Chapter 0127

“No, it’s okay,” I respond breezily, giving him a little smile. “It’s just...Daniel is having a little...trouble. Being faithful.”

I mean, it wasn’t a lie. And Janeen said to stick to the truth as much as I can.

“Oh,” Ivan says, his eyebrows going up in genuine surprise. Then he puts his plate of tacos back down and pushes all of the food

to the back of the table so that he can scootch closer to me. “His loss,” he murmurs, his eyes drifting down to my mouth.

Suddenly anxious, I turn my head away from him and lift my beer to my lips, taking a sip. lvan takes the note and leans back a

little. “I actually don’t know a lot about Daniel,” he says casually. “I know he’s in school, but he keeps a low profile as far as mob

heirs go. He doesn’t seem as...involved, as other sons might be.”

“Yeah, well,” I reply with a little bitter smile. “Apparently he’s got other things on his mind besides Kent's work and marrying me.”

“Oh?” Ivan pushes. “And what's his style there? Does he have lots of girls who he sees for a short time, or just one serious side

piece?”

I blink at Ivan in surprise, realizing that he’s pressing me for information. Simultaneously, I grasp that I actually do have

information on Kent's heir — dangerous information that very few people have. And lIvan’s looking for it.

And quite suddenly, I don’t want to give it. Daniel is still my friend; his secrets are safe with me.

“Can we talk about something else?” I ask hesitantly, giving Ivan a sad little smile that I hope suggests my reluctance stems from

a sore subject, not because Ivan is coming dangerously close to some serious dirt.

“Of course,” he nods, again apologetic. “I’m sorry, Fay. I haven’t been the most tactful tonight, have I? I didn’t mean to pry...I’m

just,” he shrugs a little. “Genuinely curious about your life.”

I bite my lip, deciding to push this a little bit. “Are you, though?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Ivan goes still, staring at me, waiting for me to continue.

“I mean,” I start awkwardly, looking down at my beer. “I know that the dive bar that you took me to was filled with people from all

of the underworld families. That was embarrassing for me and it caused a real rift between me and Daniel when he heard, from

multiple sources, that I was out flirting with you. And whatever Daniel and I are to each other, I do care about him.”

I look up into Ivan’s face with real hurt in my eyes and see guilt pass through his own. He’s either a crazy good actor or... maybe

he actually feels bad, actually cares, at least a little, about how I feel.

“I like you, Ivan,” I whisper, the truth spilling out despite myself. “I like you...maybe a lot? But I don’t know if I can trust you, or if

any of this is real, or if you’re just using me to get a leg up on Kent.”

Ivan nods, breathing out of his nose and looking down at his feet. He gives a sharp shake of his head. “You're right, Fay,” he

sighs. “Il shouldn’t have done that. It was...a little bit of a coup for me, to be able to shove it in Kent's face like that.” Ivan looks up

at me again, giving me a little smirk. “And I know you enjoyed that part a little bit too.”

I blush, looking down at my beer as I remember what resulted from me shoving that day in Kent's face like that. I remember Kent

pushing me up against the door, his lips hot on mine — I remember moaning into his mouth and pulling him tight against me,

wanting more. Ivan probably doesn’t know precisely how much I enjoyed it.

“But I'm sorry,” he continues, using

one finger under my chin to turn my

face gently back to his. “If it meant

that I lost ourrastifidm wish I

anak it. Because, whatever's

here, Fay...” he shakes his head

lightly, and I know that that little

shake contains a wealth of emotion,

“it’s real for me. And I hope it is for

you too.” Please read the original

content at .

I bite my lip, not wanting him to know that...well, that it’s real for me too, despite myself.

“Damn it, Fay,” he whispers, his eyes

on my mouth again, where reyceeth

press, inteymny lawanity You make it

Aig ladies to be chivalrous when

you do that.” Please read the original

content at .

Slowly, I let my lip drag out from beneath my teeth, my mouth open just a tiny bit. I swear a very tiny shudder passes through

him.

“Whatever you want, Fay,” he

murmurs, bringing his eyes back to

mine with an effort “Its an yao" '

termpscnoin.d oldinige, anything that

happens between us is just for us.”

He takes a moment and then repeats

his vow. “I promise. It’s whatever you

want.” Please read the original

content at .

And suddenly, I know precisely what I want.

I raise my hand and place it, gently, on the side of his neck, my skin humming at the touch of his own against my palm. And then

I pull his mouth to mine.