Page 90 of Twisted Proposal

The men would make jokes about it being women's work and then they would get pissed off when they realized I paid their women better than I paid them, which was always a little entertaining.

Right now, I couldn't afford for anyone who wasn't blood or part of the inner circle to know about this house.

Every single person who knew about it would be just another liability.

I couldn't risk it. I wouldn't risk it.

I knew Gregor's normal cleaning crew covered this house every few weeks, and the furniture was all covered with sheets, so hopefully it wouldn't be too difficult.

While they got to work, I went to a room in the back corner of the house. For the moment, I was going to use this as my home office.

I had to admit, the office was surprisingly nice. A dark oxblood-red-colored wall had a subtle damask pattern in a slightly darker red. One wall was filled with built-in bookshelves. The large bay window took up almost an entire wall with a stunning view looking over the lake. With all the different trees, I knew that this view would be impressive regardless of the season. Right now, it was filled with the dark reds and oranges of fall, leaves fluttering down like light rain over the glassy lake.

On the other side of the room was a gigantic fireplace with a classic stone hearth, flanked by more bookcases, and a bearskin rug covered part of the wooden floor between the fireplace and the leather couch.

For only a second, I pictured what Viktoria would look like spread out naked on that rug, a roaring fire keeping her skin warm while she waited for me to finish up my day's work and fuck her. God, she would be the worst distraction and the greatest reward.

I could see us, sweaty and exhausted after marathon sex. Me stretched out on the sofa, her laying on top of me, her eyes heavy as she watched the flames dancing in the depths of that fireplace before sleep took her.

The detail of the vision startled me.

I wasn't a man who thought in terms of "after."

I took what I wanted and moved on.

But with her...fuck.

With her, I was contemplating a future.

The thought twisted my stomach with unfamiliar anxiety.

What if I stopped this power grab from Gregor? Found a way for us to work side by side conquering not only the new world, but keeping a firm grip on the old. Could I do that from here?

I thought so. I was sure that once I convinced Gregor we could do this together, he would sell me the house. Or I would just kill him and take it, anyway.

I sat in the leather executive chair behind the walnut writing desk, looking out at the view. Could she be happy here? In the long run?

Since when did I care about a woman's happiness beyond ensuring her body was satisfied?

I rubbed my temples, disturbed by the direction of my thoughts.

I didn't know.

Viktoria fought fiercely for her independence, something I actually admired about her, and was willing to give to her to some extent.

But not while her life was in danger.

There was too much up in the air.

Too much uncertainty right now.

I thought back to that vision I had of us on that bearskin rug and wondered if that was really why I was keeping her.

Was it the danger?

I was giving her my name, and I'd tell her it was for her safety…but was it?

Or did I just want to keep her as my own?