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“Oh, I’m not. Not at all. Don’t worry. I know our marriage is a business deal and I respect that. What I’m saying is that I want a friendship too. I wantthis, what we’re doing, to be equal. We’re equals.”
“I’m aware,” he says. “I’ve never seen you as someone who just caters to me.”
I snort. “Right.”
“Fine. I no longer see you as that.”
“Good, that’s honest.”
“I’m always honest with you.”
I nod. “I’ll do the same with you.”
But the words don’t soften the expression on his face. His eyes narrow instead. “What brought this conversation on? Was it something I said or did?”
“Not per se. Just… I’m not going to come with you to a conference just to be in the hotel room when you come back from work, just to satisfy you.”
His voice turns dark. “Don’t I satisfy you in return? Last night, you came not once, not twice, but—”
“Yes, you do. A lot.” My cheeks are on fire. It’s one thing to do it, another to talk about it casually over dinner. “I have no complaints in that department.”
“No complaints,” he mutters. “After she just promised me honesty.”
“Fine. The sex is amazing. Better than I’ve ever had. If I had known it would be this good between us, I would have jumped you a lot sooner.”
A smile breaks across Victor’s face. It’s pleased and masculine and it transforms his stern features entirely, as if a spotlight has just illuminated them. “Best you’ve had, huh?”
I rub my neck. “I didn’t think this conversation would go in this direction.”
“First she makes me dinner, then she compliments me in bed. Fuck, Myers. This place has gotten a lot better since you moved in.”
It’s not on par with what I’d told him, but… the words make my chest tighten. “Oh.”
“Don’t tell me you’re in those tights again?”
I stick a leg out beneath the table. “Whoops.”
He groans, eyes dancing. “You’re killing me.”
“But do you see what I mean? I don’t want to feel like I’m just a convenient booty call, just because I also happen to live here. I want this to be completely separate from our contract and our agreement.”
“It is completely separate,” he says. “This has nothing to do with your compensation, with mentoring, with my grandfather’s house. Was that what you’re worried about?”
“A little bit, yes.”
“Don’t be. They’re not related.” He pushes his empty plate away and reaches up to undo the top buttons of his shirt. I catch a hint of dark blond chest hair and have to look away. “I was going to suggest dessert, but I’ve changed my mind. Taken your words into consideration.”
“Oh.”
“Do you have work to do?”
“I always have work to do,” I say. “I’m starting my own company.”
“That you are. All right. Let’s work in the living room for an hour, and then you choose a movie for us.”
“Choose a movie?”
His voice turns gruff. “Yes. Isn’t that a suitable friendship thing to do? And then I can finally fuck you on the couch. I still haven’t forgiven my body for being too sick for it last time.”
