At least I’d be walking away a hell of a lot richer, and it wasn’t like staying would be a choice. Once Remington was done with me, I’d be back on my own.
I was still on my own, even there. This wasn’t a relationship; it was a business arrangement. I had to remember that, but if I was struggling to make that distinction after a single night, what would it be like after more?
“Henri?”
I realized he was waiting for an answer from me. “So, this isn’t like last night when you asked but I didn’t actually have a choice?”
“You will stay with me, but I want to hear you say it, and I want you to agree to my terms.”
I licked my lips. Was I going to give him what he wanted? Would he really keep me there if I said no? I had no doubt he could. If I didn’t agree, would I be paid? I needed the money, and… I wanted to stay. I just worried it was my soul I was selling instead of my body.
“I agree to your bargain. Two weeks for eighteen thousand more. That’s twenty thousand total.”
His lips quirked up in a smile. “That’s right. It is.”
He pulled out his wallet and counted out two thousand dollars. “There. I’ve settled last night’s debt.”
“You had that in your wallet?” Who carried around that much cash?
Criminals. I had no doubt he was involved in something shady. I just didn’t know what.
He shrugged. “I like to be prepared.”
“That’s a lot of preparation.”
He watched me, looking expectant.
“What now?”
“I’m still waiting for you to agree to the full bargain.”
“I just did.”
Remington shook his head.
I knew what he meant, but I didn’t want to say it.
Remington continued to watch me, tapping his foot with impatience. He was going to force me to say the words. Why was that a barrier for me? I was willing to do it, to let him go where no man had gone before. I was willing to stay there with him, to be available whenever he wanted me for whatever he wanted. Panic rose in my chest. What exactly would that entail? What was I agreeing to? “What if I have some stipulations?”
He frowned. “That’s not how this works.”
“Last night you promised you wouldn’t hurt me.”
“Ah. What if I promise I won’t hurt you in any way you don’t like?”
This man was fucking devious because I wanted to respond that there wasn’t any way he could hurt me that I would like, but with him, I wasn’t sure that was true. “I want your word that I’ll be free to go at the end of two weeks.”
“I promise you that unless you’re in danger, I will let you go.”
“Will you be the one to decide if I’m in danger?”
“Henri, I think you know I’m a man with some… controversial business pursuits. Being around me is dangerous. Sometimes people don’t like my choices, and sometimes they go after people close to me when I piss them off. I will not allow you to be hurt because of me. Otherwise, you have my word that after two weeks I will not force you to stay with me.”
He spoke more slowly than usual as if he was reluctant to give me that promise. Why? Did he actually think he would want me to stay longer than that? He could always ask instead of demanding if he did.
There were probably many other stipulations I should make, but I knew it was mostly pointless. Remington would do what he wanted, and unless I came up with a clever plan to escape when his home was guarded at all times, I would have to go along with it.
“I agree to give you my body, all of it, and to stay with you twenty-four hours a day for two weeks. After that, I’ll leave here eighteen thousand dollars richer.”
Remington gave me a predatory smile, and my mind screamed for me to run, even though I doubted I’d make it more than a few steps.
“We’re going to need to take care of several things since you’re extending your stay.”
I didn’t like how ominous that sounded.
“First, I need to attend a business meeting. You may use the house freely with the exception of my office. The door is locked, and it will stay that way.”
He seemed to want a response. “Yes, sir.”
“Very good. While I’m gone, I’ll be sending a nurse to take blood for an STD panel. When my meeting is over, I’m going to take you shopping. You’re going to need things to wear during the next few weeks for the rare occasions when I don’t want you naked. By the time we have you properly attired, I will have your test results. And then you’re going to accompany me to dinner with an associate and his boyfriend.”