My jealousy—my possessiveness—had grown into a green, ugly monster that I had no right to feed. I should have killed it and buried it.
Instead I’d put it in ink and used ten million dollars to buy it the best fucking food on the planet.
“Standard NDA,” I said. “Keep your mouth shut.”
“I have to do whatever you say. If I need something, I have to ask you for it. I have to sleep in your bed.” She listed rule after rule, growing more indignant with each one. “No hugs?”
“I only want one thing from you, Snitch.” When she hugged me, I tended to forget that.
She ground her jaw, looking back at the list. “No lies?”
I don’t know what possessed me to add that rule. A hungry need deep in my chest was starting to form, and her brazen honesty fed it.
“P-Pick…” She stumbled over the second to last item. “Pick a safe word. Why?”
“That’s the most important one,” I said. “I’ve been holding back. I’m not doing that anymore. I’m not asking for permission.”
She stared at me, lips slightly parted, bottom one wet and begging to be sucked and bruised.
Fuck.
She quickly shook out of it, finishing reading.
“I have to do this until Christmas,” she finished. “So you can ruin my favorite holiday. Great. If I fail I don’t get the money and…what is this about property?”
“Just another reminder that whatever you see, discover, find, or fucking hear on my property is mine.”
“Terms to remain in effect in perpetuity. So even after Christmas?” Her eyes popped. “What the hell?”
“Keep reading, Snitch. It’s only the NDA and the part about my property. You think I’m going to let you steal my shit and run your mouth once you run off with my money?”
The furrow in her brow deepened. “This is an insane list of rules, and it doesn’t mention sex anywhere.”
I grinned. “Doesn’t need to. You’ll give it up.”
She scoffed. “Awfully confident.”
“The only reason you haven’t given it up, Snitch, is because I haven’t wanted to take it.”
“My mistake,” she grumbled. “Arrogant…” She whispered the last part so I couldn’t hear it, but I’m pretty certain it wasn’t kind.
And shit.
I really liked that.
I needed to fuck this girl fast. Get her out of my veins.
She lifted her head at the last item. “If I leave Crowne Point, this entire thing is void?”
I smiled. “Except the parts that remain in perpetuity, yeah. Consider it your escape clause. You’re welcome.”
She bit her bottom lip in what was probably frustration but just served as another fucking reminder to what that lip tasted like.
“So…” she continued. “I just have to stay with you until Christmas and follow these rules? Even if I don’t sleep with you, you’ll give me ten million?” She narrowed her eyes, suspicious.
“There you go again thinking we’ll be doing any sleeping,” I said.
She met my eyes, raising her chin. “I’ve slept in your bed on and off for over a month. That’s all we’ve been doing.”