Page 74 of Vicious Vows

“You don’t need that inheritance. I can take care of you.” He went to the bar and poured himself a huge serving of vodka over ice. “You do need dinner, though.”

“Whatever.” I keyed in the numbers on the card.

He rattled the ice in his glass as I hit the submit button on my very expensive shopping spree. When I glanced at him, he unbuttoned his shirt, revealing all of his mesmerizing artwork and solid ab muscles.

The buzzing of his phone distracted me from thoughts of licking my way down his stomach to his…

He smirked when he glanced at the screen. “All of my online purchases are set up with text alerts.”

“Was I right? Am I too expensive?”

“Actually, I’m disappointed.” He set his phone on the bar. “I would have expected much more from you.”

“Well.” I waved the card in the air. “Now that I have this, you never know what kind of damage I could do.”

“I’m sure I’ll find out.” He sat next to me and put the laptop on the coffee table.

“Kill anyone today?” I tilted my head and waited for his response.

“Not yet.”

“I’m thirsty.” I hopped off the couch, but he grabbed my arm and threw me into his lap.

“If it’s not water, you’re not drinking it,” he said.

“Why are you here?” I tried to wiggle out of his hold, but he only gripped me tighter.

“I live here.”

“You have a big house in the suburbs, don’t you?”

“The family estate, yes.” He trailed his fingers along my throat. “Why do you ask?”

“I…” I pressed my hand against his chest when he brushed his lips along my jaw. “Don’t do that.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m mad at you.”

“I just bought you twelve grand worth of clothes.” He took my chin between his finger and thumb. “You can forgive me.”

“That doesn’t even begin to make up for what you did.”

“What I did?” His body tensed as he glared into my eyes. “I suggest you drop this.”

“No.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “You lied to my face.”

“I didn’t have a choice.”

“Aren’t you the one who goes around saying we always have a choice?” I pushed his hand away from my face. “You should have told me what my father did. I don’t understand why you would keep something so life-altering from me.”

“Because once you found out who your father really was, you wouldn’t be able to come back from it. How are you ever going to look at him the same way again?”

“I can’t. You’re right. But I would’ve thought you’d have wanted me to know.”

“I don’t want to talk about this now.”

None of this made sense. Why would he protect my father? What good would it do for him to keep that secret? The room turned, or maybe it was my head that wouldn’t stop spinning. Either way, he was killing my buzz.

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