Page 22 of Venomous Vows

“Put two and two together, Elena. And let’s get back to what you want in return for the safety of your sister, Marcella.”

Irritated by his dismissal, I pocket that section of the conversation for later and move forward with the future as he requested. “I own a bakery in Sutter and it takes up a lot of my time. I have people who rely on me and it’d be hard to keep up with the pace of us getting a little busier and being pregnant.”

Adrian observes me for a moment before he releases a little sigh. “All right. How much time do you need?”

“Two or three years.”

“That’s half of our marriage.”

I bob my head because I know how to do math. “I understand that. But I’m willing to extend it out a year if you’re adamant about two children.”

“I am.”

Of course you are.

And if I were in love and about to get married, I’d want more than two. However, this isn’t the case and that’s a reality check that I have to face.

“Then it looks like I’m locked in with you until I’m able to give those to you.”

I expect Adrian to appear relieved at mygivinghim exactly what he asked for, but I find nothing but a flash of irritation and unvarying stubbornness. “Is there anything else?”

“I don’t want to live with you.”

Adrian glowers at me so abruptly and sinisterly that it makes me freeze that he’s about to unleash hell on me. “Absolutely fuckingnot.”

“Not until?—”

“You’ll be mywife, Elena,” he leers. “Which means you’ll play the fuckin’ part like you’re working toward an Oscar.”

I shake my head because he can’t be serious. “No one is going to believe I’m in love with you.”

“I don’t give a fuck if they think you love me or not,” Adrian retorts pointedly. “But youwillbe my wife in every way that one is.”

A boiling heat simmers underneath my skin and I notice that we haven’t even had our drinks yet and we’re almost at each other’s throats already.

“Can I live in the guest house?” I don’t know if he has one, but I’m looking for an alternative here. “Somewhere close?—”

“Do you want me to arrange the times I fuck you, too?” he clips out, clearly pissed and absolutely out of his mind.

“I think you’re getting over your head, Adrian.” I squeeze my fingers together in a tightly fisted hold to keep from throwing something off this table at him. “Let’s get through the wedding first.”

“How do you think this is going to happen, Elena? You want to be medically inseminated?”

I quirk a brow. “Is that a choice?”

A tick in his temple draws my attention and I know he’s on the verge of telling me to go fuck myself and that he’s not going to help Marcella.

I can’t risk it.

Without Adrian’s help, I will lose my sister.

“Fine,” I exhort through another squeeze of my hands. “You win, Adrian. I’ll stay in your house.”

“You can stay in your own room,” he growls and I’m thankful for even that. “Don’t make me regret this.”

I could say the same thing, but I don’t have that luxury right now.

“Okay.”

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