Final fantasy

Liana POV 

My pulse quickened further, and my tongue suddenly felt too big for my mouth. I even dropped my gaze because I was so uncomfortable by what he said but what was I supposed to say to that?

He stared me down like he expected me to say something but I tucked my hair behind my ear then brushed my fingertips across my lips.

When my arms were close to my body, I could feel my heart thudding against my arm, feel it trying to break through my rib cage. “I’m only having this conversation because my mother forced my hand. She didn’t tell me you were here…just sprung it on me and I’m confused because anytime we’ve ever interacted in the past, it’s been extremely hostile.”

“I’m a hostile guy…when you get on my bad side and that’s exactly why you need me.”

If he could scare me, he could scare anyone. “Well, is that how it’s going to be every day in our marriage? Hostile?”

His eyes shifted back and forth as he looked into mine. “No.”

“So…you are overlooking our past?”

“No.”

“I don’t see how we can be partners if you can’t let go of the past.”

“I’ve let it go,” he said simply and we don’t have to talk about it ever again. In fact, I’d prefer if we didn’t.”

Could I spend the rest of my life with a man when we had such a dark history? Our feelings were muddy and complicated. There were emotions all over the place. “I don’t want to do this but I don’t see any other way…”

"Your mother is right. Marrying me is your best option.”

“Or I could run away and start over…”

“And leave your mother behind?” he asked coldly.

No, I couldn’t abandon her.

“You’re overthinking it.”

“But that’s what I am ....a fighter.”

He stepped away and looked over the balcony at the city below. “We both know I’m the best man you’re going to find. I’m an asshole, but a harmless one. Other bachelors out there are liars, abusive, controlling…the list goes on. At least with me, you know exactly what you’re getting.”

Adrian was definitely the best choice by far. Despite our uncomfortable past, he wasn’t like the others.

“I have conditions.”

He turned back to me. “As do I.”

“I don’t want you to control me, to tell me what to do. In our  past relationship, you did that a lot. I told you I didn’t want something, but you forced it on me anyway.”

His eyes stayed focused on me.

“When you didn’t get what you wanted, you manipulated me. I want your honesty and I won’t tolerate a man who strikes me. If you ever hit me, I swear I’ll kill you in your sleep. I want you to treat me with respect.”

His expression softened. “Liana, you don’t even need to ask that.”

“I’m not so sure…”

“I will always be honest with you and I’d rather kill myself than ever hurt you.”

“That doesn’t only apply to physical pain. You hurt me when we were together.”

“Don’t act like the victim, Liana. You hurt me too. You hurt me a hell of a lot more than I ever hurt you.”

“That was because you made me… That’s the problem, you forced me to do that.”

He looked away. “Let’s not waste time arguing about the past. We obviously have very different views of what happened and I promise you I’ll never hurt you. I will always be honest with you and respect you. Is that enough?”

“Yeah…I guess.”

“Anything else?”

“My father used to have mistresses…”

“A lot of men do,” he said quietly.

“My parents didn’t love each other, and my mother was fine with it but I still don’t like it because that’s not the kind of marriage I want to have.”

He turned back to me, his brown eyes lighter in the gentle sunlight. “You have my fidelity, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“I know.” Even if our marriage was just a business relationship, I felt odd sleeping with someone besides my husband because It still felt like a crime.

“And if I’m not fucking anyone else, I better be fucking you.” He stepped closer to me, looking at me with those aggressive eyes. He crowded my space with his presence, exerting himself before he even owned me.

I’d been with other men since Adrian and I went our separate ways but the sex was never as good as it was with him. I did my best to forget about the best sex of my life because my hatred for him made me stubborn, but now it came back to me, exploding in the form of dirty images in my brain.

He lingered in front of me, as if he was waiting for my agreement. “Do you understand me?”

I gave a slight nod and he walked past me in preparation to leave. “Plan the wedding, just tell me when to show up.”

I turned to watch him walk away. “I’m not sleeping with you until I say I do.”

He looked back at me. “And you expect me to keep my dick in my pants until then?”

“No…” He didn’t owe me anything until we tied the knot.

“Good.” He started to walk away again.

“Adrian.”

He turned back to me, looking more annoyed.

“My mother needs to live with us.”

His hands slid into his pockets. “She never mentioned that.”

“She’s too proud to ask. I know she doesn’t want to be alone…”

“And that’s my problem?” he asked, being a smartass.

“I’d be really grateful to you if you did this for me…and I’d show it.” I didn’t want my mother to live in this big house all alone. She didn’t have many friends,  She wouldn’t get married again, so I was her only companion. Besides, she could watch the kids while I worked all day.

His eyes softened slightly. “I’m holding you to that.”