Page 36 of Seduced By Contract

I hear her footsteps coming back, and I turn to face her. "I have a counterproposal."

"You can't back out, Zeus. We've made an agreement."

"Can you listen before you argue?"

"I'm not arguing."

I approach her. "Yes, you are, because it's in your nature to fight. You're a lot like me, Madison."

Her expression clears. "Was that a compliment?"

"Most people who know me would say it wasn't."

"I only care about your opinion, Zeus. I don't belong to your world, and I couldn't care less about what people will think of me."

"I'll never let them disrespect you."

"I don't need protection."

"But you'll have it anyway. You've shown me everything you are, so you need to learn that I'm uncompromising about my world. I've set my rules, and I like to be obeyed."

"Like a king? Does everything have to be the way you want it?"

"That's right."

I might be mistaken, but she's hiding a smile.

"Tell me about the counterproposal," she says.

"I want you for six months." Until the words left my mouth, I hadn't thought of a specific timeframe, but now I try to convince myself that six months will be enough.

She doesn't freak out like I thought she would, but instead, she asks, surprisingly calm, "Why?"

"One month won't be enough."

"Why not?"

"I haven't made you mine yet, and I'm already addicted to your taste, Madison."

To my surprise, she presses her body against mine. "I'm afraid of getting addicted too." She rests her forehead against my chest.

"Are you?"

"Yes. I won't fall in love or anything, of course. But it was so good when you touched me." She lifts her head to look at me. "Is sex always that enjoyable?"

"No, it gets much better when the couple is compatible."

"I think we are, though, right?"

I don't answer, but I pull her into a deep kiss, my hand gripping the firm flesh of her buttocks.

When we part, we're both breathless.

"Yeah, I think that was a yes."

She's been quiet since Larry parked in front of the rundown building in her neighborhood. He has gone to talk to the bodyguards in the car behind us, giving us some privacy.

Again, she seems closed off in her own world.

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