Page 72 of Bound in Debt

“What kind of deal?” Dante’s voice dips into a dangerous growl, but I ignore it. I wish the goosebumps that just formed would disregard it, too.

“Two grand.” I glance up at him, letting him see the truth in my eyes. “Money talks, Dante. You know that. And as long as I tell my dad I’m using the money for clothes or makeup, he’ll load whatever I ask for into my account.”

He stares at me for a moment and I can’t tell what he’s thinking. But I’m sure I’ve managed to surprise him.

“You’re something else, princess.” I open my mouth to tell him that I’m fully aware I’m amazing, but snap it shut when he commands, “Now go to sleep.”

23

VICTORIA

Thursday, September 12, 8:30 AM

I have class today, but my first one is Modern Literature and I had every intention of skipping until Dante remembers it’s a school day and wakes me up with a rough shake.

“Up, princess. You have class.”

“I’m playing hooky.”

He mercilessly rips the comforter off the bed, leaving me to violently shiver as the chilled air sinks into my skin.

“No, you’re not,” Dante commands. But—to what I’m sure is going to be his ultimate disappointment—he can’t force me to go anywhere.

“It’s just some gen ed class,” I whine, curling into a ball and trying to contain as much of my body heat as possible. “Let me sleep.”

“Victoria…” And there’s that superior, pompous tone of his again, the one that says he’s sure I’m going to fall in line.

“Dante…”

“Get your ass out of bed. I’ll take you to your dorm to freshen up.”

“Negative, Professor,” I retort back, exhaling a soft sigh from my lips. “I’m trying to sleep. I’m going to ignore this phase of my life. You’re going to have to deal.”

“What did I say about calling me ‘professor’?” His voice is raspy and the growl makes me shiver for a whole different reason.

“Um…”

“You can’t stay in this bed forever.”

“No, but I don’t want to get up until I have a better understanding of all this. It’s a lot to process.” I can still feel Dante sitting on the bed next to me, but he doesn’t respond. “It would help if you told me how you’re going to get the last two million dollars we owe without me having to get pregnant.”

“Would that be so bad?”

He literally has no idea and I pop my up head from the comfort of my pillow to crack an eye open to look at him. “Why do you say things like that? Are you just trying to rile me up so I get up and go to class?”

“Yes.”

Dickhead.

“Didn’t work,” I reply, tucking back into my circle of warmth.

“A pregnancy would be easiest, Victoria. I don’t know if my contact will come through.”

“I don’t want to bring a child into this world. Especially not if it will be in danger from the moment it’s born.”

“I would never let anything happen to either one of you.”

“How can you promise me that? We aren’t going to stay married, and—no offense—but I don’t allow my exes to hang around.”