Falling In (The Surrender Trilogy 1)

“Right, company,” she said dryly, never forgetting his broad understanding of the word.

The corner of his mouth kicked up. “That’s right, Evelyn, company. I am a very private man and I find crowds . . . tedious. Do you play chess?”

“Chess? No.”

“I’ll teach you. I’ll also expect you to be pleasant and agreeable.” His assumed power over others’ moods baffled her. “I don’t tolerate lateness, so I expect you to be on time. If it takes you three hours to do your hair, arrange for it. When I ask you to be somewhere I expect you there on time.”

He was barking out his demands so quickly she had trouble keeping up. “What about my job?”

“Your job’s secure. I don’t see you needing it when I’ll be providing everything you’ll need, but it’s there if you choose to return to it.”

Scout could never put that much trust in another person. She feared becoming indebted to a man like Mr. Patras more than anything. This was not a man you fucked with. “I want to keep working.”

“No.” He didn’t go into detail or offer any reason why she shouldn’t work, he simply forbade it.

“Then I’m sorry, but this isn’t going to work. I need this job.” She prayed he wouldn’t call her bluff. While his offer would provide more necessities at a faster rate, there was no stability to their agreement.

“There’s no reason for you to work while our arrangement stands. If you’re worried about not having a job when we end the agreement, don’t; I have no intention of forcing you out of your position.”

“It’s not that. I need to work. I have responsibilities. I understand if you don’t want to attend social functions with a recognizable employee from your hotel, and if it embarrasses you I can find work somewhere else—”

“I’m not embarrassed by your job, Evelyn. You come to work every day on time and put in an honest day’s effort. I simply don’t see the need for you to work when I’ll provide everything you need. If it’s a matter of paying your rent, I’ll supplement it while you’re staying at the hotel. I want you close for my convenience.”

Her stomach cartwheeled nervously at his unspoken insinuation. “I’m sorry, I can’t live with that. If it’s the amount of time my job takes up, I’d be willing to ask my GM to cut back my hours temporarily, but I can’t give it up all together. What if I somehow managed to only work twenty hours a week instead of forty?”

“Ten.”

“Fifteen.”

“Nine,” he countered.

“Nine? You went the wrong way!”

His eyes narrowed challengingly. “Eight.”

She huffed. “Who works eight hours a week?”

“Seven.” He crossed his arms over his chest.

Scout threw her hands in the air, completely exasperated. “Fine, ten hours, but I need to see if that’s even possible.”

“Consider it handled. Now, do you have any other conditions?”

She thought about Pearl. “I need two afternoons a week to myself.”

“Fine. Why?”

“None of your business.”

“I thought I explained that everything in my hotel is my business.”

Scout folded her arms over her chest, mimicking his stubborn posture. “Well, that time won’t be spent in your precious hotel so it doesn’t count.”

“Careful, Evelyn.”

“Two afternoons or the deal’s off.”

His eyes narrowed, but she held his gaze. If this was going to happen, she couldn’t continue to let him intimidate her.

“I don’t believe you,” he whispered, eyeing her critically.

“Try me,” she said slowly, assuming her best poker face.

“Fine. Take your two afternoons for now, so long as they don’t impose on my scheduled time with you. Now, let’s talk about sex.”

Her breath siphoned down the wrong pipe, and she choked. He patted her back as she sucked in tight gulps of air and coughed. Hand pressed to her chest, she leaned forward.

Lucian stood for a moment and returned, offering her a glass of water. She gulped half of it down and placed it back on the table, wiped her eyes, then turned on him.

“What?”

“Come on, Evelyn, you’re a big girl. You knew what this was about the moment I suggested it. Eventually you will be in my bed, so let’s just cut to the chase and put everything on the table. You seem like a straight shooter so I’m just going to lay it out there. I like control. Lots of it. I’m a healthy, virile male. I enjoy sex and like my female to be available to me whenever the mood suits me. She must know how to prepare herself for me and I expect her to see to my needs and grant me control. Now, I know that sounds like a lot, but I promise I’ve never had any complaints from my partners. Does this sound like something you could agree to?”

She gaped at him. How did one even reply to such a statement? She knew sex would be part of the deal, but he was so blasé about it. She’d thought they would agree to do the deed once every few nights. What he suggested left no room to hide. “You expect me to have sex with you whenever you want?”