Chapter 25

CHAPTER 25

VIVIAN

T he porter removed the sterling silver cloche with a flourish.

I clapped my hands with glee at the sight of the enormous banana split.

In a delicate, oval crystal tray with heaps of whipped cream and extra cherries, it was so pretty.

Var came up behind me and patted the porter on the back. "Thank you, Urvan."

Urvan unwrapped the cellophane from the bowl of pretzels and removed the cloche from Var's club sandwich before bowing and leaving.

Sitting on the kitchen stool, I reached for one of the spoons.

Var pulled it from my hand. "Coffee first."

"Ew. No."

He poured coffee into two white porcelain cups with gold trim and the imposing Four Monks emblem on it. "I insist."

Pushing my lower lip out, I took the cup. "You seem to be doing a lot of that lately," I grumbled.

He raised an eyebrow. "What was that?"

I gave him a huge fake smile. "One sugar and a splash of cream, please."

Despite knowing I would burn my tongue, I took a huge gulp. "Ow!"

He snatched the cup from my hand. "Like a child," he muttered under his breath.

"What was that?"

He handed me a spoon. "I said, would you like a spoon?"

With narrowed eyes, I took the spoon and then pointed it at him. "I know that's not what you said, but I'm too excited about my banana split to care."

The creamy vanilla ice cream was topped with fresh slices of tart, yet sweet, strawberries smothered in warm fudge sauce. I dragged the spoonful through the whipped cream before licking it off the spoon.

Closing my eyes, I tilted my head back and moaned.

"Christ, woman, what the fuck is in that ice cream?"

With my eyes still closed, I felt for the other spoon and handed it to him. "So good."

I spooned some of the strawberry ice cream and swirled it around the bottom of the dish to scoop up the yummy mix of fudge sauce and partially melted ice cream. Leaning forward, I scooped it into my mouth. "This is the best banana split in the history of the world."

Var's gaze focused on my lips. "I couldn't agree more."

"You haven't even tried it yet."

"Doesn't matter."

Slicing my spoon through the whole banana, whipped cream, fudge, and chocolate ice cream, I held it up to his mouth. "No. You have to have a bite."

Var wrapped his hand around my wrist and kept his gaze focused on me as he slowly opened his mouth. He slipped his lips over the bowl of the spoon, letting the ice cream melt into his mouth before flicking his tongue along his lower lip.

Holy hell.

Clearing my throat, I spooned another bite of ice cream-coated banana and fudge sauce into my mouth. Then I reached to pluck a cherry off the top and was delighted to find that it was a double cherry.

"I love when there are two!" I exclaimed as I threw my head back and held the double stem just in front of my mouth. I stretched my tongue out to flick the two cherries as I licked and sucked the whipped cream off them.

My only warning was a low curse.

Var's forearm knocked the cherries out of my grasp as he wrapped his hand around the back of my neck and propelled me forward against his chest.

A gasp was the only oxygen I could pull into my lungs before his mouth descended with brutal force.

The sweet taste of his kiss belied the violence of it.

His mouth bruised my lips as he dominated and claimed.

He barely broke the kiss when he wrenched my silver shirt over my head. His strong fingers then made quick work of my bra. My breasts spilled out into his greedy palms as he continued to devour my mouth as if I were the true dessert.

It was overwhelming. Domineering. Controlling.

Just like him.

Just like him…

Something clicked in my brain.

I shoved him away as I clasped my arm across my chest. "You broke into my apartment!"

Ignoring my outburst, he ripped his shirt over his head and then reached for me.

"Get back here," he growled as I shook my head and circled around the kitchen island.

"No. I remember why I'm pissed at you."

Var stalked several steps toward me as he unbuttoned his jeans. "I'm warning you, Viv. You don't get to mouth fuck a couple of cherries and then deny me."

My eyes widened.

Crap.

I probably looked like a cat in heat licking a bowl of cream the way I sucked on them. How could I have forgotten the stupid cherry stem trick? Everyone knew that sucking on cherries was a come-fuck-me invite to any man. I was pretty sure adding actual cherries and whipped cream notched that up to epic levels.

Keeping my one arm tight over my breasts, I continued to back up as I stretched out my other arm to ward him off. "I'm not doing anything with you. You broke into my apartment."

He tilted his head as he studied me. "What are you talking about? Did someone break into your place? You should have told me."

I shook my head. "Don't play innocent with me. I know that's why you took my car keys earlier. You made a copy!"

He tossed his shirt aside as he stalked me around the kitchen. "Of course, I made a copy."

"Ah ha! So you admit it! This was all just a huge manipulation. Hiring me as your assistant. The paintings. All of it. You already know my relationship to the forger."

His lip curled, exposing his upper canines. "Relationship? Are you fucking him?"

Although quickly sobering, I was still just fuzzy enough to not catch his meaning. "Fucking who?"

"The goddamn forger, Vivian. Are you fucking the bastard? Because if you are, he's a dead man."

In my agitation, I swept my arm to the side, catching the two coffee cups, sending them smashing to the floor. "Don't try to gaslight me. I know you know who I am. I'm so fucking tired of all this fucking bullshit. They're just a couple of stupid paintings! I don't care anymore. And you can tell that to the other goon you sent after me, too!"

His gaze hardened as he lunged for me.

With a squeal, I skirted the porcelain shards on the tile and spun around the kitchen island, away from him.

His lips thinned as he slammed his fist down on the counter. "Enough," he roared. "You're going to tell me exactly what the fuck is going on and how many men are after you, right now."

My fingers sank into the sticky chill of the banana split as I fisted a scoop of whipped cream-coated vanilla ice cream.

"I'm not telling you shit!" I yelled before launching my gooey handful straight at him.

The ice cream splattered against his naked chest, oozing melted cream over his flat abs.

A muscle ticked in his upper cheek.

As I turned to escape, his arm struck out and grabbed me by the hair. Spinning me around, he fisted my curls and lowered me to my knees before him. Gripping the whole banana from the dessert, his eyes glowed with unholy intent as he growled, "So you want to play with your food, little girl?"