I step away from him, then freeze. “I also need clothes. I can’t wear my Frankly Delicious uniform to a government meeting.”
He frowns. “There is nothing wrong with what you’re wearing now.”
“What? Dude! You can see my dick!” His eyes flicker down toward it, and I cover it with both hands. “Stop that! It’s not for ogling.”
“No.” His voice drops to a low growl, and he steps close, backing me against the wall. “It is meant for sucking.”
I put both hands on his chest and push, but he doesn’t move. Fuck, he’s strong. “You can’t suck it now.” My voice goes wobbly. “We have…things to do. Meetings to attend. And I have a shift tonight?—”
“You do not.”
“Uh, yeah. I do. Like I said, I have a job?—”
“As I said,” he interrupts, “you are being compensated for this. Your former job working at the meat factory?—”
“Hot dog stand,” I correct, trying not to die right where I’m standing.
He hums as he holds my gaze prisoner. “—is no longer necessary. I have taken the liberty of sending your uniform away. This,” he tugs on the sleeve of the robe, “will suffice.”
“Ohhellno,” I spit, shoving at him with all my strength. He takes half a step back, and I’m pretty sure it wasn’t because of me. “I’m not going in this. Real clothes, or you can forget this whole thing.”
His eyes glint, and a growl starts in his chest, moving up his throat. For a moment, I wonder just how dangerous he is. He’s absolutely fucking terrifying with the way his eyes seem to glow and his fangs touch his lip.
But I’m frozen to the spot, helpless to do anything as he leans in and his sharp teeth scrape my throat. He breathes in deep, and despite my absolute terror, my cock gets hard.
“I will procure something from another human in the building. And you,” he adds, pulling back to meet my eyes, “will cease arguing with me.”
Fat fucking chance, I think, but I feel like this is the best I’m going to get.
“Fine. But I also want food and coffee. I can’t survive off bodily fluids like you.”
He huffs but says nothing, and he doesn’t stop me as I duck under his arm and hurry back toward the bedroom so I can shower. I’m a little terrified about what he’s going to consider food, clothes, and coffee, but I’ll take a compromise if it means we get this over with.
After all, he’s clearly not going to relent, and it seems like compromise is the only way the two of us are ever going to get along.
And as the seconds tick by, I start to realize I may be giving up a lot of my freedom for him, and that is not the best feelingin the world. I spent half my life being trapped by my aunt and uncle, and now I’m about to get into an equally restrictive contract with a monster?
The very thing they claimed they were protecting me from?
It’s a bit ironic, but at least in this case I’m getting paid. And while I have no idea how long these contracts will last, Rathyn doesn’t seem like the type of being who will stay interested in me for long.
If I’m lucky, I’ll spend a few years with him and pad a nice savings account for when it’s over. If I’m not, well…that’s a problem for future Everest to deal with.
I flick the Edison filament lights on and stare at myself in the mirror. I’m slightly pale, but there’s a flush in my cheeks. Probably from being so close to Rathyn.
My subconscious must remember what he did to me last night in graphic detail, even if my conscious memory is a blurry mess.
Walking toward the large walk-in shower, I glance over at the frameless glass panels, then turn my gaze longingly toward the black-iron soaking tub.
Fuck, that looks nice. A long, hot soak would be amazing on my sore muscles.
I know we have to get this contract meeting over with, but my body aches, and goddamnit, he owes me.
Multiple prolonged orgasms nearly ruined me last night. Rathyn can wait until I feel a bit more human again.
I twist the knobs, turning the water on, and I adjust the heat until it’s the perfect temperature. There are several glass bottles filled with what looks and smells like bath salts, so I dump several scoops into the tub and watch as bubbles explode under the stream. The smell is fucking delicious, and as it wafts up in tendrils of steam, my eyes slip closed.
I’m already more relaxed.
