Page 21 of Haden

Damn him.

I can’t stand still any longer. He’s unnerving. I finally cross my arms.

He shakes his head. “Lower your hands, jitterbug.”

My heart races. His voice is always soft and firm when he calls me jitterbug. And I always obey him.

His gaze comes to my chest. Why the hell did I think it would be a good idea not to wear a bra?

It feels like we’re in a standoff, negotiating a business merger. It’s on the verge of tipping in either direction. Except that’s not true. We’re negotiating the rest of our lives. There’s no doubt which way it will go. This faceoff is just a game.

The air sizzles between us. I shiver as if there’s an electric current in the small space.

He doesn’t wait for me to answer. It’s not necessary. He’s right. I dressed to entice him and then stood outside his home to wait for him to notice me. I didn’t do that so I could tell him to get lost.

“You’re mine, Emilia.”

I gasp. His voice… So firm. There’s no wavering.

“I stayed up half the night, too, jitterbug.” That soft tone again. “I rehashed everything we said. Everything we did last night. No one has ever reacted as strongly to my dominance as you have. I’m just stating the facts. You’re mine.”

“And…what does that mean?” I whisper.

“It means you aren’t going to have any more coffee because when I fuck you, I’m going to fuck you bare, and you will get pregnant. It means you’re going to go back to your room and change out of this dress because I don’t want anyone else to see your pert little nipples. It means you’re going to stay in Wilde and be my assistant so that I always know where you are. You’ll be with me.

“I know you love kids. That’s why you got a degree in early-childhood education. You and I are going to have a bunch of them. So are all the other couples living here. In about nine months, there will be so many babies in the Wilde mansion that you’ll never feel like you got cheated out of doing what you love.”

I can’t breathe.

He takes a step closer and reaches out to hold my biceps. “It means we’re going to spend every moment possible together because the last twelve hours without you made me feel empty.”

I hold his gaze, afraid to blink, wondering if I’m still asleep.

He licks his lips. “If I didn’t need to go supervise the office placement right now, I would go upstairs with you, pick out your clothes, and fucking dress you myself. Instead, I’m telling you. Go change. Jeans, T-shirt, and tennis shoes. I don’t want you in a dress on the jobsite. Save your dresses for dinner.”

“Yes, Sir,” I murmur, trembling as those words slip out of my mouth so naturally.

He smiles. “Bra and panties, too, naughty girl.”

I roll my eyes.

He lifts a brow. “Do I need to spank you first?”

“No, Sir.” Only the thin wall of this RV separates us from my cousins and brothers. There’s no telling who might be standing outside. They could be waiting for Haden to reappear. If he spanked me, I’d probably moan or cry out.

One of his hands slides from my bicep to my breast. The only contact I get is him flicking his thumb over my peaked nipple. “This is so fucking sexy, jitterbug. You may wear all the cotton dresses you want with nothing under them when we’re alone. Don’t do it in front of other people. Understood?”

“Yes, Sir,” I whisper. I’m ten times hornier now from nothing more than that small touch.

Haden steps back and points toward the table. “Bend over. Hands on the surface.”

I gasp, hesitating.

He lifts the brow again. I wonder how patient he plans to be while I stumble every time he orders me around.

When I finally do as I’m told, I’m not surprised for him to stand to the side of me and push my dress up to the small of my back. He just told me he doesn’t have time to spank me, though, so I’m confused.

He palms my ass, smoothing his hand over the skin. “I’m just checking to see how pink your bottom is this morning.”