“That’s fine with me. Do you have Council business?”
Stefan released a deep sigh. “No.”
“Is this some sort of top secret business you can’t tell me about? If we’re going to be together you need to tell me what’s going on. No secrets.”
“I know. I only worry about how you will react to this information.”
I gave his shoulder an affectionate shove and rolled my eyes. “Is it worse than finding out you were a vampire? I think I took that information in stride.”
It was his turn to roll his eyes. He leaned over to nip at my neck with his teeth. “No, it is not worse than the night you discovered I was an immortal creature that longed for your blood. It is about my business holdings and what that means for us.”
Why would his business holdings have anything to do with me? They belong to him and should be no concern to me.
Reading my thoughts, his blue eyes searched my face. “You are my mate, vackra. Everything I have is yours now.” He stood and walked down the hallway and disappeared into his office. He sauntered back into the kitchen, his silk sleep pants resting low on his hips, showcasing the deep V that disappeared into the drawstring waist. He placed a thick manila envelope in front of me and patted it with his large hand.
“What’s this?” I looked up at him suspiciously.
“Open it,” he commanded as he sat back down beside of me.
Shooting him a look of irritation, I opened the envelope and pulled out another portfolio with LM Holdings Incorporated embossed across the front in bold script. As I opened the folder, I flipped through the stack of papers. Page after page listed his assets: the building in which I was currently residing and two other properties in SOHO and TriBeCa. Business properties in the Financial District. Assets in Los Angeles, Chicago, Paris, London, Milan, Indonesia and Stockholm. Completely overwhelmed, I scanned them quickly, completely bypassing the bank statements. I’d finally reached the end of the stack when I noticed three credit cards with my name on them: a Black American Express, a Platinum Visa and what appeared to be a bank debit card.
“What the hell, Stefan? I don’t need your money,” I huffed, slapping the cards down on the counter. Pushing my stool away from the island, I made my way to the windows, taking in the sunset as it dropped behind the New York skyline.
“I know you do not need my money. You have already given me your love and commitment. The least I can do is share what I have with you. Is that not the way a relationship works?”
Angrily spinning around to face him, I saw the questioning look on his face and the irritation and fight drained from me. How could I argue with his logic, no matter how old-fashioned it seemed to be? He loved me, we were together and he wanted to do this for me. It wasn’t worth the argument.
“Then it works the same for me. Whatever I have is yours as well.” I didn’t have much to offer him. I owned my villa in Bali, had a sizeable trust fund and book advances. It couldn’t compare to his financial portfolio, but it was something.
“Josephine, if it makes you happy, then I will agree on one condition.” Stefan had moved from his stool to stand behind me at the windows, wrapping his strong arms around my shoulders and pulling me against his chest.
Uh oh. A condition. I wasn’t sure I liked the sound of that. “And what is your condition?”
“Live with me.”
Chapter 2 – Total Disclosure
“That’s all you want? For me to live with you?” I stammered. I expected more from him, some complicated stipulation that would put me on the offense. Once again, he surprised me with how little he wanted from me. And I was once again stunned at how much more I would be willing to give him.
“That would be a good beginning point. There are many benefits to us living together, Josephine.” I felt his quick fingers begin to unbutton my shirt. His voice was sensual and smooth as he leaned to whisper against my ear. “We can do this. Whenever we want… wherever we want.”
His hands shoved the shirt over my shoulders and it dropped to the floor around my feet, leaving me naked against him. My overheated skin came in contact with his much cooler flesh, sending a crackle of energy between us. He wound my long hair in one of his hands, pulling my head slightly back to rest against his chest. His lips lowered to my neck and he ran his tongue slowly up the length of my neck, tasting me. He didn’t stop until he licked over the shell of my ear. I shivered against him and a low moan slipped past my lips, a husky helpless sound of want. His hard cock pressed against my back and I unconsciously pushed back against him.
“De saker du gör för mig och vacker,” he murmured softly. He still had the presence of mind to translate for me. “The things you do to me, beautiful one.”