Didn’t take a genius to guess who was behind the attack.“How are you going to retaliate?”
His eyes narrowed.“Are you going to try to stop me?”
“No,” she answered truthfully.“I’d help you.”
“What if it involves hurting someone?”
“I have this feeling you would only hurt someone who wronged you, and not an innocent person.”
He picked up her hand and rubbed his thumb across her knuckles.“You’re right.I would never use my position in that manner.”
Their food arrived and they spent a few minutes orienting themselves with their dishes.Each bite she took, she watched James closely, wondering what made him tick.Although they came from the same world, rarely had she crossed his path.
“You’re staring again.”
“Just curious.”
“About?”
“If you have more tattoos.”
“I have a lot of tattoos,” he affirmed.“They’re addictive.You get one, you get more.Do you have any?”
“No.Nor do I have any piercings.Not even my ears.”
“Okay, no earrings as presents.Got it.”
“Not what I was hinting at.”
He flashed a smile.“Now that we’ve brought up the subject of what I should bribe you with when I will indubitably piss you off, what would be an acceptable gift?”
“Why will you piss me off?”
“Men usually piss off women,” he replied with a shrug.“I think it’s hardwired into male DNA.”
“Very astute, but I don’t need presents when we disagree.That’s a normal function of any relationship.I just want us to talk things out if or when that happens.”She couldn’t help but think of her parents.Ellen Dane decided to use alcohol as a means to cope with her unhappiness, while her father had side girlfriends.Kleya refused to live like that.“I am very aware how arranged marriages can be toxic, and I will not live with that slow poison.How about we tell each other the things that rub us the wrong way, so we both have a baseline knowledge of what we shouldn’t do, say, or act.”
“All right,” he said, sounding a little surprised.“This should be interesting.”
“You’ve already stated you’ll have no mistresses.”
“To be a good leader, people have to trust you,” he said emphatically.“Breaking a promise or a vow is a line I will not cross.I expect the same curtesy.”
“Absolutely.”She was only getting started about her own desires for her future.“You should know, I am a feminist.”
“I’m all for feminism.There will be times, however, where you’ll have to play the part of a simple supporting wife.”
“I understand that.”
“Good.What else?”
“If you hit me, even just a smack across my face, I’ll kick your balls up into your rectum.”
“Duly noted,” he said with a nod.“I do prefer my balls staying right where they are.I believe this falls under mutual respect as well.”
“I will never raise a hand to you,” she assured him.“Except in retaliation if you hit me, as I stated above.”
“Does that include sexual spankings?”
