Midgar Burning - Chapter 9
Title: Midgar Burning
Authors: silence_laughs and calvi_sama
Pairing: Cid x Vincent
Rating: NC-17 (eventually), most certainly R
Disclaimer: We do not in any way own, nor profit from, the characters and/or locations of FFVII, that would all be Square Enix. Also any other references to persons or products mentioned herein are purely coincidental *coughs*
Warnings: Adult themes, blood, some violence, language, kidnapping, torture, mentions of abuse, murder, and above all else...yaoi, the 'inappropriate to minors' kind, the 'makes us sit up past our bedtimes reading' kind, 'cause lets face it folks, it just wouldn't be the same without it! >:3
Summary: Even as Cid fights to show Vincent it’s okay to love again, Vincent’s enemies are moving in. Can Cid secure a place in Vincent’s heart before their world falls apart?
A/N: Two things folks: 1) This is an RP and 2) This fic is AU. The usual players here: silence = Cid, and all in Cid's world, and yours truly = Vincent, and all in Vin's world. Easiest way to say it. ^^ This fic is a 'novel'-form piece (ie multi-chapter) that is darker than what we normally write, and out of our comfort zone in the fact that we normally prefer to stick to canon-type stuff. But I got the idea from ani_mama's artwork (more specifically this picture), persuaded silence to "go along with it", and it's been going 'full steam ahead' since then, and quite grown on us. We hope you all like it!
Chapter 9
Cid woke the next morning thinking of Vincent and what it would have been like to wake up with him. His morning followed that pattern -cooking for Vincent, having breakfast with him, etc. - until he made it to wondering how it would feel to shower with Vincent. At that point, he figured he had gone far enough and was beginning to sound more than a little obsessed. His enduring good mood over nearly the next week was only enhanced by the completion of the arrest Vincent had set up for him. Palmer had laughed jollily and clapped him on the back for a job well done (“for once,” he was sure to add), but Scarlet had only looked at him suspiciously.
That made him nervous. She made him nervous. But for all that nervousness, he looked straight ahead at his chance to thank Vincent. This coming meeting, he would be delivering not one tube of mako, but two. With that, he would be giving Vincent the option to miss one of their meetings with no hard feelings. Cid could understand that in Vincent’s line of work, some business could be postponed and some could not. Cid did not want to be responsible for anything less than good happening to Vincent, but he knew the man would need the mako whether he met Cid or not. That spurred on the decision to an extra tube of mako for every fifth meeting.
This would only be their third, yes, but Cid felt for some reason that it was necessary. If Vincent missed no meetings and stockpiled that mako, he could eventually enjoy months of freedom from both Rufus and Cid. As tempting as it was to want to keep him as close as possible, Cid saw their situation for what it was, and he would not allow Vincent to be a slave for the substance if he could help it.
--------------------------------
Midway through the time in between his scheduled meetings with the cop, Highwind, found Vincent bent over his desk going through shipping manifests and frowning fiercely. From the looks of these, the authorities were upping their presence at the shipyards, confiscating cargo and making random searches. This wasn’t good. He would have to find ways to compensate his buyers for their lost shipments, not to mention schedule a meeting with his overseas associates, something he was not looking forward to. There came a brisk knock on his door.
“Come!” he called out, looking up.
Tseng poked his head into his office. “Sorry to disturb you, sir. But the Junon Representative is here to see you.”
Vincent looked up then, frown deepening. “Junon,” he said, confusedly. “But we don’t have anyone in Ju-“
“Not that kind of representative, sir. But the governmental liaison.” Tseng said with an odd expression on his face.
“Oh, crap, just what I need,” he muttered. He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his face with both hands and sighed in resignation as he gestured absently with a hand. “Show him in.”
Tseng’s expression changed into one of wry amusement. “Very well, sir.” Tseng hesitated, a mischievous glint in his black eyes. “You also have that Presidential Gala tonight, do not forget.” Then the man was gone. Vincent groaned softly. He did not want to go to that ridiculous farce where he would have to smile and shake hands with the slimiest public officials…Look who is talking, idiot.
A few minutes after the door had closed, it opened again as Tseng escorted an attractive auburn-haired young woman into his office, seating her across from him, bowing and then retreating, pulling the door behind him. Vincent raised an eyebrow. “And how may I help you Ms.-“
“Rui. Shalua Rui, and I was under the impression that you were expecting me, Mr. Valentine.” The young woman said curtly, raising her own eyebrow and crossing very shapely legs encased in a knee-length figure-hugging skirt.
