Page 46 of Heir of Darkness

“I know we both signed the contract my father’s lawyer wrote up, but I think it’s important for us to also establish ground rules for each other,” Luna told him. She grabbed her purse, taking out the stack of papers and handing it to him. “I had Blair type this up last night, but I agree with everything that is in this and I hope you will too. If we’re going to be in this for the long haul, I think we should be civil with each other and this is a good place to start.”

He looked at her unamused, his brow raised. “It’s a marriage, not a business deal. What the hell do you need this many rules for?”

“Just read them,” she said. “I want to make sure we’re both understanding what this marriage means.”

He rolled his eyes, reading the first page. His face didn’t shift until he read the second page. Suddenly, his eyes were lit up and a shit-eating grin replaced his frown. “Did you read it over before giving it to me?” he asked.

Luna looked at him, confused. “No, but I told Blair what to write, so I’m pretty sure I know the contents of it.”

“Oh, so you told her to write, ‘Adequate foreplay is necessary before any intimacy takes place, including, but not limited to, cunnilingus?’ You know what, I think I can get behind some of these rules.”

Luna’s eyes widened in horror. “Oh my God, she did not write that.” She tried to grab the papers from his hands, but he held them over his head.

“Before I sign, I like to make sure I read through all terms of the agreement,” he said, flipping to the next page. He laughed. “These just keep getting more crude and less legal sounding as we go through it.”

Luna’s cheeks were burning. How drunk did they get?

“Oh, so you’ll only let me put it in your ass when we’re married? I can agree to that,” he told her. “I can agree to living in a house close to your friends, granted you’re living with me and we’re sleeping in the same bed.”

“You should stop reading,” she told him, completely embarrassed. “We got drunk last night while we were doing it so I don’t remember half of the things written.”

“So this was a group effort?” he asked, flipping to the next page. “I agree with the first child clause. I would never takeanything away from my child. I’m assuming you thought of that.”

She nodded, ignoring how her body responded to hearing him talk about their future children. “That one I did.”

“Did you also write the one about guaranteeing your orgasms?” he asked, his brow raised. “I think I have a fair enough score considering what happened in the woods. What do you think?”

“I’m not commenting on these anymore,” she muttered, looking down at the floor. The waiter entered the room, setting their drinks on the table before leaving quickly again. Luna grabbed her martini, taking a big drink from it.

“If you’re so concerned about me taking care of you, you could have just told me,” he said. He grabbed the bottle of wine, pouring her a glass before moving onto his own.

She shook her head. “Listen, there are actual important rules in there that I care the most about. We both signed the contract; we both understand we’re stuck in this for the rest of our lives. If there are some you don’t like, we can discuss that. Just like if you decide you want to see other women while we’re married, I can’t stop you, but I would prefer to at least know about it. I’ll pay you that same respect if I decide to see anyone else too.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Valerio asked. Luna was shocked by how quickly his tone had changed. “Neither one of us will be seeing anyone else. I’ll follow your rules, but that’s one I want in there. No extramarital affairs. I’m not marrying you just so you can go fuck someone else.”

“But you can?” Luna asked, testing him.

“I would never. God, woman, I fucking tracked you down at your own engagement party and killed the man you were supposed to marry. I’m fucking obsessed.” He ran his hand through his hair. “Tell me you didn’t like what happened in the forest. Tell me you didn’t feel anything or that anyone else couldmake you feel that way.” He leaned in close, his lips only a couple inches away from hers. Her breathing turned heavy, her body responding to him immediately. “Tell me you hated coming all over my tongue and I’ll let you have all the whores you want.”

She couldn’t because despite how hard she tried to keep hating him, her cold exterior toward him was already beginning to melt. She was sure that part had to be because of how easily he got down on his knees for her, making sure she came and was taken care of without worrying about himself.

And maybe her thinking about him on his knees had sent her over the edge more than once over the past couple of weeks, forcing her to wish it could happen a second time. Her eyes glazed over his lips, wanting to feel them all over again.

So she did. Luna met his lips, wrapping her arms around his neck to pull him closer. He tugged on her head so he could taste her deeper.

Valerio pulled back for a second, his lips in a menacing grin. “Say you don’t want me. Say it.”

Luna clenched her jaw, angry that he was asking her such stupid questions in such a heated moment. She tried to pull him to her again, but he didn’t let her, keeping her at a distance.

“Say it,” he muttered, his eyes blazing with lust and possession.

“Shut up,” she said, instead.

“Not good enough.” He shook his head, grabbing her chin with his hand. “Say you don’t want me the way I want you.”

She finally gave in, completely soaked and over his teasing. “I can’t,” she whispered.

His lips were back on hers, devouring them all over again. Why did he have to be good at touching her, kissing her? Why couldn’t he be ugly and suck at making her come so she wasn’t so drawn to chasing that same feeling of pleasure again?

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