Page 31

"You're early," I say when I finish eating.

"You summoned me." He slides his hands in his pockets. "I came."

"Don't make it sound like that."

His mouth curves into a smirk. "Like what?"

"Like," I start and then slam my mouth shut. Blowing out a breath, I cross my arms. "We need to start by setting some ground rules."

His eyebrows lift. "Rules?"

"Yes. Rules also known as boundaries, terms and conditions." I list each one with a finger. "This is a business arrangement, Ekon. We're doing this my way, which means you don't get to waltz into my life and act like you own me just because we're pretending to be mates."

He tilts his head, and that infuriating smirk tugs at his lips. "I would never—"

"Bullshit." I cut him off. "You're already doing it."

"How?"

"Touching me without my permission," I state.

A gleam roars in his eye. "So what you're saying is, I can caress you as much as I want when I get permission?"

"Shut the hell up."

Ekon raises his hands in surrender, but the smirk doesn't fade. "Okay, I'll be good. What are your rules?"

I take a breath. "For one, we only use public mate behavior when necessary. That means at the club, in front of your parents, and anywhere else we might be seen together. But when we're alone, you keep your hands to yourself."

"Define 'necessary,'" he says, cocking his head.

"Don't fucking start."

"I'm just asking for clarification, Yue," he says, raising his hand to his chin. "If we're at the club and someone's watching, do I get to touch you or hold your hand? What about kissing you?"

My face heats. "Only if it's required to sell the act."

"And who decides what's required?"

"I do."

He grins. "What's rule two?"

"You don't get to assume access to my body or my home. Just because we're pretending to be mates doesn't mean you can show up whenever you want or expect me to sleep with you again."

Ekon's expression shifts, something darker flickering in his gray eyes. "I would never assume that, Yue."

"Good. The next rule is that you don't use this claim to control me. I'm not your property or your possession. We're equals in this arrangement, and if you try to pull any possessive gargoyle bullshit, I'm out."

"Fair," he says, and for once, he sounds serious.

"Next, you don't lie to me about this arrangement. If something changes, or if your parents suspect something, or if you need me to do something different, then you tell me. No surprises."

"Agreed."

"And lastly, payment and terms remain intact. You pay me the three hundred and fifty thousand regardless of whether your parents approve of me or not. This isn't contingent on their opinion."

Ekon nods slowly. "Anything else?"