James nodded, relieved to hear a medical explanation for behavior that had been driving him to distraction.
"But after a week?" Victoria's smile widened, becoming distinctly predatory. "After a week, it's still medical plus just me being horny and unable to resist the urge to touch you."
James nearly choked on his own breath. "What?"
"You asked for honesty," Victoria said with a shrug that managed to be both innocent and provocative. "The medical need evolved into something much more... primal. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to sleep pressed against someone you find incredibly attractive without wanting to do something about it?"
James felt his face heat up as Victoria's words sank in. He watched as she unfolded herself from the couch and moved toward him with the fluid grace of someone who knew exactly the effect she was having.
"Victoria..." he warned, but she was already settling herself across his lap, her arms winding around his neck as she pressed herself against him.
"I can feel you withdrawing from my words," she murmured against his ear, her breath sending involuntary shivers down his spine. She tightened her hold on him, laughing softly at his obvious discomfort. "Relax, James. I'm not asking you to fuck me. I'm not forcing you to do anything. I'm simply answering your questions with complete honesty. No ulterior motives whatsoever."
James stared at her skeptically, every instinct screaming that Victoria Sharp never did anything without ulterior motives. Despite her seemingly genuine words, he knew exactly how crazy she could get when she was in this kind of mood, and the last thing he needed was to find himself in a compromising position.
With more effort than he cared to admit, James pulled her off his lap and stood up, putting distance between them. "I think that's enough honesty for one evening."
However, Victoria, with the persistence that had defined their entire week together, simply maneuvered around his defensive positioning and found a way to reattach herself to him, this time wrapping her arms around his waist from behind.
"You can't escape me that easily," she said cheerfully, her cheek pressed against his back.
Desperate to change the subject before his self-control crumbled entirely, James grasped for the first neutral topic he could think of. "Your company," he said abruptly. "You haven't appeared there for a week. Won't Sharp Innovations suffer? This behavior is completely unlike your usual workaholic attitude."
Victoria laughed, the sound vibrating through his shirt. "Are you worried about my company, James?"
James frowned, automatically defensive. "I'm not worried. I'm simply pointing out the obvious professional concerns."
"Mm-hmm," Victoria hummed skeptically. "Well, let me ease your completely professional, not-at-all-worried mind. Everything is taken care of. My senior management team is more than capable of handling day-to-day operations, and there's nothing urgent that requires my immediate attention. I've built an excellent infrastructure specifically so the company can function without me micromanaging every detail."
"That doesn't change the fact that you should be there," James insisted. "Leadership requires presence, especially during transitions or challenging periods."
"Are you trying to get rid of me?" Victoria asked, though her tone remained light.
"I'm trying to point out that you have responsibilities beyond..." James gestured vaguely at their current situation.
"Beyond taking care of my mental health? Beyond addressing the psychological issues that led me to a therapist?" Victoria's voice carried a hint of challenge now. "Or beyond inconveniencing you with my presence?"
James sighed, recognizing that he was fighting a losing battle. "Fine. Let me propose a deal."
Victoria straightened with interest, though she didn't release her hold on him. "I'm listening."
"You go back to work," James said carefully. "Resume your normal schedule, take care of your company. In return, I promise you one wish. Anything you want, within reason that I'll fulfill no matter what. And I give you my word that I won't disappear on you. I have a company to run too, so you'll always know where to find me."
Victoria was quiet for a long moment, and James could practically hear the gears turning in her mind as she considered his offer.
"And what's to stop you from disappearing the moment I'm out of sight?" she asked finally.
"My word," James said simply.
"Your word," Victoria repeated thoughtfully. "The same word you gave me when you promised to love me forever?"
The barb hit its mark, and James hissed aggravated. "Don't you dare! That's different, and you know it."
"Is it?" Victoria asked, but before he could answer, she continued. "Alright, I'll consider your compromise, but with modifications."
"What modifications?"
"I'll go back to work," Victoria said, "but I come over every evening after work to be with you. Non-negotiable. That's the only way I'll agree to spend an entire day away from you."
James considered this. Having his evenings hijacked wasn't ideal, but it was better than having Victoria attached to his hip twenty-four hours a day. "Is that your wish?"
"Oh no," Victoria said with a laugh. "That's just part of the deal to ensure you don't run off. My wish is something entirely different."
"What is it?"
"I'll tell you on a later date," Victoria said mysteriously. "When the timing is right."
James felt a chill of apprehension at her tone, but he needed the space during the day more than he feared whatever she might be planning. "Agreed," he said. "But Victoria, I need you to understand, we are over. There's nothing between us again. I need space. I need to be able to function independently during work hours. Can you handle that?"
Victoria clenched her teeth but nodded slowly. "I can try. For you, I can try."
They both fell into silence then, the weight of their agreement settling between them. Victoria was still curled around him, her warmth seeping through his shirt, and James found himself caught between relief at the prospect of reclaiming his days and apprehension about what her mysterious wish might entail.
The apartment grew quiet except for the soft sound of their breathing, and James couldn't shake the feeling that he had just made a deal with the devil even if the devil happened to smell like his favorite perfume and feel like home in his arms.