But for now, we’re having dinner. Sitting at the table, I marvel at my good fortune. Simona’s beautiful across from me, her curly hair draped over her shoulders and her breasts large and inviting. Plus, she winces a bit while sitting and I merely chuckle aloud.
“We’ll get to that soon enough,” I promise in a low voice. “In the meantime, dig in sweetheart.”
The food is delicious. The flavors of the tomato and burrata burst on my tongue, and the clams are perfectly tender without a fishy aroma. I eat like a starved man, shoveling bite after bite into my mouth.
“Simona,” I growl. “You are the perfect woman.”
She shoots me a coy smile. “You’re just saying that.”
I shake my head. “Not at all. You’re dynamite in both the bedroom and the kitchen—you’re quite the double-header.”
She laughs and then her eyes go wide all of a sudden as her weight shifts.
“How’s the plug?” I ask with a knowing grin. “Does it feel good? You seem to be enjoying yourself.”
Her face reddens, and her smile turns shy. “I am, actually. I like the way it stretches me out inside.”
“That’s my dirty princess.” I chuckle and touch her knee under the table, squeezing her soft flesh. “So tell me, honey. What were you doing while I was at work? Did you get to use the sauna at all?”
She shakes her head.
“No, not yet because actually, I was working on a new children’s book.”
I smile with approval. “I’m glad you’ve had time for your art, sweetheart. That’s a good use of your energies, and I’m happy you’re able to explore your creative freedom while I’m busy. What’s this book about?”
She’s about to speak but then her face lights with an idea.
“Hold on, I’ll show you my sketches.” Simona disappears for a moment, and then returns with a notebook in her hands. She tucks her hair behind one ear as she opens the volume, revealing an adorably chubby brown rabbit and a variety of fruits and vegetables.
“It’s called ‘Jemima’s Dinner,’” she explains shyly. “It’s about a bunny who likes to cook, and I think it could work really well for a children’s book because the bunny learns about nutrition while she puts together a meal for herself and her friends. Don’t you think that’s a great concept for kids? Most of my ideas have featured themes about friendship or relationships so far, but this time, I figured I’d go for something more educational.”
I eye the sketches and admire the skill with which she’s brought these ideas to life. “This is a fantastic idea,” I rumble with genuine admiration. “I absolutely think it’ll be a hit with kids and their parents too, which is just as important.”
She smiles happily.
“Really?”
“Yes, definitely. Children’s nutrition is a big thing these days. Even I’ve seen a couple of news items when scanning the headlines, it’s so prevalent. But tell me, what happens after you finish drawings and storyline?”
Her face darkens a bit.
“Well, I was thinking of just publishing indie because I don’t have an agent or anything. It would mean throwing it up on the major platforms and seeing what happens basically.”
I nod.
“Yeah, but how about marketing and advertising? Do you have a strategy, sweetheart?”
Simona bites her lip and looks down.
“No, not really,” she says in an embarrassed tone. “That stuff costs money, and I don’t have a lot of spare cash right now, so I figured I’d just hit publish and see what happens.”
I frown.
“That’s not necessary, baby girl. You’re with me, and I have plenty of cash. I’d love to finance your project, if you’ll just tell me how much you need.”
Her eyes widen as she inhales sharply. “Oh, James, I… I can’t ask you to do that for me.”
I shake my head, still frowning. “No, it’s fine. I’d love to sweetheart, and I want to help you become a world-renowned children’s book author. Something tells me a marketing and advertising budget is critical to making this happen.”
The curvy girl bites her lip and looks down before speaking.
“No, it’s not that. It’s that you’re already paying me so well for my time, and I don’t want to take advantage of you.”
I let out a genuinely amused bark of laughter. “I assure you, honey, that I’m not being taken advantage of. Besides, the money’s not a problem for me, so just let me do this for you,” I growl persuasively, taking her small hand in mind. “I want to.”
But my girl is still hesitant and I respect her for it. I’m glad she’s not leaping at the opportunity to delve into my wallet, and that she wants to succeed on her own. But I’m an alpha male who always gets his way, so I plow through her resistance.
“Hey, princess,” I say softly, tilting her chin so she looks at me. “It’s not a problem. Really. How much do you need? A hundred thousand? Two hundred thousand?”