His Terms

The thing with Beatrice was that she wasn’t interested in being with him, but was somehow thinking that combining their two families by being together, they would somehow become this powerhouse of wealth and control. She had these delusions, and because she wasn’t the type of woman to be denied anything, being with her was probably the worst choice he had made. But with a couple of cocktails, and a willing woman that was all but rubbing her pussy and tits on him in front of everyone, Rian had never been one to deny himself.

Maybe he was the same as Beatrice, but because of that having anything more to do with her was toxic, and he was smart enough to steer clear. Besides, he had more important things to concentrate on, like one that had to do with Sorcha Case and her agreeing to be his.

9

Sundays should have been relaxing, comforting, and spent not worrying about anything. At least that was how Sorcha saw those days. Instead, she was sitting at her two-seater kitchen table staring at the spread of bills. She had gotten three just yesterday, and the ones that she had already pushed to the side because she hadn’t been able to pay them now loomed like this massive elephant in the room.

“What are you going to do?” Cora asked from across the table.

Sorcha shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. I will have to try to pay off a little bit of the older ones, but no way can I get them all.” She scrubbed her hands over her face, and then grabbed the heavy fall of her hair, took the hair tie wrapped around her wrist, and tied it in a loose, messy ponytail. She then glanced down at the bills again.

“I’ll get us something to drink, because we need to figure out how to dig you out of this hole.” Cora reached across the table, patted her on the hand, and then stood to go into the kitchen.

Sorcha didn’t respond, just nodded and continued to stare at the mountain of bills she was drowning in. After her mother died Sorcha was swamped with the medical bills from the hospital and hospice. It was a never-ending cycle, especially when she got behind on her own bills and obligations. She’d lost everything, her childhood home, her car … everything. So she had moved to this rundown and shitty apartment, gotten the job with Hartford in hopes she could get out of this mess, but in the end she couldn’t, and probably wouldn’t ever, get out of this mess. Not only did she have no one in her life that mattered anymore, aside from Cora, but she had lost her mother, too, and six months later still couldn’t move forward. Every day she was reminded of her loss by these bills.

Cora came back and set a glass of red wine in front of her. She took a seat, stared at Sorcha, and she already knew what Cora would say.

“No, Cora.”

“Why?” Cora pushed the glass of wine her way, and Sorcha grabbed it and took a long drink.

“Because I am not a whore.”

“No, you’re not, but I don’t believe in things just happening. I believe everything happens for a reason, and I know you do, too.”

She was silent for a moment, thinking about what Cora had said.

“So, you have to just do what he says when he says it?” Cora asked.

She nodded. “Yeah, it’s pretty basic, but blanketed so I guess he could do whatever the hell he wanted.”

“That sounds dangerous and kind of scary,” Cora said, but didn’t seem the least bit worried. “And kind of kinky.”

Sorcha rolled her eyes and leaned back in her chair, breathing out roughly. “I am sure he’s just as big an ass in the bedroom as he is at the office.”

“I can’t even imagine what assholish things he likes to do.” Cora leaned in close. “Do you think he likes that BDSM stuff?” Cora said softly, as if someone would hear.

“I don’t know. I don’t think so, but the contract did state that I wouldn’t be hurt. I’d also have to attend any functions that fall during that week.” She closed her eyes and let her head fall back on her neck slightly, thinking about it all.

After she had left Rian’s office she had gone straight home, hoping Cora was still there. Fortunately, her friend had been, and for the next hour she had replayed everything to Cora, not sparing anything, not even when he pressed his dick into her back. But what surprised Sorcha was the fact that Cora had outright agreed that being Rian’s was a bad idea. She had been offended for Sorcha, cursed him and called him some pretty vivid names, but she had never actually said don’t do it. “And you think I should sign this contract, and be Rian’s bitch for seven days?” Sorcha asked and leaned back in her seat.