Chapter 33 "Stop checking the time," I tell her. Vesper's sigh is melodramatic in the extreme. "How did we end up at your place again tonight?" she asks. "I need to get home if I want any sleep before my shift." "Just spend the night here. I'll have Pavel drive you tomorrow." She's kneading her thigh so hard I'm surprised she hasn't left bruises. The nervous energy radiating off her is impossible to ignore. "I'm not moving in with you, Kovan." "I didn't ask you to. I merely suggested you spend the night." "If I do eventually stay-and that's a big if-I want my own room." Every instinct screams at me to deny her request. But after what happened last week, maybe distance is exactly what we both need. The punishment in the kitchen was supposed to be for her. Instead, I've spent seven days walking around like a man possessed. That night, I took the coldest shower of my life and still ended up fisting my cock until my knuckles were raw. The release, when it finally came, felt hollow. Empty. Nothing like what I know it would feel like buried inside her. Every interaction since has been torture. The way she moves. The way she breathes. The way she exists in my space like she belongs there. Or the way she looks right now. She's wearing shorts that should be illegal and a white tank top that clings to every curve. I've never seen this outfit before, which makes me think she wore it specifically to drive me insane. Mission fucking accomplished. "Fine," I force out. "The room next to mine." She grins. "Glad we could come to an agreement." She pushes off the bean bag and walks to the French doors, stretching in a way that exposes the strip of skin between her shorts and shirt. Golden hair cascades down her back in waves that make my fingers itch to touch. I want to fist that hair. Bend her over. Push her to her knees and make her⁠- I cut the thought off before it can fully form. Going down that road leads nowhere good. I'll only end up with an erection I can't do anything about and a gnawing in my gut that no amount of distractions will appease. "Waylen and Luka get on like a house on fire, huh?" She glances over her shoulder with a look that's pure triumph. The way she's twisted around gives me a perfect view of everything the tank top is barely containing. Her nipples are visible through the thin fabric of her bra, and I have to shift to hide what that sight does to me. "What?" She knows exactly what's distracting me. The little smirk playing at her lips gives her away. "Waylen and Luka. They're like best friends already." I adjust my position again, grateful for the throw pillow suddenly in my lap. "Your brother's methods are... unconventional." Which is the most diplomatic way I can say I don't like his face. Or his attitude. Or the way Luka lights up around him. But I can't deny that it's all working. Won't stop me from keeping up my end of the bargain, though. We both know I'm grasping at straws, but I'll be damned if I stop any time soon. This grudge will die with me and not a moment before then. "Unconventional works. You can't deny Luka's having the time of his life." "He took three days to return the signed contract." "He read it first. Shocking, I know." "Sounds like someone has trust issues." Vesper crosses her arms, and the movement pushes her breasts up in a way that tests every ounce of my self-control. "Why are you so determined to hate him?" "Why are you so determined we should be friends? This is a business arrangement. Nothing more." She flinches like I've slapped her, and I'm immediately consumed with guilt. She turns back to the window overlooking the garden, where Waylen and Luka are building kites. "Right," she says quietly. I grimace. These icy silences wouldn't have bothered me in the least before we met. Now, each and every one of them grates at my nerves. "What exactly have you told him about us?" "That we're dating. That we have been for about a year. That we're in the process of moving in together. And that we're semi-serious." She checks off each point on her fingers. "Why?" "Because he looks at me like I'm about to steal your virtue and tie you to railroad tracks." She shrugs one shoulder. "What can I say? Maybe you just give off those vibes." I leave the couch and join her at the doors. This close, I can smell her shampoo. It's an aphrodisiac to me at this point. My whole body lights up at the scent like a fucking Christmas tree. "I'm surprised you didn't fill him in on the whole deal." "I dunno." She's quiet and solemn again. "It seemed easier this way." Outside, Waylen's kite soars overhead. It's shaped like a dragon with its jaws wide open, tail fluttering in the breeze. "You'd think he'd make more effort with his sister's boyfriend." She glares at me skeptically. "The same could be said for you, you realize? Why wouldn't you make more of an attempt to get along with your girlfriend's brother?" "Because he wears chinos, for one." "Kovan!" Smiling wickedly, I move closer and trap her against the door frame. Her eyes go wide, pupils dilating as her breath catches. "What do you think you're doing, sir?" she asks. "It's important that he remains unaware of our little ruse," I tell her with a solemn look. "He needs to believe that we're a couple. Same as Luka. Same as the social worker. Same as Yana and Ihor. Same as everyone else with a stake in this game." She's visibly tense, but she's not pulling away. "He'd keep our secret even if he knew." "Right. Boy Scout over there would keep quiet." "I thought you were the Boy Scout?" She laughs, then shakes her head. "Anyway, you've got it all wrong. He doesn't hate you and he doesn't want to piss you off." "He watches me like I'm a fucking predator." "Well, just because he doesn't hate you doesn't mean he likes you," she corrects with brutal honesty. My eyes narrow. "What possible reason could he have? I'm charming as fuck." Her mouth twitches like she's fighting a smile. "Maybe he doesn't like your pants, wiseass." She pushes against my chest. "In any case, he's smart. And observant. He'll figure it out eventually, whether you like it or not." "Not if we sell it." I lean in until my lips brush her ear. "You need to look more convincing." She shoves harder, slipping out from under my arm. "Sorry, I'm not that good an actress." "Then let's stick to the truth. Pucker your lips and show me 'wanton desire.'" "You wish." "Oh, but you're doing such a great job already," I croon, grinning as I touch my forehead to hers. "I'm just observing the fruits of your labor." Heat flashes in her eyes, an indecipherable mix of lust and irritation. "Maybe observe Luka instead. He's the reason we're doing this, remember?" "He's the reason I'm doing this," I retort. "You have entirely different motivations." She opens her mouth to argue, but the crash of the front door cuts her off. Even Waylen and Luka turn toward the sound from outside. "What was that?" Vesper asks. The telltale scent of Chanel No. 5 hits me before I see her. I want to warn Vesper-but by then, it's too late. Yana is here.