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So Charles was lying. And not even in a skillful or particularly inventive way. Maybe he didn’t realize that Vi and Chiara were together—the ‘together’ part being something she’d have to ponder at a later date—or perhaps he simply didn’t care what Chiara thought, knowing full well that she wouldn’t risk a scandal at her own party.
The fact that Gwyneth was totally unperturbed and supremely bored with this conversation, paying very little mind to what was happening around her, said as much.
“Well, then I hope you enjoy the party.” The lie slid right off her tongue, and Charles’s gaze returned to roaming the crowd, craning his neck to look past the group of investor types that still surrounded Renate. Chiara saw the exact moment he found what he was looking for,whomhe was looking for—Vi, who was slowly making her way through a throng of guests in their direction—she knew she had to act fast.
There was no way she was allowing Vi to be subjected to the Courtenays’ torment again. One night of anguish was enough.
She pushed through the crowd and managed to beat Charles to her. Fury and glory warred inside her as she reached Vi first, smoothly turning her around, ensuring that she could not see her approaching father. Then she simply whispered five words in her ear. Simple words that would guarantee they’d be leaving the party in a flash, her own personal moment of professional triumph be damned. Just five syllables that would ensure Vi was spared another vicious encounter with her family. Five words that would guarantee a long night.
“I want you, right now.”
24
IN A FARAWAY LAND OF SACRIFICES AND DESIRE
Chiara Conti had always been attuned to her lovers. More so to Vi than anyone else. And whether it was due to her own feelings, or because of all the small and big gestures that Vi had shown her—from that affection for the grumpy cat, to the magnificent Poise issue that contained all that love she clearly held for Chiara—when they had reached for each other, hands and lips and mouth, Chiara gentled her touch.
For the first time since she’d seen Vi on Chiaroscuro’s doorstep, their coming together and coming undone was neither fraught with uncertainty or anguish, nor fast, or rough or hectic.
It started with passionate words, breathed into Vi’s ear in the room full of people—people who neither cared, nor saw them. Not really. Since Chiara knew for a fact that nobody in the entire world looked at Vi the way she did. And when those wondrous eyes had widened before darkening, Chiara knew she had her.
Then, when they had gotten into the waiting limo and Vi’s shoulders relaxed, away from the prying eyes and meddling people, away from the potential heartbreak, Chiara was sure she had done the right thing.
But Vi’s words, cushioned by the intimacy of the darkness of the backseat with Manhattan flying by them, confirmed as much.
“He was there, wasn’t he? Just now, with you. I didn’t imagine it.”
Chiara felt more than heard Vi gulping back emotions, because the words were coming out strained, tortured. And so she simply took the cold and clammy hand in hers, intertwining their fingers, and stared unseeingly as the lights of The City that Never Sleeps accompanied them on their journey.
“You always seem to save me. I’ve never told you how many times in Paris…”
The backs of Chiara’s eyes stung, and she wondered why she was trying to hold back the tears. She was safe here. Despite everything, she felt safe. And what a realization to have after all these years?
“I always knew.”
Vi’s hand tensed in hers, and Chiara lifted it and placed a kiss on the prominent knuckles, enjoying the catch in Vi’s breath.
“I knew. I may not have said. And I may not have shown, because the times you came to me, hurting and confused, it was more expedient to simply comfort you rather than telling you how much I hurt with you.”
“Thank you.” The hand in Chiara’s relaxed a bit, even if the roughness did not leave the trembling voice, and Vi’s breath was coming out raggedly now, despite Chiara’s best efforts to calm her down.
“And yet, you realized he was with me just now. Still, you were walking in my direction anyway. Talk about saving, darling. Or talk about a complete lack of self-preservation.”
In the darkness, the swatches of street light gave Vi’s face an eerie glow, making her look ethereal. Why had Chiara never thought that about her before? Five years ago, she’d been all angelic innocence, and now she was a fallen one, tormented by her own descent.
“It seems my self-preservation isn’t worth much when it comes to you, Chiara.”
There was self-deprecation in the words, but the tone had evened out, and Chiara could sense the raggedness leave Vi’s breath.
“Yes, it does seem that way. Even five years ago, you should have stayed away from me. Though I have to say, I was perhaps the perfect temptation for someone like you. Unhappy, lonely, lost as I was. And that knight in shining armor in you, that guardian angel… Well, you were doomed from the start, weren’t you?”
Chiara wasn’t sure where the words were coming from. They were certainly insulting Vi’s intelligence and the power of whatever feelings she fancied she’d had five years ago. But even as Chiara recoiled, Vi chuckled.
“We should have talked about it years ago. I loved you for your brilliant mind, for the generosity and kindness you showed me, for your beauty and for the gentleness of your heart. For the post-its and marinara sauce. For the careful way you made me love myself. I loved you for so many instances of wonder and magic that you brought to my days back then. And for all the dreams of possibilities and hope you filled my nights with.” Chiara trembled at the words and Vi lifted their joined hands for a gentle kiss on her knuckles before continuing.
“I loved you despite the circumstance and against everything that was right. I crossed so many lines drawn by god and man—well, woman—for you. I think the only thing I regret about Paris is not crossing all of them…”
Chiara watched Vi’s eyes get misty as she looked into the night that was speeding by them and felt her own chest fill with both regret and affection. Her heart was so full of both and her tears spilled hot on her cheeks, for all the time they’d lost.
