Page 45 of Venomous Vows

“Just for…” I perk a brow when she doesn’t finish because I’m surprised that she’s become timid at this moment.

“I won’t be calling you to read me a bedtime story, if that’s what you’re asking.However, there might be the occasional events I’ll need you at.”

“You can bring your wife.”

“I currently don’t have one of those anymore.”

“Limit it,” she orders directly through pinned brows. “I have a whole business, Adrian. I can’t be dropping everything?—”

“You’ll do what I say,” I snip back through a glower. “However, it won’t beallthe damn time. While I love pussy,piccola diavola,I do have shit to do.”

“Fine,” she mutters through her teeth. “Five years. We’re just fuck buddies, nothing more.”

“I think you’re reaching at the buddies part, but if the nickname makes you feel better?—”

“Yourwhore,” she sneers. “Do you like that better, Adrian?” I actually do, but I don’t get to voice it because she tacks on, “And I’m moving out.”

Fuck.

I didn’t think that option through. However, if I’m about to go wife-hunting, I’d like to have some respect for her without my mistress in the house.

“Very well,” I vouch through a slight roll of my eyes. “Remember what I said before about reneging on our arrangement.”

“I heard you.”

Instantly, I drop her hand because this wasn’t entirely what I set out to do when I entered her room.

In fact, it was still Elena as my wife. However, as insane as the idea was before, it’s quite clear what Elena needs and doesn’t want.

And that’s me.

It doesn’t matter that I’ve told her why I was a dickhead to her. She still sees me as her bully. Someone who was awful to her and didn’t listen to her pleas for mercy.

Elena Rossi was my hidden treasure that no one was going to touch.

Apparently, we’re keeping it that way without the titles and my last name.

That’s if I don’t drag her to an altar and force her to marry me before then.

13

ELENA

On paper,the arrangement doesn’t sound good or ideal.

But in my head, it’s the most freeing I’ve felt since Marcella was kidnapped and I had to go through obstacles just to get her free.

Also, it only spoke volumes that Adrian didn’t want to marry me either. Which is something I thought all along. The man can’t stand me, never has been able to. He might like to touch me, but I believe it’s to get a reaction.

Not because he can’t help himself.

Adrian isn’t an unattractive man. In fact, he has to be one of the most eligible bachelors around and he is not lacking in any way, shape, or form.

It’s impossible.

However, it’s been a full week since our conversation about my new position of being his lover, whore, woman of the night, whatever the hell you want to call it, and crickets.

Absolute silence.

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