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“If it’s important, you can count on me. I wouldn’t miss it.”

“Okay, great.”

That smile lighting up her face warmed me to the core. Lately, I’d been doing everything I could to bring her joy every single day. She deserved it. And even though none of it could ever erase what I’d put her through, at least I could brighten all her days from here on out, dedicating myself to her happiness and our children’s.

“And voilà,” I said, just as I always did when I finished her braids for the night.

“You’re getting so good at it. You’re even faster.”

“Woman, I told you, I’m an engineer. My whole thing is getting results—smart, efficient, and always top quality. I’m just as effective at home as I am at work. Honestly, I’m a hell of a catch. You’re lucky you tied me down. There’d be a line out the door if you hadn’t.”

I slipped her satin bonnet over her head.

“Arrogant ass,” she laughed.

“Simple fact,” I replied, pulling her into my arms.

I carried her to the bed we’d shared for five days now. Ever since she came to me in the pottery studio and gave me her heart, we hadn’t spent a single night apart. Nothing in my life even came close to waking up with her beside me and falling asleep with her in my arms. I couldn’t believe I’d deprivedmyself of this for so long. Every day, I thanked whatever force brought her into my life and gave me a second chance.

I laid her down softly and slid between her thighs, my lips trailing over her neck, kissing her with the same hunger as that very first time. She was so addictive, I knew I’d never get enough.

“Is everything ready for tomorrow?” she asked between kisses. We had to leave the yacht and head back to the Korven estate the next day.

“Yep. We don’t even need to pack. I’ve got a service coming to collect everything and bring it home.”

I kissed her lips, then her nose, then her forehead. I couldn’t help myself. I had to kiss every inch of her.

“And your villa?”

“I already moved all my stuff back to the estate. I’m not spending a single night away from you, baby. We can always use the villa if we ever feel like being in a different place.”

“No! Sell it or give it to one of your men. You used to fuck escorts there. I don’t want to set foot in it again.”

I lifted my head to look at her cute jealous pout. I loved when she was possessive like that. I loved belonging to her alone because I was just as possessive about her. We both had quick triggers when we were pissed. So people really shouldn’t test us.

“Okay, Mama. Whatever you want,” I answered, pressing another kiss to her lips.

Moving down to her neck, I bit her skin.

“Hmmmm… I’m really not excited about going back to work… It felt so good to be here and just delegate, keeping tabs from a distance,” she said, her voice broken by moans.

“Hmmm… then keep it that way. You can step down and let Valery manage. I know taking over your father’s business wasn’t really what you wanted.”

My tongue followed the curve of her throat, teeth sinking intoher skin. I couldn’t get enough of her taste. I always craved more.

“Hmmm… baby…” she moaned as I left my mark.

I drifted up to her ear, hands sliding under her ass to pull off her thong. I’d only eaten her out twice today and I missed my pussy. That was nowhere near enough to satisfy me.

“Yes, but honestly I’d rather walk away from it completely. I just don’t know. It’s still technically part of the Big Six, even with my father gone. I doubt the council would be okay with me handing that responsibility over to Valery.”

I lifted my head to look her in the eyes.

“Baby, you don’t owe the council anything. They said that without a male heir, the Veylor’s don’t have a seat anymore, so the council shouldn’t be relying on the old Veylor business. We still haven’t found a sixth member to fill the empty seat, but I’m not letting you worry about that. If the council wants to use the Veylor casino, it’ll go under the Korven name. I’m the head of the family, so I make the decisions. If I say you step down, you step down. What matters most is what you want.”

“Well, if I could choose, I think I’d study horticulture and landscaping. I want to go further than just having a passion for flowers. I want to turn it into a real career. That’s what I should’ve done from the start, if my father hadn’t pushed me in another direction,” she said, a little sadly.

“Then go back to school if that’s what you want. Whatever my wife wants, she gets. Forget the casino. I’ll deal with the council. Someone else can run it, or we’ll bring in a new sixth family if we have to. Alright? Do you trust your man to handle it?”