Page 26 of Vicious Secrets
Siro’s brows raise. A smirk contorts his lips but his cheeks barely budge. He’s trying to fight off the expression. “When Oscar and I signed the agreement, you became mine. If I didn’t come after you, Oscar would have.”
I glare at him and scoff. “For what?”
“I’m not allowed to take over from my father, unmarried.”
“And when you take over, can we divorce?”
Siro’s fingers curl around the chair’s arm, popping several of his veins. His jaw ticks as he runs his tongue over his teeth. “I’d be overthrown before the ink dried on our decree, and if any of my loyalists survive, you’d be enemy number one.”
I… I don’t want Siro to die. But I also don’t want tobehis. He’s shown hints of decency, but it doesn’t smooth over any of the roughness.
“So, we stay together and continue to play house?”
He nods and tilts his head to the side. “The facade can dwindle after I’ve taken over. I can buy you your own house on the other side of the city and only call on you to show face a few times a year.”
I do like the sound of that. A trophy wife lifestyle without the husband. Siro’s wealth and power are ridiculously alluring. It’s the man himself who’s the problem.
“What would be the restrictions?”
“No travel without security and maintaining appearances.”
I uncross and cross my legs to angle my body away from him. I don’t want Siro to pick up how strongly I’m considering this option.
“Including affairs?”
Siro’s nostrils flare. One of his eyes twitches.
“Oh please, you’ve known me for six weeks. You cannot bristle at the idea of me dating someone else this early.”
“I can and I will,” he says through tight lips. “I refuse to think about it until we’re closer to the end. But… But I’ll consider it.”
“And you understand I have to touch you to maintain appearances, right?”
“I can handle it.”
I slide off the desk and take a step forward. Siro doesn’t move as I reach out and run my fingers through his hair.
“How did that feel?”
“Physically, fine. Mentally, weird. Your bravery is infectious.”
My brows shoot up to my hairline. I bend slightly at the waist to get a better look at his face. I rake my fingers through his hair again, careful to avoid touching his scalp and risking overwhelming him.
“Brave? What? Because I came to settle things with the man who owns me, so I don’t have to walk around on eggshells?”
“Yes.” Siro blinks slowly. “Are you always this dismissive of yourself?”
“Are drunk confessions normal for you?”
“No,” he grunts. “You inspired that too.”
I run my fingertips down his temple to the point of his jaw and trace the bone to his chin.
“Still fine and weird?”
“You don’t have to condition me,” he says through tight lips. His jaw more ticking than moving as he speaks.
I drop my hand to my side and shrug. This conversation served its purpose. We can deal with the details later. I drift my fingers over his desk as I walk around the edge.
