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Just wanted to kiss her.
“You really want me to dress like this while we have dinner?” She wore a black teddy with garters.
“Yes.”
“I’m practically naked.”
“That’s the point.” I sat across from her and poured two glasses of wine.
Her tits were pressed together, and the lacy fabric wouldn’t protect her if something hot fell into her lap. But she looked sexy in lingerie, and I liked having all the power.
Especially since she gave it to me.
I cut into my steak and ate, pairing it with the red wine Helena had picked out. My phone kept vibrating and buzzing because work never stopped, so I put it on silent to keep it from ruining our dinner.
“You don’t have to turn it off because of me.” Her hair was done in big curls, and she wore enough makeup to look like a stripper. But I liked her that way, as a woman who willingly became my prisoner.
“You’re much more interesting.”
“I find that hard to believe…” It was one of the rare times we’d shared a meal together, and it was clear she didn’t eat much. Whenever food was in front of her, she took a few bites of then lost interest. It was probably why she had such a nice figure—because she didn’t care about food.
Wine, on the other hand…was a different story.
She looked out the large windows to the patio, probably enjoying the view just the way I did. Normally, I’d sit outside, but now that December was almost upon us, it was far too cold. But we still got to enjoy the view. “How long have you lived here?”
“You can ask me anything, and that’s what you decide on?” I’d noticed she picked questions that would never have substantial answers. Even now, she was keeping everything sterile, doing her best to make us strangers.
“I’m genuinely curious. This place looks like it was remodeled recently.”
“I moved in eight years ago.”
“You like living in the city?”
“Prefer it. Tuscany is too vulnerable.”
“It’s beautiful…”
“Yes, but you become an easy target.”
“So, you feel safer in the city?”
“It’s a lot easier to keep eyes stationed everywhere—out of sight.”
“So, you have men watching your property at all times?”
I nodded. “If an enemy comes too close…” I squeezed my forefinger like it was on top of a trigger.
“Well…good thing they knew I was friendly.” She drank her wine again, preferring the drink over her meal.
“Beautiful women are always welcome in my house.”
“We can be evil too.”
“That makes them even better.” I took another bite of the steak, enjoying the tenderness. Helena had been working for me for a long time, and I would employ her until she was physically unable to keep up with me.
“So…you aren’t working all weekend?”
“Damien has it covered.”
“How did you get guys meet?”
“University.”
“Really?” she asked, visibly surprised by the revelation.
“Yes, I’m smart enough to attend college.”
“That’s not what I meant,” she said quickly. “The two of you just don’t seem average… That’s all.”
“We were in school for one year when we decided to drop out. The classes were a joke, and there was nothing we were interested in besides becoming rich. There seemed to be quicker ways of doing that, better ways.”
“So that’s all you care about? Making money.”
I didn’t want to be stripped down to a superficial person, but maybe I was a superficial person. “Yes, it’s important to me. And anyone who tells you it’s not is a liar—including you.”
“Me?” she asked in surprise. “No…you’re mistaken.”
“I’m right on the money,” I said coldly. “You don’t want to be married because you want to retain your independence. You want to own your hotels so you can control them. You want to be completely self-sufficient so you never have to need anyone’s help. That’s exactly the same thing. Financial security is freedom. So, don’t make assumptions about me unless you’re prepared to make them about yourself.”
When she didn’t have a rebuttal, she must have internalized what I said. “I’m not obsessed with being rich, but I guess the rest of that is true.”
She was ambitious like me. She wanted control over everything, so she would never have to answer to anyone. If I got to control her every day of my life, I’d be a happy man. But she wanted the exact same thing…to live without tyranny.
I would be a fucking tyrant.
“There’s nothing wrong with feeling that way,” I said. “The better you understand who you are, the more you’ll understand what you want.” I continued to eat my dinner even though she was already finished.
“You and Damien seem close.”
“We are.”
“Is he your brother?”
“No.”
“Just your friend?”
I nodded. “My only friend.”
“I’m not your friend?” she whispered.
The last thing I wanted to be considered was a friend. I’d take lover, but I preferred something better. “No. Friends don’t fuck the way we do.” I refilled my glass with wine and took another drink.
