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Lily scrunches her face but then joins in. “I hope the buzz comes quickly.”

I giggle, and it feels so good, but then I remember… everything… and I quickly down another shot. “So to put a nice red bow on all my problems, I went to see my father’s lawyer.”

“About your trust fund?” Lily downs the second glass and grimaces.

I nod and pick up the teapot, refilling our cups. The scent of the spirit lingers around us. “Turns out my father dissolved my trust fund and forgot to inform me.”

“What a prick.” Cora salutes with her cup and drinks. We follow.

“Your father stole your money?” Lily slurs her words a bit.

I snort. “It doesn’t even surprise me. The level of shit my father did to me, and even more to my brothers, already conditioned me to expect the worst from him.”

“What did Corm say about that? That kind of voids your agreement with him.” Cora pours us another round.

“I came right here after I found out.”

“Wait, if you went to see the lawyer…” Lily speaks with a bit of an effort. Or maybe it’s me who follows with slight difficulty. “Is your marriage legit now?”

“Yeah, the irony… Corm finally relented and got me the marriage certificate, and it turns out I never needed it.”

“So your deal with him is over?” Cora asks.

That gives me pause. On paper, there is no reason for me to stick around anymore.

After last night, I feel our deal is over anyway. Or rather, he wants me to stay for him. not for another benefit.

The thought thrills me. Intrigues me. Scares the shit out of me.

It was easy to succumb to his vows last night when I was dazed from my need for him, and then later from all the orgasms.

It was harder to believe them when I woke up. No longer hormone-influenced, I panicked a bit.

Now, with some space and distance between us, I don’t know what I feel.

Confused. Excited. Terrified. Belonging.

The last one is a mixed feeling, though. The man made it clear how much he wants me. He cared for me even before he declared his intent to give us a real try.

If I’m honest, I want him too. The idea of putting aside our hatred and leaning into this undiscovered territory is appealing.

And it’s the only area where I don’t feel lost. With him by my side, I feel like something is going well in my life.

But can I find my other parts, rediscover myself, if I’m with him? If I’m his?

“He still hasn’t signed the deal that was dependent on his image lift,” I say.

“And you care about his needs since…?” Cora asks.

“That!” Lily clings her cup against Cora’s. “Have you developed feelings for the hot devil?”

I giggle. “We might have entered into a new phase of our relationship.” I bite my lip.

“Like beyond the bed-rrrooo…” Lily shakes her head. “Bedroom?”

I want to say yes, but we have experienced little beyond the bedroom since we decided—or rather Corm ordered—that we are trying this for real. I chuckle. “Heissmoking hot.”

“True.” Cora sighs.