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He pours us a drink. “I’d do champagne, but…” He shrugs. “This is just as good. Better because of what it represents.”

“Agreed.” I pop a berry in my mouth and eat it.

Demyan traces a line along the veins of my inner wrist, down into my palm where he continues, drawing circles, his touch soft, making my stomach flutter. “Things are going to work out, Erin.”

“I… I hope so.”

“I promise.” He meets my gaze and takes a swallow of the juice. “I only agreed to marry?—”

“Yes, you told me.” I clutch the glass with one hand tight.

“It bears repeating,Lyubimaya. I got out of it once; I’ll do it again. I only agreed, as it was the only way to get the information to save you. Time was of the essence as they say. And I wasn’t about to leave you in that brute Niko’s hands a moment more than I had to. I’ve never had any intentions of going through with it.”

“I know.”

“Not sure you do. Sergio’s been after a merge, with me, a way to use my power and my resources. I work with him occasionally, but it’s one of those delicate alliances. And even if you didn’t exist, the last thing I’d ever do, ever want to do, is marry Stefina.”

“She’s so beautiful.”

He laughs and shakes his head. “She isn’t. She wears too much makeup, too much of everything, and while I’m sure she’s someone’s wet dream, she isn’t mine. Not ever. You are. Without her father as an influence, I may have liked her more, but I’ll tell you this. Even if she wasn’t his daughter, had more of a heart, more depth, I’d never want her. Ever.”

That catches me hard and I try to breathe slow. All this jealousy for her is for nothing. And I can see it.

I can’t guarantee myself never being jealous of her again, because emotions are irrational things, but I can see he doesn’t want her.

“My heart, Erin,” he says, “is and always will be yours. Youjust need to trust me, allow the space so I can get out of this without war, if I can.”

“I do trust you,” I whisper.

Thing is, I’m not sure I trust Stefina and Sergio.

“Give me your drink.” I do. “Lie down. I think we should celebrate.”

“How?”

“Like this…”

And he pushes me gently down and pulls off my panties, parting my thighs. The first lick of his tongue is electricity itself, the second a buzz loaded with pleasure.

He starts to eat me out, his tongue thrusting into me, between my lips, deep into my tunnel, and then up, all the way to my clit.

Demyan doesn’t use his fingers. Just his lips, teeth, and tongue and it’s a first-class ride straight into orgasmic bliss. It comes fast and I’m swept up, shattering against him.

Gasping, my morning only gets better as he doesn’t let me return to earth. Instead, he takes me higher by pulling out his turgid cock and thrusting deep in me.

And we fuck until we both come together.

Like we’re signing along a dotted line of love.

Chapter Eighteen

DEMYAN

With time,and I have enough, I can fix this. Work out a way.

Our special weekend a glowing success, a new baby, and the chance to make a happy family and grow my empire further is my future. And one I embrace.

There are clouds over Chicago, and it starts to rain as I pull up outside the mansion.