Page 6

damian

I snuck another look at Talie, her silence beginning to grate on me.

She wasn’t the one who had the right to be angry.

She’d been gone nearly five years, leaving me here to deal with the mess she’d left, all while pretending I was happily married while my wife was in school overseas.

After she stole my entire fucking savings to fund her new life.

But she was back now, where she would stay.

She was sitting as far as she could from me, staying close to the window as my driver took us to my apartment. I couldn’t help but let my gaze rake all over her again. I nearly didn’t recognize her when she walked into the club tonight.

She’d always been gorgeous, but there was something different about her now.

I knew she wasn’t at school for the last four years like everyone thought, and I couldn’t help but wonder what she’d been up to.

She’d told the families about an internship to cover herself the last six months, but I was sure it was bullshit too.

I couldn’t deny the time away had changed her for the better. Her confidence was something she didn’t have as a child. The fire in her eyes when she was on the stage with me had made my dick rock fucking hard. She’d found herself when she’d been gone. Too bad she did it on my damn dime.

Her colored hair was vibrant and fell in waves.

It fit her better than the strict buns she wore when she was younger.

Not that she had a choice back then. Her father dictated everything.

He was always much stricter with Talie than Charlotte because when he saw the rebellion in his oldest daughter, it had scared him.

It was never a secret about how he’d always wanted a son, but he had two daughters.

Right now, her posture was strict and controlled. There wasn’t an ounce of real emotion on her face as she stared out the window. I’d seen that mask my whole life. The only time she’d ever reveal her true self was when it was our circle of friends.

When the driver pulled in front of the apartment building, Talie perked up.

She tilted her head, quickly glancing at her purse I still had in my hand.

My lips tipped up in amusement. She was plotting.

We both knew once our families found out she was home, there was no leaving for her again. Until then, she was a flight risk.

She wouldn’t be going anywhere. My dad had been on my ass about my missing wife. Her father was nearly as bad. Since she had been gone, it all fucking landed on me. I was done carrying the weight of the decision both of us made five years ago.

“Have a good night, Mr. Valentin,” my driver said from the front seat. He’d learned long ago I didn’t need him opening my door for me.

I nodded at him before climbing out, keeping Talie’s purse in my hand as I rounded the SUV to open her door.

Her jaw was clenched, and she glared daggers at me while she slid out of the seat.

Her quiet rage would explode once we were alone.

The only reason I hadn’t seen it yet was because she wasn’t chancing anything getting back to her father.

I interlaced our fingers, leading her into the building after the doorman opened the glass door for us.

This apartment building was one of the most expensive in the city.

The inside was lavish and elegant with a white marble floor and chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.

Her steps were hesitant, and I pulled her with me before pressing the button on the elevator.

“You live in the city?” she asked, speaking for the first time since we’d gotten in the car.

“On weekends,” I answered, looking at her out of the corner of my eye. She was acting perfectly amicable, making me suspicious as hell.

She pulled out of my hold to step into the elevator, and I was right behind her.

I pressed the button for the fortieth floor.

Elevator music was the only sound cutting through the tense silence between us.

Her lips were pressed together as if she was waiting to scream everything she wanted.

I was sure when we were in my apartment, she’d go off.

“How’d you know I was here?” she hissed.

I smirked, staying silent. I knew for weeks when she’d be here.

“You’re an asshole for doing this on Char’s birthday,” she stated as she crossed her arms. “She’s going to feel guilty.”

“Guilty for what?” I countered, ignoring the pestering thought that she was right.

Charlotte was nice, and I didn’t want to ruin her birthday.

But I had to do it today since I didn’t know how long Talie was planning to stay here.

“We’re happily married, according to everyone.

You should have been so happy to spend time with me after being gone for so long. ”

She scowled. “Fuck you, Damian.”

I strode forward, backing her into the elevator wall. Shock flashed in her eyes when I rested my palm next to her head. “You were practically begging for my cock at the club. You loved what I was doing to you on the stage.”

She tried shoving me away, but I didn’t budge.

“That was before I knew who you were,” she spat out. “I don’t want anything to do with you.”

“The feeling is mutual,” I lied, trying to shut down the image of licking the vodka off her body. “But unfortunately for both of us, we’re married. So you’re stuck with me.”

The bell dinged, and the doors opened before she could respond. I grabbed her hand again, stepping out of the elevator. When she tried snatching her purse from my other hand, I moved it out of her reach as we walked down the hallway.

“I need my phone,” she bit out. “I have to text Char.”

“Not yet.”

I let go of her hand once we stopped in front of my door.

Fishing my keys out of my pocket, I unlocked the door, motioning for her to go first. She moved forward rigidly, and for some fucking reason, nerves filtered through me.

I’d never brought a woman back here. I shook it off, following her, and shutting the door behind me.

After twisting the lock, I slid the deadbolt, hearing her curse under her breath when I put my keys back in my pocket.

I turned around to see her peering around my studio apartment. It wasn’t huge, but since it was only me here, it worked perfectly. Everything was all in this one room, apart from the bathroom, which was in the back of the apartment.

The kitchen area was to the left of the front door, and the dark gray granite counter spanned the entire wall.

In front of it, there was a small island with a couple barstools.

The brown cabinets were a few shades darker than the hardwood floor.

Everything was modern, the appliances all stainless steel.

Behind the kitchen was the living area with a white couch and a tv mounted to the wall. A rounded glass coffee table sat in front of the couch, with a small matching end table on the side of the couch.

