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She only had to look in his eyes to know what kind of terms Nik imagined she would demand. It killed Daria to know how little he thought of her now, but she reminded herself of one vital truth – one damn truth that would make what she was about to do acceptable.
It was her fault.
Her choice to lie, to deceive him, to risk making him feel like a fool if he discovered the truth.
It was her fault, and she was paying for it now.
It was her fault, but it wasn’t too late to change, to start over again and prove to Nik that she deserved another chance.
Up, down, up, down—-
She made herself meet Nik’s eyes again. “My first condition...” She took a deep breath. “I want a specific schedule from you.”
Nik was bemused. “A schedule?”
“Yes. I’m sorry if this...if this will make you lie to Miranda...” She paused. Her conscience stung at what she was about to ask, but she told herself all was fair in love and war.
I’m sorry, Miranda. I know you won’t forgive me for this, but I love Nik, and I need one last chance with him.
“I want to be able to expect you to be with me for certain days or time every week.”
Nik frowned as he tried but failed to determine Daria’s angle in all this. “How much time are you talking about?”
Even as she turned red, she forced herself to ask archly, “How many times do you want to make love to me?”
“Every second.” But Nik’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “But it’s not making love. You and I just fuck.”
Daria’s smile didn’t slip. “My bad.” Dear God, if she had to pay some kind of emotional mechanic for its constant repairs, she’d be bankrupt by now. “How many times do you want to fuck me then?”
Nik swore in his mind at the way Daria’s eyes had become extremely...bright. It’s an act, Nik Alexandropoulos. It’s always a damn act.
“We meet every Mondays and Fridays.” As soon as he spoke the words, he wanted to change them. Who the fuck was he kidding? Two days a week wouldn’t be enough, not with how much his cock hungered to possess Daria’s body again.
“And I assume you’ll sleep here during those nights?”
Nik knew he should tell her no, just to make sure Daria didn’t feel she had a right to dictate anything. But in the end, he only nodded curtly. He had always thought people who cut their noses to spite their faces were foolish, and he didn’t plan to be like them.
Daria swallowed back a sigh of relief. Two nights he would sleep in her bed. That was something, at least. In the back of her head, a small, sensible voice argued that she was selling herself short, but Daria chose to ignore it.
It was like what Alyx said, she told herself tautly. She had to do everything to get Nik back, and this was one of those things. As long as Nik and Miranda weren’t yet married, she still had a chance.
And if they did marry, the small, sensible voice insisted. What then? Did she go on being Nik’s mistress?
“Do you have any other conditions?”
Nik’s question interrupted her train of thoughts, and Daria eagerly welcomed the diversion, deciding then to live for the present and ignore the future for the time being.
Meeting Nik’s gaze again, she said quietly, “Just one more.” She paused, then added almost reluctantly, “And it’s also non-negotiable.”
“What is it?”
“You can make me sign an NDA for this if you want,” she hedged.
Nik’s face became inscrutable. “That kind of condition, is it?”
Daria could only nod, her unease growing at the cold look in Nik’s eyes. It almost made her backtrack, but she told herself she was doing the right thing – the only way she could have a fighting chance to make Nik fall in love with her again.
“What is it then?” Nik asked. “I will make my decision after hearing what you have to say.”
