“Good?” he asked.
“It’s delicious.” I took another sip, and I wasn’t lying. It was good soup. One of my favorites, in fact. I loved cauliflower. As an ingredient, it wasn’t appreciated enough. Emily loved what I made out of cauliflower, from barbequing it up, to making it into a pizza, using it as rice. So many good things.
I finished the soup, wishing I had some bread to dip around the edges. There was perfectly good food, and I hated to waste anything because of the years of living with my mom when she’d worry about the next paycheck, or the wealthy boyfriend who would pay all of her bills.
Again, Earl snapped his fingers, and I sat through two more delicious courses before dessert finally came out. Chocolate mousse, yum. I used the tiny spoon provided to take small amounts to enjoy the taste. I did this in an attempt to know what ingredients were used. At that moment, I wished I had my notebook. Emily often teased me about carrying around it around, but I loved it. It was like a security blanket. Not that anyone could blame me after everything that had gone down.
“I love watching you eat,” Earl said.
Now there was no food as a distraction, I had no choice but to face him. Holding my hands across my stomach, I stared at him and waited.
“Have you thought any more about my request?”
“You think you’re giving me a choice?”
“Everyone has choices, Ashley.”
This caused me to laugh. It wasn’t a nice sound. All my life, I hadn’t had choices. My mom took them away from me. Even the Monsters didn’t give me a choice. I’d always been told what to do.
“I don’t have a choice. You’re not going to let me out of here until you get what you want.”
“True.”
I wanted to play with something. Fidgeting was a comfort to me, but the moment I was in his company, I seemed to freeze up, standing still. It was infuriating because I didn’t want to give in to him. The last thing I wanted to ever do, was allow him to think he’d won. He hadn’t won. Sure, the man made me nervous, but who wouldn’t be.
He was handsome with a bit of a boy-next-door look, with blond hair that appeared to be swept back but was yet never out of place. Green eyes, striking, and they held me in place. He was muscular as well, with hints of ink displaying beneath his shirts. I’d never seen him naked, and the truth was the thought of it terrified me. He was all man in every way, but he was also scary as fuck.
This man was a beast.
The scar wasn’t just the one indication.
It was the way he commanded. A simple nod. A flick of his fingers. All of it gave way to a man who was completely in control over everything.
I didn’t know if I liked it.
Still holding on to my stomach, I waited for him to speak.
“Just because your choices are limited doesn’t mean you can’t negotiate.”
I raised my brows at him. “Negotiate?”
“I’m happy to hear your terms and conditions.”
This caused me to frown, and I sat up, trying to understand a little more clearly. “I’m not sure I follow.”
“You’re here for me. The end result is I will take your virginity and keep you as mine for as long as it amuses me. That’s non-negotiable. That’s the prize at the end. Getting to that point, during it, and of course, after it, all of which I’m willing to hear your requests and conditions.”
Okay, this was new. “Why?” I asked.
“You think I don’t understand the situation I’ve put you in? I do. I’m well aware of what I’ve done. Doesn’t mean it has to be difficult for the two of us. I don’t want some terrified woman in my company, Ashley. I happen to think we’d get along well if you gave me a chance.”
I chuckled. “You’re a monster.”
“I like to think of myself as more a beast. We’re not in Crude Hill anymore.”
I hated that place. Just the very mention of it was enough to make me tense up.
With a hand on my knee, I looked at him, waiting for him to burst out laughing to show it was nothing more than a trick. He was the one who held everything. I couldn’t leave.
“I need to think about it.”
“Well, how about I tell you some of my conditions?”
I didn’t think it would hurt, so I nodded. What was the point in ignoring what he had to say?
“You’ll be by my side at all times. You cannot leave my company. I’m in control of every part of your life and your safety. You’ll sleep in my bed, beside me. You have to be open to my touch. I want conversation, companionship, and above all, loyalty and trust. This is just to start.”