come pick her up, or he'd send a car for her, and she'd go straight back to his place. She'd make it back to her own home in the late morning, where she'd change and get ready for her day. Then she'd stop in to spend an hour or so with her grandma before heading off to class. Then after class, she'd go back to Ari's, and they'd kill time together before she had to go to work again.
They never talked about that night. The things he'd said to her, the way he'd looked at her ... it sent chills up her spine, and she couldn't tell if it was in a good way, or a bad way.
She wanted to believe the things he'd said. They'd been ridiculous and wonderful and scary. Powerful. They'd made her feel special. He'd said he liked her. That he liked having her in his home. In his life. Just thinking about it almost made her weep.
He never said any of those things again, though, and it was almost like that night had never happened. The sex had been great, she'd loved seeing that gentle side of him, but she'd be lying if she said she missed it. They'd been spending more time together than ever before, Ari pushing the boundaries of how much control she'd really allow him to have over her. Over her body.
They'd yet to find a limit.
It was entirely possible that everything that night had been because of the ecstasy. Stupid endorphin releasing drug. Sure, he'd said he'd liked her, but he'd been stoned, so who knew how he really felt? For all Valentine knew, he could drop her like a bad habit tomorrow and not even give it a thought. Thank god Nurse Crockett was paid up through the end of the month.
Thank god Valentine hadn't admitted any of her own feelings to him.
So she tried her best to push her memories of that night way into the back of her mind, and she concentrated on the present. On the times they were spending together now, and it was certainly a lot. Ari hadn't been kidding when he'd said he owned her time.
“You've barely been in to work at all, how's your dad feel about that?”
“I don't know, I haven't asked him.”
“I still don't understand why you don't just do your own thing. You're smart, you're successful. Couldn't you start your own firm if you wanted?”
“Because my father's firm is one of the most prestigious in the country, and he wants to leave it to me some day.”
“Do you even want his firm?”
Valentine was always surprised when Ari opened up to her about his issues. Not that he seemed to be aware he was doing it – it was usually during their down time, when they were just hanging out, being normal people. Val and Ari, eating pasta, or sharing ice cream. Driving to or from Caché. She'd ask a question, and if he answered, she'd gently press for more. Silently willing him to unburden himself a little.
He was such a contradiction to her. Such a powerful man, yet his father had such a strong hold on him. Ari could command attention and respect just by walking into a room, everyone seemed to bow and simper to him. But when his father called, he came to heel.
Bizarre.
He didn't even particularly like corporate law. He'd confessed to her one night that he'd always wanted to be a trial lawyer, it's where he thrived – hence why he'd done so well when he'd had to represent some important company recently. But his father, and his grandfather, had all done corporate, so that's what had been expected of him.
“That's awesome – but what do you want for yourself, Ari?”
He never answered that question. It seemed to annoy him, and he'd change the subject. Or tie her to the nearest piece of furniture and fuck her brains out. Which was great, she loved it, but she was growing to love those other moments, too. He was funny sometimes, and generous other times. He was paying for her time, sure, but that didn't mean he had to spend all of his with her.
Yet he did.
When Monday rolled around, she found herself with a big chunk of free time early one afternoon. Her class had gotten canceled, the professor was sick and hadn't been able to find a replacement. She'd gone down to the bike messenger place, still all about hustling, but it had been closed