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Oh, this was going to be fun. “And why’s that?” I leaned forward, getting back into her space.
Briana sucked in a sharp breath. She was so close. Whatever scent was freshly dabbed onto her skin cut an exotic picture.
Something flashed in her grey eyes, the blue sharpening around the edges. Without moving away, she lifted her wine to take a sip. Her arm brushed against mine as she set it down, completely unaware of the bandage under my sleeve—the secrets I kept from her. The dangerous, illegal life I could never bring her into.
“We’re going to want space, and having our own rooms gives us the chance to unwind,” she answered.
What if I don’t want space?Seeing her like this, so frigid and battling for control, made me want to thaw her frozen exterior and unleash the passion I knew was in there. But that was the eternal debate, wasn’t it? Should I push her and get physical? I sure as hell wanted a taste, and I thought she might as well. So I pushed some more.
“What are you going to tell them when they ask how our relationship is going in a few weeks from now? When the craziness of the wedding is a fast-fading memory?”
“I’ll make excuses for a time, then eventually drop the bomb that we’ve broken up.” Briana tossed her shoulder. “It isn’t a big deal.”
That sparked anger in my chest. I reached out and tugged one of the pins holding her hair back and fisted her loose hair. “I’m not some toy,” I growled.
“And yet you’re agreeing to letting me use you!” Her eyes flashed. The warmth in their stormy depths was intoxicating.
“You called saying you needed me. I’m here, that’s all there is to it. But you’re not going to be the puppeteer and boss me around.”
“We need ground rules, Tor,” Briana insisted, pulling away from me.
I held tight for a moment longer before I let her go. She needed to know who was in control. “Let’s eat. You can explain your idea of how this is going to go, then I’ll tell you all the ways you’re wrong.”
Briana pursed her lips. “It’s a good thing I have a contract drawn up that has everything laid out.”
Oh, this will be good.I set the plates down on the table, gathering linen napkins and silverware as Briana disappeared into her office. When she emerged, I stood behind her seat.
She looked at me, then the seat. Finally, with a little huff, she handed me the sheet of legal paper and folded herself into her chair. “First and foremost, know that I’m an independent woman who doesn’t need a man in her life. This is a game I’m playing with my family. I am using strategy. The rules are in place to ensure it goes well.”
I slid her seat into the table, but instead of going away, I bent down and breathed into her ear, “Everything is open for negotiation.”
A fucking shiver raced through her. Point one for me. This was why I was here—I couldn’t resist playing with her. And she needed me really fucking badly to go through all this trouble. Knowing that was enough to push forward and continue chipping away at the icy façade she exhibited to find the goddess underneath. I didn’t have a damn clue what I would do if I unleashed her, but I looked forward to the challenge.
Chapter 5 – Briana
Dinner last night wasa disaster. Such an arrogant ass, Viktor made a hash of my contract before he signed—and then the prick had the audacity to ask if we should seal the contract with a kiss! One look at that sinfully sexy mouth and I hightailed it to bed with my laptop before my wine-addled brain got me into trouble. He might have an intoxicating air of danger about him, but the teasing and needling always reminded me why I didn’t give into that hot body that was riddled with muscles and stained with ink.