“Uh-” Vincent said dumbly before catching himself. “Yes, I was, please forgive me. I’ve had a very busy morning.” He gestured to the piles of paper scattered over his desk.
“So it would seem,” Shalua said matter-of-factly, settling her hands in her lap after first adjusting the wire-rimmed glasses on her nose. “I’ll have you know, Mr. Valentine, that I do not appreciate being ‘handed off’.”
“I imagine you wouldn’t, Ms. Rui,” Vincent said softly. She was attractive, he noticed, and he liked her no-nonsense air. “So what may I do for you?”
“We need your people to look the other way when we receive medical shipments.” Shalua said, cutting to the chase immediately.
Vincent’s eyebrow rose in amusement, face impassive. He liked this woman. “I’m afraid I do not understand, Ms. Rui,” He said.
“Do not play coy with me, Mr. Valentine,” Shalua said impatiently. “I do not see how you can sit there and pretend that you have no knowledge of the raids taking place on our medical supply caravans.”
“And I shall continue to sit here and repeat myself. I have no knowledge of this,” Vincent replied, beginning to get irritated himself. “And how do you know I am responsible for this? Why would I ‘raid’ - to use such an uncouth and antiquated term - a medical supply caravan? The resale value of most routine medical supplies is at an all-time low. Besides, surely you can see that I have more than enough resources to take care of any medical needs I may have and not resort to common thievery?”
“Clearly.” Shalua said wryly, as she reached over his desk to hand him a recording device. “But proof is proof.”
Vincent sat there, eyeing it a moment before he reached forward to bridge the gap between them and take the device from the woman. There was a moment when their fingers brushed, causing Shalua to blush lightly before leaning back in her seat and averting her eyes. Vincent smirked and leaned back in his chair as he pushed ‘play’. There were some sounds of a scuffle and muffled voices that finally transformed into a conversation as the recording device was brought closer. The accusations and insults being slung did not interest him so much as the last several seconds of the recording.
“Who do you work for?” snarled a man’s voice.
“Fuck you!” was the strained response, as though the owner of said voice were being forcibly restrained.
There were the sounds of fists meeting flesh, and a moan, followed by several seconds of heavy breathing. Finally: “I’ll ask you again, scum. Who do you work for?”
Another watery groan, then “Vincent Valentine. Out of Midgar.”
Vincent clicked off the recording device, his face dark and terrible. “How did you come by this?” he asked, his voice icy and calm.
“That was collected from a successful counter-ambush. These ‘raids’ have been going on for some time, and finally we got some useful intelligence. You hold the results of that in your hands,” Shalua explained angrily. “Don’t you wish to hear the rest?”
“I’ve heard enough,” Vincent said softly, placing the recording device into the inside breast pocket of his suit-coat. “I’ll be keeping this; I’ll listen to it later.”
When Shalua opened her mouth to protest, he cut her off. “My dear Ms. Rui, you honestly didn’t expect to come here, show me this - very damning - evidence against me and then expect me to give it back did you?”
“So you are admitting to being responsible for these thefts?” Shalua countered.
“Quite the contrary,” Vincent said calmly, steepling his fingers in front of his mouth as he leaned back in his chair once again. “None of this was done under my order, and I will be using all of my…considerable resources, to find all of those responsible for throwing my name around so carelessly. Do not concern yourself with this any further, Ms. Rui. It shall be taken care of.”
“Am I supposed to just go back to my superiors and tell them that? Just what exactly is going to be done about this, Mr. Valentine?” Shalua demanded aggressively, leaning forward in emphasis.
But Vincent was leaning over on one elbow and grinning at her. “Red.”
Shalua blinked, her mouth hanging open in mid-rant. “What?”
“I am seeing you in red, Ms. Rui,” Vincent murmured.
“Considering your rather unique and slightly creepy eye color, I am not surprised,” Shalua said in reflex, clearly still confused.
Vincent chuckled. “Clever, but no. Something off the shoulder I should think, figure hugging. You would put your hair up of course.”
“Mr. Valentine, what are you talking about?” Shalua asked, exasperated.
“I was hoping that you might indulge me by accompanying me to the President’s Gala this evening,” he said, grin still in place.
