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“You look amazing. Are you coming from a dinner or on your way to a party?” he asks.

“No. Lily…”

Vadim understands right away and smiles briefly before biting his lip. He takes a third sip.

“Did you manage to figure things out?”

I dive right in without thinking. I came here to get answers, not to fall in love with him all over again. I need to snap out of this daze, to stop admiring him and falling a little more in love with him with every passing second. His good looks take my breath away, his scent intoxicates me, and his manner flusters me—it happens every time. Even though I know him better than I know myself, he still manages to intrigue me. I’m not sure I can handle it.

“What do you want me to say, Alma? How am I supposed to stop loving you?” He starts rolling up his sleeves, as if doing so will help him compose himself. “For twelve years, I’ve been trying. And every single time, I fail. You’ve gotten under my skin. You torment me day and night,” he confesses in a low voice.

The butterflies in my stomach wake up, flutter their wings, and start to run riot deep inside me. It feels good. More than good. It’s been so long that the sensation catches me by surprise.

Slowly, I move closer. Vadim stays still, though his piercing eyes follow my every move.

“You love me… I love you… So, why are we fighting it?” I murmur.

“Because… Dammit, what are you doing to me? Where does this freaking power you have over me come from?”

“I don’t know. Chemistry, maybe.”

Only a few feet separate us now. He takes a fourth sip of scotch, then drains his glass in one go.

“Fucking chemistry. It’s ruining my life, you know?”

“Fucking chemistry… It drives me crazy… For you…” I whisper against his lips.

Suddenly, the room starts spinning wildly around us. His hands grab my waist and holds me tightly against his chest. His lips close over mine, our tongues intertwining. The taste of whisky fills my mouth, lingers on my skin, and warms my senses. I try to keep myself grounded by savoring each of his kisses, but I can’t help but moan when his hands grab my ass. He responds by groaning when I undo the button of his pants.

We had lost each other; now we’ve found each other again.

Chemistry has triumphed where trust failed.

39

Alma

“Looks like you had a good weekend!” Clémentine guesses, studying my face. “Nice of you to keep me in the loop.”

I tuck away the silly smile that hasn’t left my lips for three days and three nights.

It’s Monday, 7 p.m. My best friend has just burst into my office and is glaring at me, offended after being ignored for a whole weekend.

“I called you ten times! I thought you must have been in a really bad place.”

“Sorry, Clem, I was planning to tell you everything tonight. I was with—”

“I know, with Vadim. As always. Luckily, Lily actually answers her phone. I talked to her this morning, and she told me you hadn’t come home since Friday night.”

“Let me answer an urgent email, and then we can go grab a drink?” I suggest meekly, trying to win her over.

“Fine, but you’re buying! And hurry up. I’m fed up with waiting for you.”

Twenty minutes later, I’m dragging a grumpy Clémentine D’Aragon behind me into one of our favorite bars on the Champs-Élysées. I pull out all the stops. An impeccably dressed server greets us enthusiastically and leads us to a tiny table surrounded by a bright pink banquette. I order a virgin mojito for Clem, who is finally starting to relax, and another for myself. I sense her watching me like a hawk under the slightly-too-dim lighting.

“So? Spit it out. Are you going to fill me in on the latest episode in the Vadim-and-Alma saga?”

“Well, since you asked so nicely…”