Ava stood before the heavy wooden door again. Her hand was raised, ready to knock, but her knuckles hovered inches from the surface. She had come back. She had signed up for the full agreement, and last time… last time he hadn’t finished.
She knocked once. The sound echoed deep inside.
When the door opened, Nico stood there. He was wearing a plain black shirt and black trousers, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His forearms were defined, veins visible under tanned skin. His eyes swept over her from head to toe, slow and unapologetic, stopping at her face.
“You came back,” he said.
“I kept my word.” She walked past him as soon as the gap was wide enough, stepping into the familiar space. She stopped in the middle of the room, turning to face him. “And you kept yours. The payment went