“What? I…don’t you…I…” Shalua spluttered, flushing prettily. “Mr. Valentine, I hardly think that this is appropriate material, nor the time, to be discussing it, given the reason I am here.”
“I disagree,” Vincent said briskly getting up to walk around the desk and sit upon it, looking down at Shalua with his arms crossed. “What better time than after the conclusion of business.”
“The conclu-” Shalua began then stood up to stare Vincent in the eye. “Mr. Valentine…”
“Vincent.”
“What?” Shalua stopped, blinking again.
“I would like it if you called me Vincent, Ms. Rui,” Vincent said fighting a chuckle, grin widening slowly.
“Very well, Vincent, I…wait a minute!” Shalua said, waving her hands and finally pointing a finger at him. “You are distracting me, Mr. Valentine. Our business is not concluded. I need to know what you plan to do about these cargo raids and…”
“Ms. Rui…may I be so bold as to call you Shalua?” Vincent said softly, calmly, wrapping his hand around her pointing finger and lowering their hands as Shalua nodded, stunned. “Our business is very much concluded. You have presented me with evidence that someone is using my name and stealing medical supplies bound for your providence, and I have said that I shall take care of it. So when you return to your superiors, simply tell them that you have spoken to me personally and that together we have devised a solution to the problem and that you are leaving it in my very capable hands.”
“But, but, but…” Shalua stammered. “I don’t know what you’re going to do, or even that you will do it!”
“You will have to take my word for it, Shalua. I do not like my name being used without my knowledge, and so I shall personally take care of that as a top priority. If they push you for details, just tell them that in the interest of security, both your government’s and mine, that you have given your word not to speak of it. If…” he stopped her before she could speak. “They push you for information…” he reached into his coat pocket and produced a business card and slipped it into her hand. “Give them this and tell them they are welcome to call me to discuss this issue further, but that I have strictly requested your silence in this matter.” As Shalua nodded and looked down at the business card he said warmly, “Now, about the Gala…”
“I-I don’t have anything to wear. I assume it’s formal?” Shalua stammered turning a shade of pink that Vincent found very agreeable.
“Mm, black tie, very formal,” Vincent said in mock-seriousness.
Seeing a way out, Shalua said defiantly, “Then I’m afraid I cannot attend. Sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Valentine.”
Vincent sighed theatrically. “I asked you to please call me Vincent, Ms. Rui.”
Shalua huffed. “Fine, but that doesn’t change the fact that I cannot go with you to this…Gala,” she said, waving her hand in emphasis.
“So you are saying that if you had something to wear, then you would accompany me?” Vincent asked, cocking his head until he captured her gaze.
Shalua opened her mouth and realized that she was caught. Instead of stammering and attempting to get out of it, she opted for simple fact. “Yes.”
Vincent’s grin widened. He really did like her. “Excellent! Then I shall pick you up at seven. Meanwhile you have…”
“But, I already said that I don’t have anything to wear!” Shalua interrupted him, exasperated.
“…at least six hours to shop and get ready. I’ll have Tseng take you to the finest shops until you find what you want. I do hope you will consider red and off the shoulder…you would look positively ravishing…”
“Vincent, stop!!” Shalua said. When he paused, she looked at him in disbelief. “What are you talking about? I don’t have that kind of money…”
“It is taken care of. Tseng will handle the finances. Think of it as a…gift, for causing you so much trouble.” Vincent said, giving her a radiant smile and loving how she blushed in reply.
“That’s insulting,” Shalua sniffed. “Buying me a dress to counter the thefts…”
“That is not why I am buying you the dress.” Vincent sobered. “My counter to the thefts is to take care of the problem so that they will never bother you again. I am buying you the dress…” he tilted her chin up so that he could look into her eyes. “Because I wish to apologize for my boorish behavior. And to finish off the apology I shall ask you properly, as a gentleman would a lady. Ms. Rui, would you give me the honor of accompanying me to the President’s Gala this evening? And as a gentleman, I shall of course completely understand if you decline my offer, and respect that. But I would humbly request that you seriously consider it, as I enjoy your company immensely and find it very refreshing.”
“I’ll bet you say that to all the women,” Shalua whispered.
“Only the ones I like,” Vincent replied just as softly. “Am I to hope that that is a yes, then?”
