If I weren’t so close with my family, I would just tell them the truth so we could return to the previous arrangement. I liked doing what I wanted, bossing her around whenever I felt like it. It was one of the best perks of the entire situation. “You’re missing something.”
“What?” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“My parents actually believe this bullshit relationship is real.”
“So?”
“So?” I snapped. “Now I have to keep up the charade. You think I want to do that?”
“You will if you want to keep your end of the deal.”
My palm twitched because I wanted to slap that beautiful face. “We’re messing with their feelings.”
“People have relationships all the time. People break up all the time.”
“But my parents think this is serious. I’ve never introduced them to a woman before, so they probably think I’m going to marry you or something stupid like that.”
“Not my problem,” she said coldly.
I never should have underestimated this woman. She managed to escape from Knuckles in the first place and get hired as one of my models. She was able to win me over, to convince me to buy her for a hundred million dollars. She was no average person.
Looked like I’d met my match.
3
Sapphire
I sat on my bed with an open book. My day had been spent in the stables, and my shoulders were sore in a way they’d never been before. I’d never truly had a hard day’s work in New York—not like I did here. My fingers started to callus and my muscles toned, but I enjoyed it.
But I still hadn’t ridden yet.
Marco said I wasn’t ready.
I was getting to know the horses, but the one I still hadn’t connected with was Carbine.
That horse was an asshole.
Footsteps sounded on the other side of my door in the hallway, and judging by their weight and speed, I knew it wasn’t Dante. Conway and I hadn’t spoken since his family left yesterday. I went to my room, and he went to his study.
I could admit my actions were a bit shady. I held his family as collateral because I knew he would rather die than let them know what was really going on between us. He made the mistake of telling me how close they were.
But it was the only leverage I had.
If I was going to spend a lifetime here, I didn’t want to be an obedient slave.
I wanted to be a partner. Maybe I wouldn’t be his girlfriend, but maybe I could be his friend. Maybe our sex would always be just sex, but at least it could be different now. At least everything could be different.
He walked in the door without knocking, still acting like he owned the damn place.
“Knock.” My eyes shifted to his gaze, seeing the burning rage exploding inside him.
He stayed on the threshold and didn’t move.
“Go back out and try it again.”
He clenched his jaw so tightly it seemed like his eyes might pop out of his head. “I’ll remember next time.”
“No. Do it now.”
He slammed the door shut behind him, solidifying his decision. “I’m not your bitch. Let’s get that straight.” He walked toward the bed, his thick arms rigid by his sides.
I shut my book and met his gaze, suddenly aware that we were alone together in my bedroom. Last time he fucked me, he gave it to me hard and good. There was no kissing or gentleness. And he didn’t let me come.
I still hadn’t forgiven him for it.
He stood right next to me, his piercing eyes billowing with a storm.
I didn’t command him to leave and try knocking again. I knew his buttons had been pressed enough. “Yes?”
“I want sex.”
I cocked an eyebrow, unable to believe those words really left his mouth. “And what do you want me to do about that?”
“Spread your legs. What else?”
I picked up my book and hit it against his chest. “No.”
He didn’t move despite the heaviness of the book. “I asked.”
“Just because you asked doesn’t mean you get it.”
Both of his hands formed fists.
“And you didn’t ask. You just came in here and spoke like a caveman.”
“I’m liking this arrangement less and less…”
This wasn’t a robotic relationship. He didn’t just ask for something, and I fulfilled his desire. “If I were a woman in a bar, would you have said that?”
“Depends. Did I buy her for a hundred million dollars?” Both of his eyebrows furrowed.
I ignored what he said. “You would be nice to her. Buy her a drink. Flirt with her…not just blurt it out.”
“You’re telling me you want me to romance you?”
“I guess…maybe you could kiss me or touch me…get me in the mood.”
He sighed. “You know how I feel about kissing.”
“I know how you say you feel. But when you’re kissing me, it sure seems like you enjoy it.”
He stepped back from the bed and slid his hands into his pockets. “You said this was a compromise, but I feel like the only one making sacrifices here.”