Chapter 11 - Ari

I never imagined a fight followed by a conversation would have the power to shift the dynamic between us, but it came as a pleasant surprise.

Of course, it wouldn't patch everything completely, but it was a start. It gave me the hope to keep going, to stay level-headed around her.

Through the last little while, we had been more cordial with each other, and it was surprisingly nice to see Vivian leaving the spare room more often. I was glad she felt safe enough to do so.

It was a hopeful sign she'd begun to trust and think differently of me, but I also knew my actions would determine whether or not she'd accept me completely. It was daunting to constantly feel like I was walking on eggshells around her, wondering if my words might set her off again, but at least things seemed to be going well overall.

I went to work as usual, thinking of ways to bring us closer if it was at all possible. Her defenses seemed to be dropping thanks to the unspoken truce we reached, and that made me feel better about testing the waters.

But that hope seemed to hang in the air as I stepped inside the house to find Vivian waiting for me. Standing next to the counter with her hands behind her back, her slight anxiousness was palpable from where I was, immediately making me curious.

Before I could say anything, she swallowed deeply and blurted, "What am I supposed to do with my time when you're gone?"

Blinking back at her, I'd scarcely entered the room as I regained my bearings. I was still processing everything that happened at work, and I wasn't prepared to be asked anything yet.

Kicking my boots off, I moved through the kitchen and dropped my keys on the island. "Hello to you, too."

Vivian dropped her shoulders and she stiffly sat on one of the stools. "Hi, I guess. Anyway, what do you want me to do here?"

"I don't want you to do anything," I murmured as I went to the fridge and pulled out a beer. I lifted it in question toward her, but she only grimaced and shook her head. With a shrug, I closed the door and leaned against the counter. "You aren't hired staff. You don't need to worry about any of it."

"But that's the problem."

Cracking the beer open, I swallowed a mouthful. "I'm failing to see how that's a problem."

"I need something to do," she complained, resting her chin on her palm. "I don't like being bored."

"Well, what did you use to do?" I asked, curious about how she used to spend her time. As far as I knew, she wasn't enrolled in any kind of post-secondary program, and her family had some staff, too. Even though I told her my life story, I still didn't know much about Vivian or her upbringing.

"I played tennis, and polo, and usually went to afternoon Pilates. I had violin and piano lessons since I was a kid, even if I'm not that gifted with music, and we'd go to the lake house most weekends so I could see my old friends. But I loved horseback riding the most," she explained, listing everything with at least some nostalgia in her gaze. "I still do love it. I haven't seen my horses in a while."

Everything sounded pretty typical for a rich kid, and since she didn't usually act the part, it was easy to forget how privileged that aspect of her life had been, regardless of her strained family dynamic.

However, most of those activities involved leaving the property. That wasn't something I could swing so easily.

"That's great, but I can't let you leave here without me," I said, trying to keep my voice from rising. "I need you to stay put while I'm not here."

It clearly wasn't what she wanted to hear. Her shoulders dropped and her brows furrowed. "Why?"

"Because I'm involved with people willing to do worse things than kidnapping their brides, and if anyone feels like crossing me, they'd go for you first," I explained, watching as her anger only deepened. "You're an easy target for anyone hoping to blackmail me, which is why you can only leave when I'm with you for now."

Unimpressed by my answer, Vivian sat up straighter and crossed her arms. "So what? I'm supposed to just exist in this house forever until you permit me to leave once a month?"

Knowing she wasn't prepared to back down, I sighed and ran a hand down my face.

As much as I wanted to snap at her and stop any kind of fight before it could happen, I knew I had to tread carefully.

"Look," I started, placing my beer on the counter. "You can do whatever you want on the property, so long as you stay here. We even have a tennis court, and so many other things to occupy your time. I don't care what you do, you just can't leave without me."

I felt like I was being as fair as possible, and despite being passive about the topic before, it seemed to set her off even more.

"I've already exhausted all of those things!" Vivian fired back, letting that anger consume her again. "There's only so much tennis I can play, or how many books I can read before it stops being fulfilling at all. I don't have anything to work towards, and really, I never have. Which is why I'm sick of just sitting by and being useless!"

"I want to help you, but my hands are tied," I returned, pushing away from the counter. "You have to stay here, and that's final."

Hoping to defuse the situation, I decided leaving the room would be the best for both of us. But as I went, her next words stopped me in my tracks.

"I refuse to be some kind of trophy sitting at home waiting for you to get back! That's not the kind of life I want, regardless of what you've decided for me. I need something to put my time and energy into. You have your business, but what do I have? Nothing!"

Pulling in another deep breath, I couldn't let that be the precedent in my house. I couldn't stand the thought of Vivian fighting me on every little thing for the rest of our marriage, and I had to snuff that spark before it could get out of hand.

Turning to face her, I cut the space between us and gripped the counter on either side of her, caging Vivian against the kitchen island.

Stunned, she could only look up at me with those green eyes as a sharp breath escaped her.

With my face in hers, I murmured, "Nothing? You have nothing?"

Vivian swallowed deeply as she looked into my eyes, seemingly measuring her next steps carefully, although that defiant streak moved through her again, and she sat up straighter despite the proximity.

"Providing me with necessities is the bare minimum for storming into my family's home, marrying me then and there, and hauling me here without my consent. Don't act like you've done me a great service," she spat, holding her own against me. "You can't expect me to sit here by myself all day and pretend it's enriching."

While a part of me knew she was right, I was annoyed that she was making demands, that she was pushing against me and asking for more when we were already living more extravagantly than we needed to.

But at the same time, something was intriguing about her stubbornness. Her intensity and fiery will came out of nowhere, but in some strange way, it turned me on.

Vivian knew what she wanted, and something that set attraction stirring within me.

I wanted her, and that was no secret to me. But I had been holding back ever since I brought her back to the house for her sake, and I could feel that resolve started to weaken.

When I didn't say anything in return as I took in her beautiful features, tight with anger, she continued her rant, but I could only focus on how much I wanted to feel her. To hold my wife like any good husband should.

"I'm not asking for much, just something—"

Cutting her off, I connected my lips to hers, unable to resist that temptation anymore.

Vivian froze at the contact, surprised by the interruption. But as the kiss lingered and I hooked a finger under her chin, she seemed to melt into my touch. She let go of a breathless sound that sent shivers down my spine.

It was the relief and encouragement I needed to keep going as I finally gave in to the deepest desires I kept locked away inside me.