‘I’m aware of what it says,’ he replies in a similar tone. ‘But if you’d let me explain.’
‘There is nothing to explain here. You want me to have sex with you.’
‘Forgive me if I’m wrong, but you’re here in part because you feel the same.’
‘You know shit!’
‘I know your understanding is tragically parochial.’
‘My understanding is just fine.’ Context is everything. Fancy ass words just need googling.
‘I thought you would’ve been a little more adult about this.’ He spreads his hands out across his thighs, sliding them towards his knees. It’s not a sexual thing, but my insides clench anyway. Why is that?
Because you’ve been attention starved.
Because of what happened in the car.
Because no one ever wanted to buy you before, though you’ve been treated like garbage plenty.
‘Fine.’
There. I reined it all in. I didn’t shout, swear, hit the roof, or jump on him. Even if there isn’t anythingfineabout his stipulations. ‘Go ahead. You tell me how this isn’t good old-fashioned prostitution.’
‘From the beginning, we need to move in together to make things believable.’
We’re moving on from sex to cohabitation. Basically, we’re taking the scenic route.
‘You could move into my place,’ I offer, testing the waters. Though for what, I don’t know.
‘I could, I suppose. How many bedrooms have you got?’
‘One.’ The word comes out strangled, and the corner of his mouth twitches as though he’s trying not to smile.
I get what he’s suggesting. The two of us bumping around a space built for one would be a disaster of epic proportions. We’d end up hate fucking because sex would definitely happen, one way or another.Oh dear, you appear to have tripped and driven yourself inside my body while you were unloading the dishwasher. Accidents happen, what!
‘I have several more bedrooms,’ Beckett adds in a cool tone. ‘Do you still want me to move in with you, or would you prefer to live somewhere where you’ll also have your own space?’
‘Ha.’ I sound like one of the Muppets. One of the squeaky ones. ‘You wouldn’t move in with me anyway. You’re just trying to play nice.’
His expression is wry as he agrees with a slight incline of his head. ‘Do I get points for at least looking like I would?’
I don’t condescend to answer. I’m not finding him cute. Annoying, yes. And maybe one or two other things.Sex. He wants to have sex with me. Can we get to that discussion point before I explode and make a mess on his nice furniture?
‘Married people live together.’
‘Not all married people,’ I protest.
‘Newlyweds do.’
‘Not those in the armed forces.’
‘Are you thinking of enlisting? No? Then don’t be obtuse. I have lots of space and several spare bedrooms. You won’t even need to see me in private. Unless you want to.’
‘Which is the perfect segue into the next point. You want to fuck me,’ I state bluntly. ‘And you felt the need to put it in a contract.’
Chapter 15
OLIVIA