On the other side of the room was my king-size bed. The comforter was black, and the four-poster canopy bedframe was solid oak. There was a matching oak nightstand on each side of the bed, with a dresser on the wall. The walk-in closet was huge, and the door was near the dresser.

After looking at everything, she finally turned to face me.

“I’m your wife ,” she spat the last word out like it was acid on her tongue, “not your prisoner. You can’t keep me here.”

“Once we have lunch tomorrow, then you’re free to do whatever you want. Well, within reason, of course. As my wife, you still have an image to uphold.”

“Says the dick who works at a club where you lick alcohol off random women,” she retorted.

“Why do you think it’s so secretive?” I asked, tilting my head. “I can do what I want without anyone knowing. And I don’t just work there—I own it.”

Surprise flickered over her face as she stared at me in silence. I didn’t tell her the reason I loved it was because it was a place for me to dance. I didn’t participate in the theme nights very often. And Talie? She was the first woman I brought to the stage.

“Own it?” she repeated, a devilish glint hitting her eye. “I don’t think your father would approve of what you do there. Does he know?”

I grinned at her attempt at blackmail. “You know, both of our parents thought you were at that university for the past four years. They believe you’re working an internship right now. How do you think they’d feel if they found out it isn’t true?”

“That’s where I was.”

“No, it wasn’t. I flew over there to find you. Imagine my surprise when I showed up at the school you were enrolled at, and none of the administration knew anything about you?”

A muscle in her jaw flexed. “You never emailed me about that.”

“I was waiting to use it when I needed to.” I leaned against the locked door, crossing my arms. “You say a word about my club, and I’ll make sure your father knows you’ve been lying to him the last five years.”

I didn’t need to expand on that threat. Even if she was married to me, her father held a lot of power in our state and along the East Coast. If he knew Talie had lied to him, not only would he do everything he could to make sure she behaved, but he would also most likely focus more on Charlotte, so his youngest daughter would never disobey.

Having his daughters embarrass him was something he didn’t tolerate.

While our families were upstanding members of society, it didn’t mean they didn’t have their businesses connected to more…shady practices. Our parents would do anything to hold their power and wealth. Something Talie was more than aware of.

“We’re having lunch tomorrow,” I informed her. “With your father, and mine. After you tell them you’re here to stay, we can start discussing how we’re going to deal with living together.”

“How about I get my own place, so I never have to see you,” she shot back. “I’m not living here with you.”

“Where would you get the funds for that?” I strode toward her, and she backed into the counter. “Or did you save some of the money you stole from me?”

She lifted her chin defiantly, not saying a word.

“Where have you been the last five years, Natalia?” I asked, using her full name only because it infuriated her.

Her eyes flashed dangerously before she smirked. “Having sex—with whoever I wanted. Your money let me travel everywhere. I’ve fucked on nearly every continent. Thanks for funding my lifestyle.”

I gritted my teeth, my eyes locked on hers. I was positive she was lying, but it didn’t stop the anger from ripping through me. I wished I could say it was only about her using my money. But it wasn’t. The thought of other men touching her had me seeing fucking red.

Instead of letting her get the rise out of me she wanted, I forced myself to relax. Lifting my hand, I snagged a lock of her hair, twirling it around my finger. Her palms were braced on the counter behind her, and she stood absolutely still as she glowered at me.

“I hope you got it all out of your system,” I murmured, my voice deadly soft. “Because you’re back now. You want sex? You come to your husband. I’ll be the only one you come for after tonight.”

“Fuck off,” she bit out, rage brewing in her vibrant green eyes. “Sex was never part of why we agreed to marry. It was all business, Damian. As long as we’re discreet, we can both do whatever we want. I’m sure you get more than enough action at that club of yours.”

I didn’t tell her I’d never slept with any woman who came into my club. I kept pleasure and business completely separate. I’d spent the last few years working my ass off to get my club where it was today.

I took a deep breath before stepping back, deciding I was done arguing for tonight. Keeping her purse in my hand, I turned to head for the bathroom.

“I’m taking a shower,” I said without looking at her. “Make yourself at home.”

She grumbled something under her breath I didn’t catch while I strode into the bathroom.

I closed the door, locking it behind me before tossing her purse on the long granite counter.

The bathroom was as spacious and updated as the rest of my studio.

There were double sinks and a large walk-in shower with two waterfall shower heads.

After turning on the water, I unbuttoned my shirt, stripping out of it.

I couldn’t hear anything over the running water, but hoped she wasn’t destroying my apartment.

She had to live here too, so whatever she did, she’d have to deal with.

After undoing my slacks, I let them fall to the floor before pulling off the rest of my clothes.

I stepped under the hot water, closing the glass door as steam filled the room.

I rested my palms on the wall, letting the water run down me.

Life was going to change now that she was home.

Hopefully, for the better. Now, our parents wouldn’t be breathing down my neck.

But I had a feeling she wasn’t going to make my life easy.

She didn’t want to be here…but neither did I.

She had five years of freedom while I stayed.

I squeezed some shampoo in my palm, washing my hair as my mind stayed on Talie. Until I heard a noise over the water. I stilled for a moment, trying to see through the foggy glass before opening the shower door.

My eyes widened in shock to see Talie reaching for her purse. A long metal skewer that I kept in a kitchen drawer was on the floor next to her. She fucking picked the bathroom lock.

She turned to glance at the shower, freezing when she caught me staring.

“Don’t you dare,” I warned her in a low voice.

Instead of answering me, she snatched her purse off the counter, then bolted out of the bathroom.