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Cillian

3 days until you’re mine for 48 hours.

Dinara

I’m packing tonight. Can’t wait.

We’ve already made plans. Boris will drive me to a small airport, where Cillian will be waiting with his private jet.

Cillian

Don’t pack much. Plan to have you naked most of the time. Maybe fuck you in my hot tub.

Heat floods my body at the thought.

Dinara

Behave. I’m with my younger siblings, and you’re making it hard to pretend I’m watching a movie.

Cillian

How old are they?

Dinara

My sister is 13 and my brother is 5. We’re close.

Cillian

That’s good. I’m close with my 4 siblings too. Family is important.

Dinara

Absolutely.

Except when part of your family is toxic as hell.

A chill runs through me. What if my father or Roman find out about Cillian? What if they try to use him against me?

The anxiety twists in my gut, but I shove the thought down. I don’t want to focus on the what-ifs. Right now, I’m talking to a guy who’s making me feel good. A guy who’s proving that maybe, just maybe, I deserve this.

Cillian

Enjoy your day, baby. I’ll talk to you later.

Dinara

You too. XO

I put my phone down and try to push away the unease in my chest. For the first time in a long while, it feels like it’s okay to want something good.

* * *

CILLIAN

Hours later, I’m still staring at her text, that XO she sent making me grin like a damn fool.

I’m already counting down the minutes until I see her again. The whole weekend is mapped out, and I wasn’t entirely joking about having her naked most of the time. But I do want to get to know her better. Take her out, show her the city. We’ll hit all the cheesy tourist traps first, then I’ll take her to my favorite spots. The hidden waterfall in Central Park, Belvedere Castle just as the sun dips below the skyline, and Little Italy, where the food’s as authentic as it gets.