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This is the closest to being honest he’s ever been with me. “I didn’t like him either.”
Crouching down, he fists the sheet in his hands. “Then teach me how to be a man you can like.”
I barely suppress the urge to trace the crooked line of his nose and rest my palm against his cheek. “Real is good. You just have to learn how to control it.”
“This is what you want?” He scrunches the sheet, sounding angry. “This kind of honesty?”
“No more lessons, Maxime. No more manipulations.”
A war rages in his eyes. Trust doesn’t come easy for us, but we’re bound to each other. This is the only way I’m prepared to go forward. I won’t expect his love or devotion, but I’m not going back to how we were.
After a moment, he concedes with a quiet, “No more lessons.”
At least if he’s honest, I’ll have a shot at figuring him out. In the meantime, I still have questions.
I consider his actions. “Why did you give up your house?” That house meant everything to him. “Why give up your legacy and birthright?”
Sitting down on the edge of the bed, he takes my hand. “Because you’re my obsession.”
An obsession. Some people only want what they can’t have. I pull my hand from his. “Is it the chase?”
He allows the rejection, but the tight set of his jaw tells me he doesn’t like it. “Despite what you may think, I don’t enjoy hunting you. I’d much prefer your compliance. I sleep better knowing you’re safely in my possession.” The wintery color of his eyes turns colder. “How did Alexis get in?” More dangerous. “You didn’t open the door for him, did you?”
“You left the door open. He walked in right after you’d gone.”
“Fuck.” Dragging his palms over his head, he flexes his fingers as if he imagines them around his brother’s neck. “He was watching us. Me.”
Alexis’s warning comes rushing back. “He said he was going to kill you.”
Instead of acting shocked, Maxime’s laugh is cold. “He can try.”
“He said you’re powerless.”
“I’m out of the mob, but I’m not out of business. The family needs my business. No one can run it like I can. It pumps money into Marseille and opens trade with the rest of Europe. No one is going to be stupid enough to take me out, not even if Alexis gives the order.”
“What business?”
“The diamonds. It’s legit. Damian decided to continue selling directly to me.”
Ah. Hence the reason for our hasty marriage. It’s just another business deal. “It’s always about the damn diamonds.”
“I told you,” he says in a hard voice, “I don’t care about the diamonds. I didn’t care about your brother’s decision. I would’ve made you mine regardless.”
“I’m not yours,” I force from tight lips.
His smile is wicked. “We’ll see.” He glances at the glass with the remains of the juice on the nightstand. “Have you eaten?”
“I’ll fix something later.”
He frowns. “Where’s Francine? Why didn’t she make you something to eat?”
I tense again. “I asked her to leave.”
The line between his eyebrows deepens. “Why?”
I give him a cold stare. “Do you really need to ask me that?”
Comprehension washes over his face. “What did she say to you?”
“Does it matter?” I ask with ice in my tone.
“Of course it fucking matters.”
I don’t answer. It’s the best way of replying when a conversation isn’t worth my time.
“Nothing happened, Zoe. She came to the hotel, but I sent her away.”
“Wearing your jacket.”
“She said she was cold.”
I can’t help the sarcasm that sounds in my voice. “That must explain why her underwear was in your pocket.”
The bastard looks pleased. “My little flower is jealous.”
“I have no reason to be jealous, and I’m not your little flower.”
“Admit it, Zoe. You’re green.”
“Go to hell, Maxime.”
“Yes, she offered to fuck me.” He adds in a gentler tone, “I declined.”
I find that hard to believe. “I thought you’d jump at the opportunity.”
“Did I jump on it when I first took you?”
I think back to the night when Francine had her arms around Maxime’s neck and the fight that resulted, how he punished my mouth and how I slapped him. It was the night I decided I didn’t want to revert to violence like my father. “You weren’t bothered about fucking me while being married to Izabella.”
“That was different. Izabella was business, nothing more. You’ve made your view on cheating clear. I’ll honor your feelings.”
“That’s it? You won’t sleep with other women because you’ll honor my feelings?”
“What do you want from me, Zoe? What more do you want me to say?”
That I’ll be enough. I suppose, given our situation, that’s a bit much to ask. I suppose this is as good as it gets for us.
The intercom buzzes in the kitchen. He studies me for another moment before pushing to his feet to answer it.
When he returns to the room, he says, “The doctor is on his way up. I’ll make you something to eat while he examines you.”
