“Then what are we?” he asks, probably just as confused as I am. We can’t stay away from each other, that much is clear.
I consider what I can offer him before I settle on the truth.
“Fuck buddies. Whatever you wish to call it, I don’t care. I don’t do commitment, not right now, but I enjoy spending time with you, and it’s obvious we need to repeat what just happened again, so fuck buddies or nothing. If you agree, you have to do as I say—no getting jealous or possessive. You come when I call, nothing more. No spending the night, no dates, just sex, and you don’t touch anybody else. If you do, you will never see me again. Understand?”
He licks his lips, eyeing mine. “Fine, fuck buddies.”
“Say it. You’re mine,” I demand, an insane urge forcing the words from my throat.
“I won’t touch anyone else. I have never wanted to anyway, so that’s fucking easy. I’m not your ex.” I flinch, but he drives on. “I just want you any way I can get you.”
“Good boy.” I kiss his lips softly. “Get dressed. I’ll wait outside or we’ll never leave this dressing room.” Turning away, I step out before I finish what we started.
Outside, the sales associates stop gossiping when I emerge. I have no doubts regarding what they are whispering about, but I don’t care. Money buys silence, and I’m not ashamed. I wink at them as I walk over to the counter and wait, eyeing the jewelry. A thick woven bracelet catches my eye. “Show me that,” I demand. They scramble to help me, and I pick it up, eyeing it with a smile. It would look good on Nikko, and it isn’t thin enough to break. “Add it to everything else.”
“Yes, sir. Will you be buying everything in the dressing room?” Atom asks, coughing with a blush.
“Yes, and whatever else he wants.” I wave as I turn around.
“Very good, sir. Um, would you like a wipe?” Atom questions carefully, and I glance back, my eyebrow arched in question. “Your lipstickis, uh, smudged?” He rolls his lips in, and I grin. Leaning over to the mirror, I wipe under my lips, where Nikko made a mess.
“What can I say, I really like clothes,” I tease, and he laughs.
“Very good, sir. I will start preparing everything.” He hurries away, and I grin.
My eyes, however, linger on the dressing room as I wait for Nikko to appear. My hunger for him has only grown. I want to touch and taste him. I yearn to see his eyes roll into the back of his head. I want his big muscles quaking below me, and I’ll have it.
He’s mine now, for however long I want him. I can do whatever I wish to him, and I’ll make the most of that—at least for a little while. It will be a good stress reliever while also letting me get him out of my system.
Just sex. Nothing more.
That’s all I can give him. I might have moved on from Faiz, but I’m not ready to hand my heart over to anyone else, not while it’s still healing from his blows. I know Nikko would look after it, but I can’t love someone else when I can’t even love myself. Plus, sex is a way for me to maintain control and ensure I don’t get hurt again. Maybe that’s stupid, but it’s apparent I can’t stay away from Nikko, so this is the best compromise.
The curtain finally parts, and before I know it, my lips are tilted in a smile. His hoodie is gone and he’s wearing one of the shirts he tried on, with his old hoodie folded over his arm. He heads my way as I hand my card to Atom without looking.
“No,” he warns me. “I will pay.”
We both know it’s probably more than he would like to spend for clothes. Money is just another factor of my power, and this means nothing to me, but it will cause him stress and concern. I won’t have that.
“I know you’re proud and don’t want to accept gifts from anyone?—”
“Charity,” he interrupts angrily.
“Not charity. Gifts. It’s my way of showing I care. I love buying people stuff. It makes me happy. Please, let me? Please?” I see hisresolve faltering and I smile. “Besides, my boy needs to look good when he’s with me.”
“I don’t want you to pity me. I don’t want to be like the others who use you for money,” he insists.
“The fact that you’re worried about it tells me you aren’t,” I retort. “Charge me,” I instruct Atom.
“Yes, sir. Your total will be twenty thousand?—”
“Zia,” Nikko snarls at the price. He’s huge, he could easily kill me, but I still grin, not the least bit afraid of this man.
I step closer. “Nikko,” I growl. His eyes flare, and I see fire ignite in them. Neither of us will back down. He’s too proud, and I’m too stubborn. It will either end in us fucking or fighting right here. I don’t have time for either, although I wish I did. Instead, I hook my fingers in his hoodie on his arm. “A trade then. I’ll take this, and you take the clothes.”
“That was twenty bucks,” he says.
I slide it over my arm. “Ah, but it smells like you and has been on your body, and that is priceless.” I nip his ear. “Now, be a good boy and stop arguing before I let you act on the desire I see in your eyes. Just say thank you.” I step back, and I can tell it takes everything in him not to storm out of this shop without anything.
