Page 90 of Vicious Vows

“What’s on your mind?” he asked again.

“Other than the new dress I ordered?” I laughed.

“The new dress you ordered better not be the reason you couldn’t sleep and made you leave my bed.”

“It isn’t.”

“Then what is it?”

“It’s not one specific thing.” I couldn’t tell him what I had asked of my father. “So much has happened these past few weeks. Did you know next Thursday is Thanksgiving?”

We had spent so much time ensconced in our complicated lives that I didn’t even know what day it was half the time.

“Milo mentioned it.” He kissed the side of my neck. “With my father being away, I haven’t given the holidays much thought. I guess I don’t feel like celebrating.”

“That’s understandable.” I ran my toes along his foot. “My mother is going to Greece for the holiday. She’s staying with some friends. She asked me to join her.”

“Oh.” His muscles tensed against me. “What did you say?”

“Of course I said no.”

“Why?”

“Because I didn’t think that a hostage could go off on a vacation without her captor. I didn’t tell my mother that, though. I told her I didn’t want you and I to spend our first Thanksgiving apart.” I looked up at him. “Don’t you want to be with me? Even if we’re not celebrating the holiday?”

“I don’t want you to go to Greece,” he said. “But not because I’m holding you hostage. I’ve been giving that arrangement some thought, especially after you snuck out.”

“I promise, I’ll do better.”

“I don’t believe you.” He glided his hand over my thigh. “That’s why I’m setting you free.”

“What?” I turned so fast, water sloshed out of the side of the tub and hit the floor. “No, I won’t go.”

I pushed him too far when I snuck out. I shouldn’t have done that, but I couldn’t take it back now.

“You’re not leaving.” He took my hands in his. “I’ve come to realize that you shouldn’t be my prisoner. Climbing down the fire escape and getting into a car with someone you didn’t know was out of control.”

“No one has ever accused me of being in control.”

“Which is why I’m giving you your freedom.” He arched his brow. “Within reason.”

“Okay.”

“There will be rules.” He lifted me onto his lap, positioning my legs on either side of his thighs. “I’ll assign you a guard who will be responsible for you when I’m not. He’ll also be your driver. You never leave this penthouse without him or me.”

“Is it going to be one of those big men who stand outside the door and glare at me every time I open it?”

“I haven’t decided yet, but it won’t be Ricardo if that’s what you’re hoping,” he said. “You’re free to have him accompany you as an extra security measure, but I don’t trust him to protect you.”

“He wouldn’t let anything happen to me.”

“He wouldn’t mean to, but your poor judgment would get you both into trouble.”

“You’re right.” I smoothed my hand over his chest. “I don’t want you to kill Ricardo.”

“Rule number two.” He took my hand and ran his lips along my wrist. “You can’t lie to me.”

“I won’t.”

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