He made very little and his account had about eight thousand in savings, nothing more.
“Thisdoesn’t buy a new car.” He glared at me.
I took the phone back, drew up my banking app, and flashed it toward him. “Thisdoes. And since we’re mated, it’s not nepotism or charity or unearned. I want you to be comfortable and for your father to like me.”
Draevus nodded as if that were a good goal.
“Fine.” He grumbled, looking away. “But I’ll pay you back. We’ll budget tonight before bed and discuss my contributions.”
“My building has been paid for. Property taxes are three hundred a month. My electricity is offset by solar, so I pay a pittance monthly for that. Water, gas, and trash run me about a hundred total. Internet is tied into my cellphone so don’t worry about it.” I stared him down as he frowned and rummaged a pen and paper from Satan knew where, on his body.
“We’ll do it right here, then.” He snatched my phone and looked up my building’s worth, made calculations that I flat disagreed with.
“You’re not paying half that. I use the building for business.” I huffed, and he asked square footage and did some math based off that.
“Fair market value for my rent and contributions… Let me see your electric and solar bills?” He thrust my phone back to me as I pulled up my email. I owed eighty-five a month on my panels and grid fee and never an electric bill over twenty bucks. He studied my paperwork and thumbed through things.
“Any mailbox fees or association fees?”
Dammit.“Just my coven ones and a building association fee. It’s negligible and mine to bear because of mybusiness.” I grinned, and he let it slide.
“Subscription services? Insurance?” He asked and I answered. He made some notes. “Groceries…”
I pulled up my delivery app. Vincenzo handled that much. His powers allowed him to hold a status and order as he wished within reason.
“Very reasonable. Okay.” He nodded and sketched out some notes before presenting me with a paper with a hasty budget. “I anticipate groceries doubling so I’ll hand over that much. Food is worth it, especially since my cost of living will be decreasingsignificantly. I’ll give you this much for bills, mortgage, and contribution to the household and this much to be allocated in a shared account we’ll make. You will allocate that much a month as well into it and we’ll use that for incidentals.”
“I can probably add you to my car insurance. My agent gives me a very nice discount.”
Esmeray stared me down and raised a brow. “After the explosion?”
“If I don’t file a claim?” I grinned.
“Fair. Lemme see.” He awaited my paperwork and nodded sagely. “Same people I use and that is a nice discount.”
Draevus watched us with amusement twinkling in his eyes. “I’ll wear you down eventually, Gre. Nepotism is profane.”
“Now, there’s the matter of me getting a loan on—” Esmeray started but I held up a hand.
“That sort of discount doesn’t get a loan. I’ll pay for it, and what you contribute inrentwill go toward the car. Okay? You moving in might cost me a little money on my water and electricity. You’re paying for your food. Enjoy the car.” I put my hand on his thigh and squeezed, inching my fingers toward his inner seam. The pulse beneath my fingertips fluttered.
“Okay.” The fight left him as his breath softened. “That’s… That’s.”
“If I’m committing myself to you, I cannot split hairs.” I kept my tone low and soft while my fingers circled in place, an invitation and a threat. Ausmius peeked up, a head sliding from a corner with blinking eyes. Draevus’s brows rose up his forehead.
“Chores?” Esmeray cleared his throat.
“I have a pixie that feeds on ambient magic that does all the sanitary things. Bathrooms and crumbs and dusting. Vincenzo keeps the kitchen immaculate. I do laundry and fold clothes while listening to my audiobooks, and I won’t be gainsaid on thatbecause I have a new one by Maxwell Hump that I’mdyingto read. The shop is all mine, so I suppose if you want to be the one that runs the loads and changes the sheets, we can call it good. Organization we can split up areas as needed, but I generally don’t let things get far from their places.” I withdrew my hand and crossed my arms.
“Knowing Esmeray, that’s practically filthy talk to him.” Draevus huffed and glanced toward the door as the butler arrived with dessert.
“I’ll give you two the town car for the time being, and I want to see you in the office Monday morning with that new Mazda, am I clear?” Draevus pointed at Esmeray, and he grudgingly nodded.
“Good boy. Fate had an interesting choice to make, and I’m glad it did.” Draevus took a bite of a small parfait and hummed with pleasure as we ate ours in silence.
And like he promised, there were keys in my hand at the end of dinner, a promise of security escorting us into my home, and further monitoring until the threat abated.
While we walked to the car that had been pulled up front for us, a sleek black thing with a leather interior, a light turned on at the house next door and an older demon stepped out onto the porch to watch us with curiosity.
