“Ms. Ramirez,” I reverted to formal address. It always suited me better when it came to matters of business. “I have a certain station that needs to be represented. I attend functions with New York’s finest, and my partner needs to reflect that.” She was staring at me wide-eyed, and I went on. “You will be given an expense account, of course. We will need to…attend to…” I raised an eyebrow and glanced at the crisply laundered, cheap-as-shit white shirt, “that.” I aimed a look at Jane. “You will see to it.”
“Yes, Sir,” Jane replied at once. “And…” She was looking Sasha up and down and turned a questioning look at me. I knew what she was hinting at. The grooming which women subjected themselves to. Sasha didn’t need any of it. She was fucking perfect. I knew every inch of her would be exquisite.
“Yes,” I replied crisply. “Make whatever arrangements you see fit.” If anyone knew how to get a woman turned out to high-society standards, it was Jane. She’d tagged along as my discrete plus-one to enough functions when I wasn’t in the mood for romantic company. Until Angelique, that is. Angelique had swept through parties like royalty. And I, a Prince at her side.
I set my jaw at the memory of it. A wound inflicted too recently to have healed yet. I’d been in her bed…in her body…just days before. And then she’d betrayed me. Tossed me aside for the next big thing. Fucking bitch. I’d show her how much she’d meant to me. Nothing. Less than nothing.
I’d already replaced her with a younger, prettier model.
“Um…” Sasha was still looking hesitant. Probably about the rest of the contract. Fuck that. I was footing the bill. She would do as I damn well told her. “This bit here about …” She looked at the page again and frowned. “Health care?”
“What of it?” I asked.
“I’ll have a personal trainer and a nutritionist?” she said.
“Is that a problem?”
“Do you…do you think there’s something wrong with me?” she asked, her voice growing small.
Sweet Jesus, not a fucking thing!
“Good health is a blessing,” I answered. “You will take care of yours, as I do my own. We will train together when there is time for it. When we are not engaged…with other activities.” I stopped and let that sink in, watching her cheeks flush brighter.
She cleared her throat. “Uh…yes. Well, that leads me to this next clause.” She was tapping her finger on it. “The one that says that I am to be naked at all times when we are at home?”
I sat back in my chair and cocked my head. “Yes?”
“Completely naked? No clothes at all?”
“I believe that is the definition of naked, yes,” I said.
“But…why?” She honestly looked perplexed.
“You are a beautiful woman, Ms. Ramirez. It would please me to look at your body,” I replied. Why should I have to explain myself? I was paying for the fucking privilege of doing whatever I wanted with her. Seeing her naked was only the start of it. Her eyes were downcast once again as she continued down the page. Her cheeks were pure scarlet now. She tapped the page again, then glanced over at Jane before going on.
“This bit…this part here…” Her voice was husky as she shot Jane yet another glance.
“There’s no need to be coy, Ms. Ramirez. Jane typed up the notes. She knows exactly what is in there. If you have a question, ask.”
“It says that I am expected…um…expected to…” She stopped and rubbed her eyes before going on. “Masturbate?”
“Yes.”
“Masturbate?” she asked again, incredulous.
“Do you not know how, Ms. Ramirez? I would have thought, given your profession, that this would be familiar territory to you.” I saw her jaw clench as I said the words, but wasn’t prepared to retract them. She continued reading, and I saw her give small headshakes, pressing her lips together. And then her shoulders began to vibrate.
Was she crying?
Fuck. Had I pushed too hard?
She looked up at me, her eyes wide, gleaming…not with tears. With laughter. The little bitch was laughing at me.
“You! You’re certifiable, you know that?” she choked out, her body shaking with mirth. “You’re out of your cotton-picking mind!”
I felt a wave of fury.Who the fuck—?
“Sex toys? Controlled orgasms? Photographs of it? Audio recordings? I’m supposed to come over the phone and let you hear me?” She had an arm wrapped around her ribs and was choking on laughter. Jane shifted her weight beside me, moving from foot to foot. I had no doubt she was as amazed as I was. Nobody fucking laughed at Prince Walker.
