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“Then tell me your expectations and I’ll let you know if I agree or disagree.”
“My career is important to me.”
“Understood. I have no plans on fucking with your career…” She narrowed her eyes and I smirked. She no doubt was questioning my behavior earlier. I had seen Shilo backstage. His pale skin was already showing purple bruises from landing face first when I’d jerked him from the stage and he wore a mock turtleneck that likely covered the print from my hand.
“I won’t apologize for earlier. He deserved exactly what he got. Consider him lucky to have been there tonight. I could have cracked every bone in his face and not given it a second thought. But I am sorry that it had to happen there in front of everyone. I’m well aware that may complicate your relationship with the other dancers.”
“I don’t want anyone thinking my position is because of who I am.”
“Do you really believe that could ever be the case?”
When she didn’t respond right away, I said with certainty. “You are an amazing talent, Cress. Not one of those dancers who took the stage, with, before, or after you can compare. They know why you are a principal dancer.”
Slowly, ever so fucking slowly, she offered me a smile. “You know what a principal dancer is?”
I chuckled.
She was goading me by demanding that I admit I knew more about her than I should which would mean I had done some digging.
“I was curious. I did some research.”
“Oh…” was all I got.
“What else?”
Her eyes lifted and fastened with mine—a display of questions, so I clarified. “What other expectations do you have…”
Before she could answer, her brown orbs moved past me seconds before our food arrived. A plate was placed between both of us along with a large lemonade. I thanked the server and we said a quick blessing before diving in. Cress moaned through several bites of her croquettes followed by a forkful of grits and sautéed spinach before she shifted her attention back to me.
“I shouldn’t be eating this heavy, but I’m going to thoroughly enjoy every bite.”
“As you should.” I forked a bit of smothered chicken into my mouth and Cress swallowed another mouthful of food, taking down some of her lemonade then she shifted back to our conversation.
“I want trust, loyalty, and respect too.” Her determined eyes leveled with mine and I nodded.
“You’ll have that.”
“Respect as yourequal?”
I lifted my napkin and brushed it over my mouth. “If you prove you can handle being my equal, yes.”
She frowned. “And what do you mean by handle?”
“Our worlds are not simple. Family obligations create complications that wouldn’t otherwise exist. I’m also not an easy man. If you’re willing to accept that both may test you then you can handle being my equal.”
There was so much more she would have to understand about me to truly know what that meant but in time I would give her the dark and twisted details.
“I can agree to that.”
“Anything else…”
She hadn’t broached the topic of sex and I could sense from the way her eyes now refused to meet mine that the thought was circling her mind so I coaxed her a little.
“Say it. Whatever’s on your mind is relevant if it concerns us making this marriage work, Cress.”
“The women you sleep with…” She hesitated until her eyes met mine. “They will have to understand discretion. It’s important that our marriage is believable and considering the history…”
I killed your brother and he killed mine…