Shalua nodded and smiled tentatively. “Yes. It is.”
Authors: silence_laughs and calvi_sama
Pairing: Cid x Vincent
Rating: NC-17 (eventually), most certainly R
Disclaimer: We do not in any way own, nor profit from, the characters and/or locations of FFVII, that would all be Square Enix. Also any other references to persons or products mentioned herein are purely coincidental *coughs*
Warnings: Adult themes, blood, some violence, language, kidnapping, torture, mentions of abuse, murder, and above all else...yaoi, the 'inappropriate to minors' kind, the 'makes us sit up past our bedtimes reading' kind, 'cause lets face it folks, it just wouldn't be the same without it! >:3
Summary: Even as Cid fights to show Vincent it’s okay to love again, Vincent’s enemies are moving in. Can Cid secure a place in Vincent’s heart before their world falls apart?
A/N: Two things folks: 1) This is an RP and 2) This fic is AU. The usual players here: silence = Cid, and all in Cid's world, and yours truly = Vincent, and all in Vin's world. Easiest way to say it. ^^ This fic is a 'novel'-form piece (ie multi-chapter) that is darker than what we normally write, and out of our comfort zone in the fact that we normally prefer to stick to canon-type stuff. But I got the idea from ani_mama's artwork (more specifically this picture), persuaded silence to "go along with it", and it's been going 'full steam ahead' since then, and quite grown on us. We hope you all like it!
Chapter 9
Cid woke the next morning thinking of Vincent and what it would have been like to wake up with him. His morning followed that pattern -cooking for Vincent, having breakfast with him, etc. - until he made it to wondering how it would feel to shower with Vincent. At that point, he figured he had gone far enough and was beginning to sound more than a little obsessed. His enduring good mood over nearly the next week was only enhanced by the completion of the arrest Vincent had set up for him. Palmer had laughed jollily and clapped him on the back for a job well done (“for once,” he was sure to add), but Scarlet had only looked at him suspiciously.
That made him nervous. She made him nervous. But for all that nervousness, he looked straight ahead at his chance to thank Vincent. This coming meeting, he would be delivering not one tube of mako, but two. With that, he would be giving Vincent the option to miss one of their meetings with no hard feelings. Cid could understand that in Vincent’s line of work, some business could be postponed and some could not. Cid did not want to be responsible for anything less than good happening to Vincent, but he knew the man would need the mako whether he met Cid or not. That spurred on the decision to an extra tube of mako for every fifth meeting.
This would only be their third, yes, but Cid felt for some reason that it was necessary. If Vincent missed no meetings and stockpiled that mako, he could eventually enjoy months of freedom from both Rufus and Cid. As tempting as it was to want to keep him as close as possible, Cid saw their situation for what it was, and he would not allow Vincent to be a slave for the substance if he could help it.
--------------------------------
Midway through the time in between his scheduled meetings with the cop, Highwind, found Vincent bent over his desk going through shipping manifests and frowning fiercely. From the looks of these, the authorities were upping their presence at the shipyards, confiscating cargo and making random searches. This wasn’t good. He would have to find ways to compensate his buyers for their lost shipments, not to mention schedule a meeting with his overseas associates, something he was not looking forward to. There came a brisk knock on his door.
“Come!” he called out, looking up.
Tseng poked his head into his office. “Sorry to disturb you, sir. But the Junon Representative is here to see you.”
Vincent looked up then, frown deepening. “Junon,” he said, confusedly. “But we don’t have anyone in Ju-“
“Not that kind of representative, sir. But the governmental liaison.” Tseng said with an odd expression on his face.
“Oh, crap, just what I need,” he muttered. He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his face with both hands and sighed in resignation as he gestured absently with a hand. “Show him in.”
Tseng’s expression changed into one of wry amusement. “Very well, sir.” Tseng hesitated, a mischievous glint in his black eyes. “You also have that Presidential Gala tonight, do not forget.” Then the man was gone. Vincent groaned softly. He did not want to go to that ridiculous farce where he would have to smile and shake hands with the slimiest public officials…Look who is talking, idiot.
A few minutes after the door had closed, it opened again as Tseng escorted an attractive auburn-haired young woman into his office, seating her across from him, bowing and then retreating, pulling the door behind him. Vincent raised an eyebrow. “And how may I help you Ms.-“
“Rui. Shalua Rui, and I was under the impression that you were expecting me, Mr. Valentine.” The young woman said curtly, raising her own eyebrow and crossing very shapely legs encased in a knee-length figure-hugging skirt.
