And in the recesses of my black soul, I know, more than anything, I crave her complete surrender.I need her soul bound to mine, her body under and around mine, her light in my palm for me to enjoy.And only me.
Fuck this.I am going to make her mine.
With that resolve in mind, I walk back into the ballroom, but I know right away that she has already left.The room feels bare and cold despite the people milling around.
I send a quick text to the surveillance team to make sure she left safely.Their reply is almost immediate—she left with one of my waiting drivers.
Ask the driver for an update as soon as she is home and let me know immediately,I instruct them, then pocket my phone, pushing down the restlessness.
* * * *
The next day, Luc and I are sitting in his car in front of her workplace.
He looks over to me from the driver’s seat.“What exactly are we doing here?”It sounds more like an accusation than a question.
I shrug.
Fuck if I know.
“She is a sweet little thing.Didn’t have an easy start in life.”He pushes on and I want to slam his damn face on the steering wheel.
“I fucking read Teo’s file,” I snap.“There is nothing you know about her that I don’t.”
I am losing it.
He holds up his hands appeasingly.
“Okay, okay.No need to be so prickly.I just hope you know what you are doing.”
“It is time I settle down and find a sweet and gentle wife to give me an heir.”That is the reason I came up with.The logical and civilized version.
Luc eyes me warily for a few seconds.Then he smirks and claps me on the shoulder.
Fucker.
“Well then, let’s go woo your wife.”
The bell on the door chimes when we walk in and we are greeted by a cheery “Hello!”
The receptionist is young and bubbly.Her smile falters somewhat, her eyes growing bigger when she takes us in.“Good morning, gentlemen.Are you here for, uh…”—she looks around our feet for our nonexistent animal—“an appointment?”
“We are here to meet Ms.Bianchi.It will take only a minute.”
Her face brightens.“Sure.She is with a patient.I could call her to come out but she should be finished in five.”The last words sound more like a question.
“It’s all right.We will be waiting for her to finish.”Luc sends her a flirty smile and she blushes.
She motions toward an adjoining waiting room with glass walls and mostly empty chairs.We sit awkwardly opposite an old lady who has a cat in a pet carrier.She eyes us curiously and smiles.
Don’t talk to us, don’t fucking talk to us.
“Hello, gentlemen.Are you here for a pet?”
Goddammit.
I am in no mood to engage in straining small talk so I let Luc take the lead.He loves to talk and his easygoing personality and golden-boy looks make him the ladies’ favorite.
“Good morning, ma’am.No pet, unfortunately.We are here to meet a friend.And who might this charming creature be?”
