking me if you're worth it, I think the answer is clear."

I want nothing more than to crash my mouth to hers, but I don't. It's been too long, and I know there are words we need to share, and things will not get said if we start down that path. Vivian and I are explosive when it comes to fucking. After I finally took her for the first time in my office, we returned to my place and didn't wear clothes for a week. Her hunger matches my own.

"So that's it? Because our loss cost her money, her treachery and deceit don't count in your eyes? You can't be serious. You know, Ellis, I've spent my entire life looking up to you, but your choices as it relates to her…" He pauses, rubbing his jaw, letting out a growl of frustration before throwing his hands into his hair and saying, "There's no path with her that ends with the two of you living happily ever after."

Before I can defend her honor or correct his error, he takes off toward the kitchen. I have my limits. I don't care for how he spoke about Vivian in front of her, but I know she is more than capable of holding her own. Tonight is more than proof of that. His absence leaves us alone, and when my eyes return to hers, I see her guilt.

"Don't do that, baby. We all have pasts." I kiss her forehead before taking her hand and saying, "Come, I'll show you to our room."

* * *

Vivian comes out of the bathroom, freshly showered with no makeup, wearing one of my white tees, and I'm in awe. I wouldn't call her high maintenance by any means, but she does like to look good. The woman is no stranger to a full face of makeup daily, though she doesn't need it. During the time we've spent apart, I've put a lot of thought into everything she does and the words she doesn't say.

When we met, I believed her high-maintenance appearance had to do with her family's roots in fashion. Her grandmother's family built one of the biggest fashion houses in Europe. To this day, her grandmother still sits at the helm. Even when dressed in her biker outfits, she's still on-trend. I'm not opposed to a high-maintenance woman. However, I now know her outward appearance is just one of her many shields.

I'm sitting with my feet crossed at the ankles in a pair of gray sleep pants with no shirt, my back rested against the headboard. I've been thoroughly stalking all the footage of tonight's events, ensuring I understand all that transpired so that when she tells me herself, I know where we stand should she choose to leave things out.

She pauses when she sees me, and for a moment, we just stare at each other, drinking the other in. If there is one thing that Vivian is not, that is insecure. The woman is fiercely independent and strong-willed, but I know when she cares, she does so deeply. If you manage to imprint on her heart, there isn't anything she wouldn't do for you. I know none of this is easy for her.

"Are you back to let me in?"

She closes her eyes tight before saying, "What if I said I don't know how, but not trying hurt me worse than letting go?"

"Baby, come here." I pat the bed next to me.

She takes a step forward but stops. "Ellis, you need to know—"

"Vivian, we tried things your way the first time, but now we will do them my way." Her brows slightly rise from my response, but I'm done letting her call the shots. I now know things I didn't, or maybe deep down, I knew them all along but didn't care to touch them because we were working until suddenly, she was gone. Regardless my eyes are wide open now.

"Come here," I say more forcefully as I press my index finger into the bed, leaving no question as to where I want her.

This time, she comes with no argument. Reaching the foot of the bed, she crawls up to the place I instructed and sits with her legs tucked under, perched on her knees. When she brings her hands to her lap and nervously picks at her nails, I say, "Would you like me to start with what I know, or…"

"I'm aware you know exactly what Sebastian pulled this week, but what I want to know is why you allowed it? Have you been here all this time I've been back?"

"I suppose you do want me to start with what I know, because you are asking me questions to which I know you already have the answers."

Her brow slightly furrows in response, but I pay it no mind. While she is back, she is still not ready to accept what's in her heart, but because I know what is in mine, I will help her find it.

"I landed in San Jose the same day you did. When I realized you went to my place, I came here. I've been working from Nico's home office ever since. I'm fully aware of your new business venture with Blush, and baby, I'm so damn proud of you." I pause, and she looks up from her hands, searching my eyes for truth and finding it. "Do you want to tell me about it?"

Rather than continue with the heavy, I'm offering her a white flag. Vivian doesn't do well with feelings. Talking about Blush gives her a minute to breathe, but she shakes her head no. "I think I'd rather rip off the band-aid. Ellis, I know you see my neck."

Wow, I didn't expect her to go straight for the kill. I thought for sure she would skirt around what happened between her and Sebastian tonight and offer me half-truths. "But this, and the things I know you saw, are nothing compared to what I did before I went there."

I sit forward and place one leg on the floor, sensing maybe this conversation requires a little liquid courage. "Drink?" I nod to the wet bar across the room.

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