“Uh-” Vincent said dumbly before catching himself. “Yes, I was, please forgive me. I’ve had a very busy morning.” He gestured to the piles of paper scattered over his desk.
“So it would seem,” Shalua said matter-of-factly, settling her hands in her lap after first adjusting the wire-rimmed glasses on her nose. “I’ll have you know, Mr. Valentine, that I do not appreciate being ‘handed off’.”
“I imagine you wouldn’t, Ms. Rui,” Vincent said softly. She was attractive, he noticed, and he liked her no-nonsense air. “So what may I do for you?”
“We need your people to look the other way when we receive medical shipments.” Shalua said, cutting to the chase immediately.
Vincent’s eyebrow rose in amusement, face impassive. He liked this woman. “I’m afraid I do not understand, Ms. Rui,” He said.
“Do not play coy with me, Mr. Valentine,” Shalua said impatiently. “I do not see how you can sit there and pretend that you have no knowledge of the raids taking place on our medical supply caravans.”
“And I shall continue to sit here and repeat myself. I have no knowledge of this,” Vincent replied, beginning to get irritated himself. “And how do you know I am responsible for this? Why would I ‘raid’ - to use such an uncouth and antiquated term - a medical supply caravan? The resale value of most routine medical supplies is at an all-time low. Besides, surely you can see that I have more than enough resources to take care of any medical needs I may have and not resort to common thievery?”
“Clearly.” Shalua said wryly, as she reached over his desk to hand him a recording device. “But proof is proof.”
Vincent sat there, eyeing it a moment before he reached forward to bridge the gap between them and take the device from the woman. There was a moment when their fingers brushed, causing Shalua to blush lightly before leaning back in her seat and averting her eyes. Vincent smirked and leaned back in his chair as he pushed ‘play’. There were some sounds of a scuffle and muffled voices that finally transformed into a conversation as the recording device was brought closer. The accusations and insults being slung did not interest him so much as the last several seconds of the recording.
“Who do you work for?” snarled a man’s voice.
“Fuck you!” was the strained response, as though the owner of said voice were being forcibly restrained.
There were the sounds of fists meeting flesh, and a moan, followed by several seconds of heavy breathing. Finally: “I’ll ask you again, scum. Who do you work for?”
Another watery groan, then “Vincent Valentine. Out of Midgar.”
Vincent clicked off the recording device, his face dark and terrible. “How did you come by this?” he asked, his voice icy and calm.
“That was collected from a successful counter-ambush. These ‘raids’ have been going on for some time, and finally we got some useful intelligence. You hold the results of that in your hands,” Shalua explained angrily. “Don’t you wish to hear the rest?”
“I’ve heard enough,” Vincent said softly, placing the recording device into the inside breast pocket of his suit-coat. “I’ll be keeping this; I’ll listen to it later.”
When Shalua opened her mouth to protest, he cut her off. “My dear Ms. Rui, you honestly didn’t expect to come here, show me this - very damning - evidence against me and then expect me to give it back did you?”
“So you are admitting to being responsible for these thefts?” Shalua countered.
“Quite the contrary,” Vincent said calmly, steepling his fingers in front of his mouth as he leaned back in his chair once again. “None of this was done under my order, and I will be using all of my…considerable resources, to find all of those responsible for throwing my name around so carelessly. Do not concern yourself with this any further, Ms. Rui. It shall be taken care of.”
“Am I supposed to just go back to my superiors and tell them that? Just what exactly is going to be done about this, Mr. Valentine?” Shalua demanded aggressively, leaning forward in emphasis.
But Vincent was leaning over on one elbow and grinning at her. “Red.”
Shalua blinked, her mouth hanging open in mid-rant. “What?”
“I am seeing you in red, Ms. Rui,” Vincent murmured.
“Considering your rather unique and slightly creepy eye color, I am not surprised,” Shalua said in reflex, clearly still confused.
Vincent chuckled. “Clever, but no. Something off the shoulder I should think, figure hugging. You would put your hair up of course.”
“Mr. Valentine, what are you talking about?” Shalua asked, exasperated.
“I was hoping that you might indulge me by accompanying me to the President’s Gala this evening,” he said, grin still in place.
