Chapter 6 Tristan #2
Her belly grumbles, and she places a hand on her stomach, eyeing me with an apologetic glance.
Needing to take care of my woman, I offer her my hand. “Let’s have dinner.”
She looks from my eyes to my hand for long seconds, causing my nerves to riot before she takes it, soothing my anguish. Her soft, smaller one fits perfectly in mine. Another sin won’t matter at this point because that’s what the foreplay is—corrupting the innocent.
“I should have known you’d be coming after I saw the fridge stocked,” she sighs, fidgeting with her fingers.
I grip her chin, making her look up at me. “What’s the matter?”
I already know, but I want her to trust me enough to confide in me while I am deceiving her in the worst way possible.
But I can’t stop myself. I don’t want to either.
Until the truth pops the bubble, I want to give her a Tristan no one has ever witnessed or experienced—open, raw, vulnerable. It’s the least I can do.
“I don’t know how Evie will react to the news.”
I shrug. I love my sister, but not even she can make me change my mind.
“Why are you so calm about this? This is crazy, and you appear so cool, so unaffected by it.” Annoyance coupled with hurt underlies her voice.
She will get used to my character. It’s not in my nature to lose my cool.
“I know just one thing. You’re mine, Viviana. I don’t care about how others might react to that, including my sister.”
She tilts her head, her eyes widening in defiance. “Yours? Quite a bold statement.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I raise a brow. “Contradicting it only strengthens my resolve to demonstrate it, and I am trying here, Viviana.”
Her eyes narrow on me as if wanting to reach my soul. “Trying what?”
She’s not only beautiful but also smart. I guess being emotionally intelligent is a prerequisite for her future job as a preschool teacher.
Fulfilling her dream of teaching kids has to satisfy her desire not to have her own. I won’t have children. Ever.
Lifting my hand, I brush my knuckles along her soft cheek. “To woo you. Get to know each other. Date.”
She goes completely still. “You’re not serious.”
“I never joke.”
“I’m getting that.” She gulps. “But—”
I place a finger on her mouth. “Don’t. Just don’t. I know what I’m doing.”
I have no fucking idea what I am doing.
It’s just puzzle pieces running rampant through my head while I try to reveal the image with no instructions. I need a plan. A clear mind. But with her presence resembling a damn bulldozer wrecking my focus, it won’t happen anytime soon.
“I can’t date you. We can’t be together. I—”
“You’re what?”
She lets out a long sigh coated in dejection. I am perfectly aware that she’s limited in what she can do. Goddamn it, she will hate me, but by my side, she will be free. Freer, at least.
“Please, you don’t understand. I can’t tell you specifics, but my family is dangerous. What we did was…” Her voice breaks, not even able to finish the sentence.
Her shoulders droop, chest caving, her slumped posture revealing she doesn’t regret giving in to desire, but she knows she should because in the Mafia, virginity is a trade.
Gripping her chin, I say above her lips, matter-of-factly, “I’m not afraid. Of anyone.”
Her palm touches the top of mine, eyes pleading. “You should be.”
“Viviana, nothing will happen to you. You’re safe with me,” I assure her, my tone dripping with resolution.
She shakes her head, sorrow striking her face. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I know exactly what I am talking about. I know exactly what I want. And that is you. Let us explore this between us.”
Give me a chance to give you the dream before dawn crushes it.
“For a while, until reality catches up with us.” She finishes my thought, making me believe she was made for me, which is such a pity. This woman deserves a knight, yet she got me—the villain.
Moving into the kitchen, she sets the table, stealing glances at me as I heat the food.
The thought hits me out of nowhere. With her, I don’t have to be on alert, enjoying that she can’t take her eyes off me, but trying to be stealthy about that.
“How will this work? How often are you here?” She shoots questions that reveal her interest.
“Once in a while, when my busy schedule allows it.”
Her eyes sweep around the modern space. “It’s quite sad to have this place and not enjoy it.”
“You’re right.”
A surprised look contorts her features. My lavish lifestyle is nothing but a waste, keeping up appearances, I am a more fulfilled man than I actually am.
“Help me learn how to enjoy life more. I’ll spend every weekend here if you accompany me.”
She casts a contrite look my way once again. “You’re…”
“What?” I ask as we both take our seats at the shiny table.
The smell of glazed duck wafts through the air, complementing the truffle rice and asparagus, and a domesticated, serene atmosphere surrounds us.
“A conundrum.”
I chuckle. “You’ll have me figured out in no time.”
“I doubt that.”
We fall silent for a while as we dig into the scrumptious dinner.
“How have classes been going?”
“Harder.” She pins me with an accusatory look. I take immense pride in that being my fault. “How was work?”
“Harder.”
I wink at her, and she bites her lip, muffling her smile.
“You must be very successful. Your penthouse, this beach house.”
If she only knew.
I smirk. “I work hard.” I fuck harder.
She clears her throat. “And in your free time you like to read, play chess, and work out.”
“See, you already know the most important things about me,” I say good-naturedly.
She arches an eyebrow, not buying it. “You just appear open, Tristan. Don’t play games with me. I know when someone is hiding things. I’ve been looking at my reflection for the last twenty-one years.”
She resumes eating, and I drag a hand down my face. “You’re right. It won’t happen again. Discover my secrets at your own pace.”
The relief shining in her eyes undoes me. “Thank you.”
“I’m not used to people seeing something other than what I present.”
“You said I am yours. Then, you’re mine. We’re always truthful with one another.”
Her claiming me does things to me I can’t even explain, but fuck, I like it. Even though she’ll think the prelude was all a lie. Even though she will regret giving in, trusting me. Even though it won’t last, I will take whatever she offers and give her anything she desires in return. Until…
Not liking where my thoughts head, I nod.
It feels like a sentence—a lifetime of misery over one seemingly white lie. My good intentions will appear as deception to her. The mistake of her life.
She grins, proud of herself, twisting my heart.
I want to open my mouth and say that I am sorry, beg for forgiveness, but it’s too late—for both of us.
Thinking about the end goal, ease seeps through the heavy feeling sitting on my chest.
“Anything else?” I ask, wanting her to feel comfortable in my presence so that, at some point, she can forgive me.
She shakes her head, voice laced with incredulity. “This is crazy.”
“Perhaps.”
Our eyes lock, and she wields magic over me, a net of potent spells trapping me for good. There’s no escape.
I don’t even want a way out, accepting her innate power over me.
Embracing madness, I smile, facing the one aspect beyond my control.