Chapter 37
She looked satisfied,adorable, comfortable, and perfect in my arms. I pulled over the soft throw from the couch and covered her naked body.
My body hadn’t been this relaxed in a while, but I was too wired to sleep. I replayed the evening in my head. She’d gotten me aroused from dueling with her to fucking her. I loved how she responded to me. Turning my face, I inhaled her hair.Her floral scent got me all excited again.
The most profound moment that stood out to me wasn’t the sexual encounter. It was the discovery and sharing of our wounds. We got to touch each other’s scars. When she put her hands on mine, her healing intention penetrated the surface of my skin to where the darkness lived.
I couldn’t put it into words, and even now, I couldn’t express it. But I knew what she wanted to do when her hands touched my scars. She wanted to erase the pain etched into the scars the way I wanted to remove hers.
Whatever happened between us today ignited a new warmth inside me. Like a fire had erupted to kindle my dark soul.
I shifted her, removed my numb arm, and retrieved a larger blanket, throwing it over the smaller throw. I got dressed, grabbed the laptop from my office, and settled in the lounge chair across from her, watching her sleep for a moment. My chest constricted, and I wasn’t sure why. I’d been attracted to her physically, but this evening intensified my feelings for her to another level I wasn’t ready to face yet. It wasn’t just the sex. It was the connection, the way she made me feel at the deepest level.
What had I gotten myself into? My mind had been cluttered with finding the asshole who had stolen from me and destroying The Trogyn. Caring about someone posed a threat to my mission. This hadn’t been my initial strategy at all.
You got distracted, moron.
I had to pivot and reevaluate my strategy to ensure the thief was punished and The Trogyn destroyed.
What if my new plan pushed her away? I didn’t like that. I’d take a few days to let things settle in my mind before making any further decisions.
I looked outside the sliding door, which gave me a view of the spacious backyard. The meteorologist was wrong again. About eight inches of snow were already on the ground. Light flurries, my ass.
I searched for the news, checking for the latest weather forecast. A fucking blizzard? Apparently, the precipitation had shifted, and now we had a Nor’easter named Betsy hammering part of New England for the next forty-eight hours.
Vivian shifted, made a soft sound, and curled into the blanket. She looked so cute. And she was now stuck with me for another two days.
Smiling to myself, I got up from the lounge chair, walked over to the sliding door, and looked up at the dark sky. “Thank you.”
This was another gift I didn’t expect to receive today, but I was happy it had occurred. I returned to my seat and emailed my assistant to shift my schedule around. I had an international call tomorrow and Sunday. Those could wait.
I had a special guest to attend to. Vivian had come here tonight all wired up, ready to confront me. I had a feeling what she wanted to know. Somehow, she connected all the dots of what I’d done. I knew she’d find out eventually, but this was too soon.
I opened the file the PI had given me on Vivian’s family history. Her grandfather, Stephen Kwan, or King Viper, had been The Triad tycoon for The Taipans. He passed away and there was no current leader at the moment. The Taipans ruled New York’s Chinatown with business in several cities around the world, including Providence. Like other crime organizations, The Triad dealt with illegal activities. Now I understood her connection to Calvin.
Were The Taipans working with The Trogyn? I couldn’t help the thought.
The file wasn’t complete, and I had more questions for Vivian when she was ready to share. How involved were her parents? Was that how she’d gotten her wounds? Did someone from The Triad do that to her? Who would dare injure the granddaughter of a leader?
His enemy.
Was she close to her grandfather? Why was she really in Providence? It seemed like the woman sleeping on my couch carried a lot of dark secrets. I wanted to keep her safe.
I checked my email for anything pressing since I’d abandoned everything the moment she appeared on my doorstep. The email from the Medici Medallion Award committee reminded me to send in the name of the guest who would attend the event. I looked over at Vivian.
My phone buzzed with a text from Sylvia. She probably got the same email.
Sylvia: We’re going to the Medici together, right?
Wasn’t I clear the last time we spoke?
Arrow: No.
Sylvia: Who are you going with?
Arrow: Not sure.
I knew who I wanted to go with me, but I hadn’t submitted a name yet.
Sylvia: Why are you doing this?
Arrow: Doing what?
Sylvia: We’re good together. My father loves you.
Arrow: We’re not in a relationship.
Sylvia: I can wait.
Arrow: I’m seeing someone.
Like I told you last time.
Sylvia: Does she suck your cock the way I do?
She got this way when she was drunk.
Arrow: Are you drunk?
Sylvia: No. Two bottles of your wine don’t do shit to me.
Christ.
Sylvia:I’m touching myself while I think of you, handsome. (tongue emoji)
Arrow: Stop drinking. Gotta go.
Sylvia: I want your cock in me right now!
A series of explicit demands followed, and I blocked her.
“What’s wrong?” Vivian asked. “Why are you staring at your phone?”
I raked a hand through my hair, trying to shrug off the ridiculous conversation with Sylvia. I had no idea why I’d dated her.
“Nothing important. There’s a blizzard slamming into Providence for the next forty-eight hours. Snow total is expected to be somewhere near two feet.”
“What?” She shot up on the couch, the blanket and throw falling off her, revealing her naked body to me.
She glanced down, gasped, grabbed her clothes, and shoved them on quickly. “I need to leave now. Kaylee needs me.”
I wasn’t going to let her leave. If she had to, I’d do it with her. “Is she at home?” I asked.
“She’s sleeping over at her friend’s, who lives one floor below us.”
“With Violet?”
Vivian nodded.
“Then you can call or text her. Let her know you’re stuck at my place. Tell her to stay at Violet’s.”
“I can’t do that—put Kaylee’s life in someone else’s hands.”
I grinned at her protectiveness. “Aren’t Violet and Kaylee good friends?”
“How do you know?”
“Because I run Whiz Kidz, remember? They’re both in the program. Call Violet’s mom. I’m sure she’d understand.” I came over to sit next to her. “Besides, the city is shut down. Only essential workers may travel.”
“I can’t believe this. The meteorologist was wrong.”
“That’s one occupation where you can be wrong many times and still keep your job.”
A small smile emerged on her lips, and she sighed. “I need to see.” She walked over to the sliding door. “Wow. If I had known there would be a blizzard, I wouldn’t be here.”
“But God had other plans for us.” I draped an arm around her shoulders. “He wanted you to come to my house tonight.” I looked at her. “And I’m so glad you came.”
Thunder boomed, and Vivian jumped at the sound.
I embraced her. “Thunder snow is something special.”
Lightning flashed through the dark sky while snow whirled around from the howling wind. She relaxed in my embrace, but said nothing.
I pulled back and looked at her. “You came here tonight because you needed answers. I’ll give them to you if you agree to one thing.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Why is there an ultimatum for my questions?”
I smirked and shrugged. “Because I need a yes from you.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Then I won’t ask.”
“Then you’ll never know the reason. And you’re dying to know.”
“Do you want to duel about it?” she inquired.
“No. Because if we duel, I’ll end up devouring you again.”
She pouted. “Agree to what?”
“Date me.”
Amusement gleamed in her eyes.
“You said you’d give me an answer when you’re ready to date. We just did something that only couples do.” I pressed my lips to hers. “Say yes and make me a fortunate man.”
“That doesn’t sound like a question.”
I smiled. “Will you be my girlfriend, Tulip?”
She rose onto her toes. “I’m not sure where this relationship will go, but I’m willing to give it a chance. So yes.”
I gave her a wet, loud, and sloppy kiss, and her stomach growled.
“Let’s eat, and then I’ll answer all your questions.”