My thoughts must be written directly on my face because once the butler leaves the room Cameron leans in and says, “You don’t have to be ashamed. My employees know to mind their own business.”
His words don’t comfort me, but I try to relax.
“Plus,” he adds. “You should never be embarrassed of your body. You’re beautiful, Jessalyn. Now eat.”
Cameron begins to take small bites of his food. Not really feeling hungry myself, I use my fork to poke around at the carrots and chicken sitting before me. I can feel Cameron watching me intently.
“Not hungry?” he asks, after dabbing his mouth with a napkin.
I sigh. “No, it’s just…”
I look up into those gorgeous eyes of his and immediately forget what I was going to say in the first place. The amount of power and control this man has in a single, commanding look is incredible.
But that’s the problem. I’m not supposed to enjoy being here. I’m supposed to fight the good fight, and make a ruckus. What happened to the old Jessalyn? I summon my courage and speak.
“I think we need to establish some terms for our um, arrangement.”
Cameron sets his fork down with a small clink against the plate and smiles.
“So you’ve decided to stay?”
I glare at him and nod. “Yes.”
He smirks and I want to slap that handsome face again.
“Alright then. What would you like to discuss?”
I take a deep breath, wondering how to address the situation.
“Well, for starters… I… Look, do I always have to wear lingerie? That’s the only thing you put for me in my room.”
Cameron merely smirks and shakes his head.
“Absolutely not. You can always walk around lush and nude if you like. Feel free, sweetheart.”
I deflate in my seat as he continues.
“I think I’d prefer that option a lot more, actually,” he smiles. “Although, I do ask that you always wear high heels.” Then Cameron gives the most seductive, sultry look I’ve ever seen that makes my stomach twist deliciously. “Your curves are magnificent, Jessalyn.”
My mouth falls open in shock. Hearing him compliment me and look at me the way he is clouds my mind.
“You really want me to walk around nude in your mansion?”
Cameron shrugs, unbothered. “Yes.”
I swallow the lump in my throat and shake my head. This man is delusional.
“What about your house staff?” I ask.
He shrugs again. “What about them?”
“I don’t want them to see me naked.”
“They won’t say anything.”
“That’s not the point. It’s embarrassing.”
“How is it embarrassing?”
“To be naked in front of strangers?” my voice rises. Cameron merely folds his hands, looking unbothered.
“Jessalyn, everyone knows what naked men and women look like. It’s natural. Learn to appreciate the fact that you are a gorgeous woman with a gorgeous body.”
While his words are flattering, I’m still having a hard time understanding the fact that he wants me to live my life in the nude every second I’m at the mansion.
“What about work?” I ask. “Surely then, you’ll allow me to wear my uniform. Or am I supposed to get to Hooger’s naked and then get dressed in the bathroom?”
He shrugs.
“Just quit,” he says.
My mouth drops once more.
“What?”
He shrugs again.
“I want you available to me at all times.”
I stare at him, unable to believe my ears. Available to him? At all times? This man is seriously insane.
“I can’t quit. I’ve been at Hooger’s for four years, ever since I graduated high school. It’s how I make my money. I can’t just quit.”
Cameron tilts his head to give me a look.
“You live with me now, Jessalyn. When I say I want you available at all times, I mean just that. You can do anything you want here at this house: bowl in the bowling alley, swim in the pool, or watch a movie in the theater. There’s even a steam room and personal sauna for you to use if you choose. But you belong to me now. There’s no need for you to work at that grease dump.”
Completely insulted and mortified are understatements for how I feel at the current moment. How dare he talk to me as I’m his slave or personal property?
“This is my life,” I spit at him. “I refuse to be controlled like this.”
Cameron looks at me, completely unperturbed at my anger.
“Do you wish to go home?” he asks simply.
The sound of it actually doesn’t sound that bad. While my living situation certainly wouldn’t be this magnificent and luxurious, at least I’d have my dignity and freedom. With enough hard work, I could find my way out of the trailer park.
“Yes,” I hiss.
“Fine then. You’re free to go.”
I gape at him. It was that easy?
“But,” he continues, that one word shooting down any hope I had left in me. “You’ll have to come up with rent money.”
I swallow, narrowing my eyes at him. He knows that’s something I would be incapable of doing. He’s using that as leverage against me. While I hate to give this bastard the satisfaction of owning me, I know he’s right. I have no choice but to stay here and be controlled by him. While I could leave, I would be put right back in the situation I was in before: begging for his mercy.