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“Not sure how to deal with them yet,” I admit to my brother. The only person that I would. The only person I have ever avoided is Tova, and I did a shit job of that. I knew when she entered the house. I had an alert set. That way I could pass by her and get my daily fix. One I haven’t gotten in days.

“Because you want them to like you?” Ronan asks.

“I could give a shit less if they like me.” I take a sip of my drink.

What I care about is my soon-to-be wife. I’m guessing she is going to want me to be on good terms with them. I know she is close to her parents. That had been key when I’d moved her parents here to the property. I knew she’d be with them.

“You give a shit if your wife likes you?”

I grunt a response. I care far too much, but no one else needs to know that.

“Issheavoidingyou?” Ronan makes a show to look around. If Tova was here, you’d know. You can’t miss her.

“Yes.” The one word comes out short and hard. This evening would be a lot easier if she was here. At least I could watch her.

With each second that ticks by and Tova doesn’t show, my irritation is growing. So does my worry, but I know there is no chance she snuck out. She is still on these grounds. In fact, Tova should still be in her home.

“I’m surprised you’re finally getting married.” Cora tilts her head up toward me. She is the daughter of Leo. Leo has already married off his two other daughters. Cora is the last one standing. I’ve heard there have been fights over her. Her father appears to be holding out. I honestly don’t understand it.

A strong floral smell comes from her, making a dull headache start to form. Tova always smells of wildflowers and sunshine. That floral smell is addicting. I'm not sure what's wrong with Cora's scent. It's probably artificial, much like the rest of her.

“It was time,” I respond, keeping my answer short to discourage further conversation. Cora shifts closer to me.

"It would have been nice to know you were searching for a wife."

"I wasn't searching." I had no intention of marrying. It was twofold. I'd long ago resolved myself to my obsession with Tova. There has never been an attraction or sexual desire toward another woman. I've never had it. It's why I knew I was so different from everyone else.

I could see the lust in some of my men's eyes when at a club or when business called for us to go to a strip club. I saw it more so at the brothel. The men would fall all over themselves with their need.

It used to piss me off that they could be so weak-willed for an orgasm. A thing you could handle yourself if need be. I didn'tunderstand. That was until Tova. She has this strange hold over me that is unbreakable.

"Oh, you just had your father pick? My father wasn't aware. You know?—"

"Don't." I cut her off when she brings her hand up to touch my shoulder. It stops a few inches from me. "Cora, listen very carefully to me." I lean down so no one else can hear me. "Do not come into my home and disrespect my fiancée." I let the coldness bleed into my words. "I don't care who your daddy is." Cora swallows audibly.

"I'm sorry," she whispers.

I nod in response and step around her. My patience is now gone. I make my way toward the Sullivans. Everyone stops speaking when I reach them.

"Where is my fiancée?" I ask. My words come out harsher than I intend, but I’m tired of waiting. I need to see Tova. She’s my drug, and I need my hit. I’ve been jonesing to be near her.

"I'll go check on her. She can be?—”

"I'll go." I don't wait for the protest I know is coming. I leave the room, making my way toward the back of the house and out the patio.

When I get to her family's house, I don't bother knocking. The sensor lock on the door opens for me, as all doors do on my property.

I don't have to guess which room is Tova's. I turn the knob slowly, opening the door to see her asleep on her bed. Her dark hair is spread out all around her in rich, thick waves. I walk to the side of the bed and stare down at her.

Her angelic face is so damn innocent. I don’t want that to be taken from her. No matter how much I clean up our family's dealings, it will never be enough to match her.

An e-reader is lying beside her. When I pick it up, curiosity gets the best of me. What the fuck is she reading? I flip to thenext page, reading in great detail about a girl giving her boss a blow job under his desk. However cliché the details it goes into are.

“Hey.” The e-reader is ripped from my hand. “That’s private.” She holds it tight to her chest. “You don’t just read a girl’s Kindle.”

“Don’t want your future husband to see the dick sucking you’re reading about?” Tova’s mouth falls open, making my mind flash to her under my desk with her mouth ready for me. I hadn't meant to be so crude with her, but I find I'm jealous. Yes, that is the correct word.

It is, after all, an emotion only she can elicit from me. Along with so many others.