“I was kidding!”
“I don’t believe you,” she said, sticking her nose in the air.
Since she wouldn’t come to me, I went to her, fighting through a flurry of swats and kicks. Climbing atop her, I restrained her by the wrists and pinned her arms over her head.
“OfcourseI’ll still love you,” I whispered, our lips meeting with a fire. “I’d still love you even if you didn’t have a penny to your name.”
“You swear it?” she demanded to know, locking her legs tightly around my back.
“I swear it,” I growled, sinking my thickness into her tight and sopping-wet grip.
“Oh,God,” she whimpered, her breath hot on my neck. “You feel so good inside me.”
I couldn’t help but agree, groaning as I pumped in and out of her tight walls. I thrust harder, faster, her moans rising as I widened her.
Once we’d caught our breath afterward, I turned to her with a smile.
“See? A little manufactured drama’s not so bad, is it?” I teased.
She giggled. “Don’t thinkfor a second that I didn’t know what you were doing, by the way.”
“Pft. Yeah,right.You totally bought it. You really believed I was after your money!”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Did too,” I insisted.
“Well, clearly, you bought thatIbought it.” She proudly buffed her nails. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“You’re such an actress,” I said, grinning.
“Well,yeah!Trying to be, anyway.”
Whatever the case, we knew tomorrow would bring some veryrealdrama—but at least for now, we enjoyed our time together. After all, we didn’t know when we’d see each other next. We made the most of our time together, talking and laughing and making love until, at last, we fell asleep in each other’s arms.
32
Tell Your Story
Ottavia
The next morning, the air was filled with a determined quiet as Dakota drove. He held my hand, even though he had to let go every single time he shifted gears—but after each shift, no matter what, he always eagerly found my hand again. Dakota was sweet like that, and it was thoselittlethings that told me he was for real.
During breakfast, we’d devised a plan. I was nervous about the confrontation we were about to face today—bothof them—but I knew that, as long as I had Dakota standing by my side, I could do it.
Dakota parked outside the condo. We took an elevator up. Leo had been expecting me, and was all smiles when he opened the door—but when saw usbothstanding there, he rolled his eyes in disappointment.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” he murmured. “Really, Tavi? Are you serious?” He gestured at Dakota. “What’s he doing here? You know your dad is serious, right?”
“I’mserious, too,” I said. “Let us in. The three of us need to have a talk.”
He threw the door open and stepped aside. “Fine. Come in.”
Dakota and I sat next to each other on the couch, and Leo sat across from us.
“So?” Leo asked.
“I’m not going along with Dad’s plan anymore,” I said.
