Chapter 64: Either you fuck me tonight.....

"I couldn’t hear. But whatever Isabella said, it got to her."

Dimitri’s jaw clenched so hard his teeth ached. "Follow her. Don’t let her out of your sight. I’m leaving now."

He ended the call, grabbed his jacket, and was halfway to the elevator when his phone rang.

Isabella.

He almost didn’t answer. But he needed to know what she’d done, what she’d said, what poison she’d planted in Eve’s mind.

"What did you say to her?" No greeting. No preamble.

Isabella’s laugh was light, musical. "Hello to you too, Dimitri."

"What. Did. You. Say."

"Nothing that wasn’t true." Her voice was sugar-sweet. "I simply asked a question. And her face gave me the most interesting answer."

"Isabella..."

"You haven’t fucked her." The delight in her voice made him want to put his fist through a wall. "Seven weeks together, all these grand declarations, and you haven’t actually consummated this great love affair. How... fascinating."

His hand tightened on the phone. "That’s between me and her."

"Is it? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re playing games. Keeping her desperate. Making her think she’s special while you string her along." Isabella’s voice hardened. "I told her the truth, Dimitri. That you’re using her. That when you get bored, you’ll toss her aside. And do you know what? I think part of her believes me."

"You have no idea what you’re talking about."

"Don’t I? I’ve watched you for years, Dimitri. I know how you operate. And I know that if you actually loved her the way you claim, you would have made her yours by now. Completely. The fact that you haven’t tells me everything I need to know." She paused. "She’s not special. She’s just... convenient. And temporary."

"Listen to me very carefully," Dimitri said, his voice so cold it could have frozen blood. "You just made the worst mistake of your life. I warned you to stay away from her. You didn’t listen. Now you’re going to learn what happens when someone threatens what’s mine."

"I didn’t threaten her. I just told her the truth."

"You tried to plant doubt. To make her question us. To hurt her." Dimitri stepped into the elevator, his reflection staring back at him in the polished doors. "And for that, Isabella, you’re going to pay."

"What are you going to do? Kill me? Antonio would never...."

"I don’t need to kill you. I just need to make your life so miserable, so complicated, so publicly humiliating that you wish you’d never heard Eve’s name." His smile was sharp and lethal. "Stay away from her, Isabella. This is your last warning."

He hung up.

The elevator couldn’t move fast enough.

****

POV: EVE

Eve stormed into the penthouse at 3:15 PM, her heels clicking sharp and angry on the marble floor.

Marco had tried to follow her up, but she’d told him to wait downstairs. Needed space. Needed air.

Needed Dimitri.

She dropped her bag by the door, paced to the windows, paced back.

Has he fucked you yet?

The question kept replaying in her mind, along with Isabella’s laugh, her smug certainty, her poison-sweet voice saying he’s using you.

Eve knew it wasn’t true.

She knew Dimitri loved her. Knew he was waiting because he wanted it to be perfect, because he was preparing her, because he was terrified of hurting her.

But God, Isabella’s words had burrowed under her skin like splinters.

Seven weeks. Two months of denial. Two months of toys and fingers and oral and everything except what she actually wanted.

And now Isabella....beautiful, trained, perfect Isabella had looked at her with pity and said you’re just another toy he’s playing with.

The elevator chimed.

Eve turned.

Dimitri stepped out, and the sight of him made her chest ache. Six-four of lethal grace, silver-gray eyes locked on her immediately, his entire focus narrowed to her with an intensity that stole her breath.

"Cara mia." He crossed to her in four strides. "What happened? Marco said you met Isabella...."

"Did you know?" Eve interrupted. "That she was going to approach me?"

"No. I warned her to stay away from you." His hands came up to frame her face. "What did she say?"

Eve pulled back, needing distance. Needing to think.

"She asked me if you’d fucked me yet."

Dimitri went absolutely still.

"And when I couldn’t hide the answer fast enough, she laughed." Eve’s voice was tight. "She said you’re using me. That you’re keeping me desperate. That I’m just a toy you’re playing with until you get bored."

"That’s not...."

"I know it’s not true," Eve said, cutting him off. "I know you love me. I know you’re waiting because you think I’m not ready, because you want it to be perfect, because you’re fucking terrified of hurting me." She took a breath. "But Dimitri, I’ve been ready. For weeks. And every day you make me wait, every day you deny me, I feel like I’m going insane."

"Eve...."

"No." She held up a hand. "Let me finish. I’ve been patient. I’ve trusted your judgment. I’ve let you control the timeline because I thought you knew better than me what I could handle." Her eyes met his. "But after today, after Isabella looked at me like I was some pathetic fool being strung along, I realized something."

"What?"

"That I’m done waiting." Eve’s voice was steel. "I’m done being patient. I’m done letting you decide when I’m ready." She took a step toward him. "So here’s what’s going to happen, Dimitri. Either you fuck me tonight....right now....or I’m packing my things and moving back to my apartment."

Silence crashed between them.

Dimitri stared at her, and she saw a dozen emotions flash across his face....shock, anger, desire, fear.

"You don’t mean that," he said finally.

"Try me."

"Eve, you’re upset. Isabella got in your head...."

"This isn’t about Isabella!" Eve’s voice cracked. "This is about me. About what I want. About what I need. I’ve given you everything, Dimitri. My body, my time, my heart, my love. I’ve watched you torture people and stood by your side. I’ve accepted your darkness and your violence and your world. I’ve fought for us against my brother, against your family, against everyone who said this was a mistake."