“Yes, but that’s the thing. Who gets to say what ‘normal’ is? Definitely not me, and as a result, I shouldn’t be throwing rocks at someone else’s house.”
I nod.
“Good point.”
He chuckles while slinging a big arm around my waist.
“So, to answer your question, sweetheart, I’m okay with it. I won’t condemn you for your choices because everyone lives a different life. It’s not for me to say what’s good and what’s bad.”
“Thank you,” I sigh quietly, my heart finally slowing down a little. I feel as if I can breathe again as my shoulders slump with relief. “Thank you so much for understanding, Mason. It isn’t a lifestyle that everyone accepts, so it means a lot to me to know that you’re okay with it. More than you can imagine, in fact.”
He shoots me a sideways grin.
“I know, but don’t gettoocomfortable,” he growls, suddenly going serious. “Because I can accept your past, but that doesn’t mean I want you to go back to escorting.”
My cheeks flush.
“Oh, I wasn’t–”
He cuts me off.
“Once you’re a mother, things will be different,” he says in a serious tone. “You won’t need to go back to City Girls, Chelsea, and I mean, ever again, if I have my way. A baby is a real responsibility, and there’s frankly no need.”
I pause my head spinning. Is he saying what I think he’s saying?
“Well, I–”
But my man cuts me off again.
“I don’t want you working there after you’ve had the child. You know that money is no object, and I’m prepared to be generous. This baby will have everything he needs,” Mason growls.
My smile trembles as my eyes fill with tears because this man is being unbelievably generous, and yet I still feel unsettled. After all, it’s not like I have any sort of binding commitment from Mason. We’re not even in a relationship, for crying out loud! So what does that mean? Even more, what if Mason changes his mind? Do I lose the roof over my head, as well as all the things he’s purchased for my child?
I just feel so confused. On the one hand, I’m grateful for the support he’s offering because it’s more than I could ever provide on my own. Plus, I want to be optimistic, and it sounds like Mason sees a future for us together. After all, if he’s offering this much, then clearly, the relationship’s not going to just disappear, right?
But again, we haven’t talked about modifying our arrangement. As it goes, I’m still being paid for my body, and our “free use” relationship is definitely in full swing. Mason takes me any time or place he wants, including in the shower, in the back of his limo, and even when I’m gardening. I was shocked when it happened, whispering that Elsa and the staff could see, but the alpha male didn’t care. He drove his shaft into my behind next to the rosebushes, and our cries were loud enough to raise the dead.
So yeah, the situation is really confusing and I let out a muffled sigh as he pulls me along to another section of the store. But what can I do about it right now? Instigate another awkward conversation? With a determined shake of the head, I decide to put the whole thing out of my mind because there’s no sense in dwelling on something that I can’t control. Instead, I want to have fun with Mason while we shop for our baby. I mean,mybaby.
With a brave smile, I change the topic.
“You know, we’ve spoken about my jobad nauseam, but you’ve never told me much about yours. So what do you do all day, Mr. CEO?”
Mason grins.
“This and that.”
I laugh.
“As the CEO of a publishing company, you do this and that? Surely there must be more,” I cajole.
He grins.
“It may astonish you, but my job really has nothing to do with actual books. It’s all about sales projections, meeting targets, and keeping the various stakeholders happy. Honestly, I could be the CEO of a widget company, and it wouldn’t be very different.”
I frown.
“That sounds depressing,” I frown. “I thought the books were the best part, but the way you’re describing your job makes it sound significantly less fun than I thought.”