“No. Someone kept me awake all night; all she wanted to do was fuck. I’mexhausted.”
A light huff expels from my lungs. “Pfft… I think you mean that you kept her awake all night because all you wanted to do wasfuck.”
He chuckles. “I didn’t keep her awake. I know because she snored for two hours before I left her bed thismorning.”
My mouth opens and I gasp sharply. “I… do… not…snore.”
“You dosnore.”
“You stayed and listened to that for two hours?” Who would put up with listening to that annoying sound for two hours? I know Iwouldn’t.
“I like watching yousleep.”
He watched me sleep? I can’t decide if that’s sweet or creepy. I’m leaning a little more towardcreepy.
“You must like hearing me snore as well since you listened to me for two hours.” Which is justembarrassing.
“It’s cute when you doit.”
“I don’t care who you are. Nothing about snoring is cute.” I know because my nana sounds like alumberjack.
Change the subject, Emma Lia, before he tells you that you also sleep farted. “I was planning to go by my apartment today. I need to pick up a few personal things if I’m going to be stayinghere.”
“Sinceyou’re going to be staying. Notif.”
I will need to choose my words more wisely around this man. He’s testy about some things. “Okay. I need to pick up some personal thingssinceI’mstaying.”
“Have I not provided you with everything that you need down to your hygieneproducts?”
I feel like saying, hell yes, all the way down to my tampons. But I keep my mouth shut on that issue. “You have, but I’d like to get my laptop and iPad. And I have some cash that I’d like to move to a safety-deposit box.” I would die if someone broke into my condo and took that twenty grand in my closet; I worked hard for thatmoney.
“Wait until another day to do it. I’m playing hooky from work to stay home and have alone time withyou.”
It’s difficult to have alone time when there are two other people in the house. “Is it really alone time if Ray and Claudia arehere?”
“Would you like me to send them away for theday?”
I don’t know what Tristan’s going to do to me. I may scream. I may cry. I may say to hell with all of this and flee. I don’t want anyone here to witness whatever happens. Plus, I just think that sex, vanilla or otherwise, should beprivate.
“I’d be more comfortable if I knew that other people weren’t listening tous.”
“Consider themgone.”
He places his fork on the plate and tosses his napkin on the table. “Are you finishedeating?”
It’s delicious, but my stomach is in knots. “Iam.”
He sits back in the chair and looks at me. “Go to your bedroom and take off your clothes. Everything. Kneel next to the bed, facing the door. Sit on your lower legs and feet. Bow your head and keep your eyes lowered. Do not lift your face when I enter the room. I’ll tell you when you may look atme.”
My brain absorbs his words, and I try to picture the described position in myhead.
“Do youunderstand?”
“Yes.”
“Yeswhat?”
Dammit. That’s going to take some getting used to. “Yes,Sir.”
