“I see.”
“You do?” My brows furrowed. “Because I don’t.”
He cupped my face and pressed his forehead against mine. “You will, but first I need to get all the information about it and learn how your sister got connected to it.”
“But—”
“Give me a few days,” he murmured. “I promise you’ll have the answer.”
“Okay.” My chest trembled. Would I finally learn what happened to my sister and why? I wanted—needed—to know everything now, but I knew it would do no good to push Lykos. I’d waited for ten years; I could wait a few more days.
“Where are you going so early?” I asked instead.
“Work.”
“Ahhh,” I murmured. “You know, we never talked about whether I should pretend I know or don’t know what you do? I mean, I know you’re a real estate mogul, but I also know there’s another side to your business.”
“It’s best you know as little as possible about my illegal business. I don’t want to keep any secrets from you, but also don’t think it’s wise to make you an accomplice to any of it by exposing you to it.”
“That makes sense,” I admitted.
“Okay, I’m going to go.”
“I’ll walk you out.”
“No, stay in bed and rest,” he murmured, kissing me hard and deep. “When I get back home tonight, be ready to be fucked to oblivion because I can’t get enough of you, and I have ten years to make up for.”
My whole body had heated at the idea.
“Can’t wait,” I rasped, and with one last deep kiss, he turned and left the bedroom, and I listened as the front door of the penthouse closed.
I lay back onto the pillows, my mind wandering. From the conversation we just had to everything we’d done last night.
My fingers curled against the sheets at the memory, and my eyes remained closed a moment longer, replaying all the images from the night before. The heat of Lykos’s hands, the look in his eyes, and the way he said my name when he came.
A soft smile tugged at my lips.
The man blew my mind with his stamina, but I was fairly sure I blew his too.
I love you.
The words were new and fragile in my chest, but they were true and I meant them. Not because he kept my daughter safe. Not because he had been celibate for the past ten years. But because I could feel how deeply he cherished me. He loved me too. I felt it in every touch and every kiss.
With those thoughts, I slowly drifted off to sleep.
“Violet.”
I woke up, blinking hard and looking around. I thought I heard my name, but there was nobody around. I slowly closed my eyes.
“Violet?”
The quiet voice called out again, and I sat up, blinking my eyes open again.
Aria stood in the doorway, her hair a tangled halo around her face, still half asleep. Dimitros peeked from behind her, in no better shape, but with a big smile on his face.
“Well,” I murmured, pushing myself up onto my elbows, “my two favorite people.”
Aria ran to me, climbing onto the bed without hesitation. Dimitros trailed slowly behind her, playing it cool in comparison. It was understandable; he was a teenager, almost a legal adult. Last night was a rare moment of vulnerability and honesty, but I would be delusional to expect that of him all the time. When he needed me, I hoped he’d seek me out.
