"Zara. Age seven. Lives with Shanice Thompson in Homewood while you work." I watched her face go pale. "See? I do my research."
"You bastard."
"Probably." I moved closer again, unable to help myself. "But I'm a bastard who can keep them safe. Can you say the same?"
She was breathing hard now, her chest rising and falling beneath that prim uniform. I wanted to tear it off with my teeth.
"What exactly do you want?" Her voice shook, just slightly. "Spell it out."
"You in my bed every night. You available whenever I want you. No condoms after I get tested." I ticked off each point on my fingers. "You let me touch you however I want. You let me fuck you however I want. You come when I tell you to. And you don't fight me on any of it."
"Oh…" I swallowed, taken back.
"I'm not finished." I caught her chin, tilting her face up. "You also keep working as head maid. You keep your routines. To everyone else, nothing changes. This stays between us."
"Why?"
"Because I don't share."
Her pupils were blown wide now, her lips parted. I could feel her pulse racing under my fingers.
"And what do I get besides the money?"
"Me." I stroked my thumb across her lower lip. "My protection. My resources. And—" I leaned in closer, my mouth almost touching hers, "I'll make you come so hard you forget your own name."
She jerked back. "You're delusional."
"Am I?" I let her go, giving her space. "You're attracted to me. You have been since day one. You just hide it better than most."
"Confident."
"Observant." I straightened my cuffs. "You blush when I walk into a room. You find excuses to clean my study when I'm working. Last week, you dropped a tray when I took off my jacket."
"That was an accident."
"Attraction." I smiled. "It's fine. I'm attracted to you too. The difference is I'm willing to do something about it."
Katrina wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly looking smaller. Vulnerable. "This is too much."
"This is survival." I gentled my voice. "You said you'd do anything. I'm giving you a way to do it that. It also gets you a little pleasure out of the deal."
"Sex isn't something."
"Good sex is everything."
"And you think you're good?"
"I think I'm going to ruin you for anyone else." I pulled out my phone again. "Think about it. You have until midnight tonight. After that, the offer expires."
"That's four hours."
"Then you'd better think fast." I headed for the door, then paused. "One more thing."
"What?"
"If you say yes, there's no backing out. No changing your mind halfway through. You're mine for ninety days, Katrina, completely. Understand?"
She lifted her chin, that fire back in her eyes. "And if I say no?"