“What? I…don’t you…I…” Shalua spluttered, flushing prettily. “Mr. Valentine, I hardly think that this is appropriate material, nor the time, to be discussing it, given the reason I am here.”
“I disagree,” Vincent said briskly getting up to walk around the desk and sit upon it, looking down at Shalua with his arms crossed. “What better time than after the conclusion of business.”
“The conclu-” Shalua began then stood up to stare Vincent in the eye. “Mr. Valentine…”
“Vincent.”
“What?” Shalua stopped, blinking again.
“I would like it if you called me Vincent, Ms. Rui,” Vincent said fighting a chuckle, grin widening slowly.
“Very well, Vincent, I…wait a minute!” Shalua said, waving her hands and finally pointing a finger at him. “You are distracting me, Mr. Valentine. Our business is not concluded. I need to know what you plan to do about these cargo raids and…”
“Ms. Rui…may I be so bold as to call you Shalua?” Vincent said softly, calmly, wrapping his hand around her pointing finger and lowering their hands as Shalua nodded, stunned. “Our business is very much concluded. You have presented me with evidence that someone is using my name and stealing medical supplies bound for your providence, and I have said that I shall take care of it. So when you return to your superiors, simply tell them that you have spoken to me personally and that together we have devised a solution to the problem and that you are leaving it in my very capable hands.”
“But, but, but…” Shalua stammered. “I don’t know what you’re going to do, or even that you will do it!”
“You will have to take my word for it, Shalua. I do not like my name being used without my knowledge, and so I shall personally take care of that as a top priority. If they push you for details, just tell them that in the interest of security, both your government’s and mine, that you have given your word not to speak of it. If…” he stopped her before she could speak. “They push you for information…” he reached into his coat pocket and produced a business card and slipped it into her hand. “Give them this and tell them they are welcome to call me to discuss this issue further, but that I have strictly requested your silence in this matter.” As Shalua nodded and looked down at the business card he said warmly, “Now, about the Gala…”
“I-I don’t have anything to wear. I assume it’s formal?” Shalua stammered turning a shade of pink that Vincent found very agreeable.
“Mm, black tie, very formal,” Vincent said in mock-seriousness.
Seeing a way out, Shalua said defiantly, “Then I’m afraid I cannot attend. Sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Valentine.”
Vincent sighed theatrically. “I asked you to please call me Vincent, Ms. Rui.”
Shalua huffed. “Fine, but that doesn’t change the fact that I cannot go with you to this…Gala,” she said, waving her hand in emphasis.
“So you are saying that if you had something to wear, then you would accompany me?” Vincent asked, cocking his head until he captured her gaze.
Shalua opened her mouth and realized that she was caught. Instead of stammering and attempting to get out of it, she opted for simple fact. “Yes.”
Vincent’s grin widened. He really did like her. “Excellent! Then I shall pick you up at seven. Meanwhile you have…”
“But, I already said that I don’t have anything to wear!” Shalua interrupted him, exasperated.
“…at least six hours to shop and get ready. I’ll have Tseng take you to the finest shops until you find what you want. I do hope you will consider red and off the shoulder…you would look positively ravishing…”
“Vincent, stop!!” Shalua said. When he paused, she looked at him in disbelief. “What are you talking about? I don’t have that kind of money…”
“It is taken care of. Tseng will handle the finances. Think of it as a…gift, for causing you so much trouble.” Vincent said, giving her a radiant smile and loving how she blushed in reply.
“That’s insulting,” Shalua sniffed. “Buying me a dress to counter the thefts…”
“That is not why I am buying you the dress.” Vincent sobered. “My counter to the thefts is to take care of the problem so that they will never bother you again. I am buying you the dress…” he tilted her chin up so that he could look into her eyes. “Because I wish to apologize for my boorish behavior. And to finish off the apology I shall ask you properly, as a gentleman would a lady. Ms. Rui, would you give me the honor of accompanying me to the President’s Gala this evening? And as a gentleman, I shall of course completely understand if you decline my offer, and respect that. But I would humbly request that you seriously consider it, as I enjoy your company immensely and find it very refreshing.”
“I’ll bet you say that to all the women,” Shalua whispered.
“Only the ones I like,” Vincent replied just as softly. “Am I to hope that that is a yes, then?”
Shalua nodded and smiled tentatively. “Yes. It is.”