Page 124 of Vow to Hate You

He hung up before I could respond. My chest filled with satisfaction as I tossed my phone on the bathroom counter. He didn’t need to give me an answer to know what he’d do. Money over anything—even his own son. I’d send the paperwork tomorrow, and he’d sign it before lunch.

Opening the door, I went still when I saw Talie standing right in front of me. My eyes raked down her body as my dick stirred. She was wearing one of my white t-shirts where the hem reached the top of her thighs. I knew she wasn’t wearing anything underneath, which wasn’t helping my dirty thoughts. But when my eyes met hers, it was easy to see she wanted a serious conversation.

I strolled out of the bathroom, giving her a smile. “Eavesdropping, wife?”

“Are you really blackmailing your dad?” she asked, the hope swirling in her eyes making this all worth it.

“Not only him,” I corrected her. “I’m blackmailing your father too.”

“Will it work?”

“It’ll work,” I promised, wrapping my good arm around her, leading her back to the bed. “It’s early. Go back to sleep.”

“I’m not tired.”

Ignoring her protest, I gently pushed her back on the bed. “Lift your arms. I want you naked.”

“Damian, we can’t tear your stitches.”

I tsked. “You think I’d fuck you when your ribs are bruised?”

“I’m sure you would if I asked.” She smiled seductively before tugging off my shirt. “Or you can watch me touch myself.”

“I had enough of that torture on the yacht,” I muttered. “If you get off, I’ll be the one doing it. But that’s not what I want right now. Lay on your stomach. If it doesn’t hurt your ribs.”

She shot me a confused look before flipping over and lying down, tucking her arms under her face. My eyes dropped to her firm ass, my dick hardening despite myself.Fuck me.She was perfect. I sat on the mattress next to her, leaning back against the headboard.

My injured arm uselessly stayed at my side as I raised the other one to rub her back. She let out a moan when I massaged her shoulder.

“I’ve been waiting for you to ask,” she mumbled, keeping her face turned away from me.

“Ask about what?”

“The money in my account.”

I chuckled. “I know where it came from. It’s yours.”

“No. It’s the money I took from you.”

“What’s mine is yours, baby,” I recited the words from her email when I’d found out she stole from my safe all those years ago. “I never expected you to give the money back.”

She turned her head, her cheek resting on her crossed arms as she looked at me. “That’s not what you said when I first came back.”

“I know. I lied.” I continued massaging her, switching between a light and hard touch. “Don’t get me wrong—five years ago when you took it, I was angry. But not anymore. Not even when you came home.”

“Really?” she questioned doubtfully.

“Really,” I confirmed. “I let you believe I was mad about the money when you came home because I wasn’t going to admit the real reason to you. Not when you had hatred simmering in your eyes every time you looked at me.”

“What was the real reason you were angry?”

“Because you would rather leave again than stay here with me. I didn’t blame you, but my emotions aren’t rational when it comes to you.”

Her eyes widened slightly. “That’s not true anymore.”

“Good. Because I have no plans to let you go again.” I moved my hand down to her ass before massaging it. “Why didn’t you spend it?”

“I didn’t need it. I got into the music scene pretty quickly. I stayed with friends I met or at cheap hostels. Sometimes rentals. I never bought furniture or anything. I only traveled with two suitcases.”

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