But Paisley hasn’t. I’d be willing to wager she hasn’t used a dime of it, including what I gave her yesterday.
“All you need to know is that I’m willing to go to great lengths to have you at my side.” There are other women who would jump at the opportunity I’m offering Paisley, and not one of them could handle what I’m asking of her.
None of the men I need to fool would believe those women captured my interest and then they wouldn’t let their guard down, thinking I’ve been brought to my knees.
But this woman is different. It was clear to Frederick the night of the auction and it will be just as clear to him now.
Paisley opens her mouth and there’s no doubt in my mind she’s planning to tell me she can’t do what I want. “I can’t—”
“Tishina.” The word jumps from my lips and my whole body goes still.
I haven’t whispered a word of Russian in almost twenty years. Not since the man who tied me to it left this earth, taking all my secrets with him.
Mine and my brothers’.
I force myself to relax and repeat the word in English. “Hush.” I adjust the collar of her coat, trying to lift it high enough to protect her neck. My fingers brush across her skin, sliding against the softness as I continue to pretend like there’s some way to make this coat suitably warm. “We will talk about it tomorrow. It’s late and you need sleep.” The tone of my voice pleases me. I sound like her comfort matters to me.
“Sleep isn’t really something I do.” Paisley’s lips lift at the edges, but I wouldn’t call the expression a smile. It doesn’t touch any other part of her face.
And now that I think of it, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen her really smile.
“One more reason you should stay with me.” I don’t pull my hands from her body as I consider what else a man in the position I’m claiming to be in would do in this moment. “Then you can sleep all you want.” I lace my fingers under the drape of her blonde hair, skimming my touch along her neck as I work the strands free of the coat I will replace as soon as she agrees to my proposition. “You won’t need to work at Platinum anymore.”
Duchess’s gasp shoots straight to my suffering cock. “I’m not quitting my jobs.” She stares at me like I’m the one being unreasonable. “That’s how I pay my bills.”
I want to argue with her, but the statement means she’s considering giving me what I want. “Fair enough.” I let her think she wins. “You can keep your job.”
“Jobs.” She lifts her hand, holding up her pointer and middle finger. “I have two.”
I keep my expression relaxed, hiding my reaction to this new information. “You can keep two jobs then.”
Paisley huffs out a breath. “Thanks for your permission.” There’s bite to the words and I love it.
That bite is what will make Frederick and the men he’s conspiring with believe she has all my focus. “You’re welcome.” I say it with all the false sincerity I can manage, knowing it will irritate her more.
And my Duchess doesn’t let me down.
Paisley rolls her eyes in a move that makes me wish we were already deep into our arrangement.
Deep enough that I could spin her around and pin her to the wall while I fuck away the defiant look on her face.
Show her how much better life will be when she listens to me.
But I doubt Paisley will ever happily listen to me.
Which only makes me more positive she is the right woman for my needs.
Saying no to me isn’t an option she has.
Hopefully I don’t have to prove that to her.