Page 57 of Sorrow

Oh, I think the outcome is pretty obvious, but what alternative do I have now? If a little white lie is gonna do the trick, then okay. “Fine, we can tell him. But you’re doing the talking.”

“Whatever, sissy. I’ll do the talking.” Hayes sticks his finger in my ear annoyingly, bringing me back to when I was younger and he always seemed to find a way to mess with me. “Instead of nightly payments for different activities, I’m just going to give you a weekly allowance or some shit though. That work with you?”

Weekly. Fuck, this is going to take too long. “Okay. Beggars and choosers, you know.”

“Pick the amount.”

“What?” I ask, balking a little. That’s not how this is supposed to go. “That’s not fair. I don’t know what you’re gonna do to me.”

“I thought it was fair to let you pick the price of your own body. I’m not paying you for different activities anymore, I’m paying you so I can own your body. All of it. But alright then, if you don’t think it’s fair, then what about $800 a week?”

Quick math tells me I could get out of here in two or three months if I save most of it, so I’m not gonna argue with him. But that does seem a little low for having total control of another human being. “Sold.”

“Damn, I thought you’d haggle me a little before we came to an agreement. Alright.” He takes my hand and shakes it before I can back out. “You’ll basically own my body too, you know? I won’t touch anyone else, and if you want to try anything, just speak up about it.”

How can I haggle when I have no idea how much someone is willing to pay for sex? I’d have absolutely lowballed myself if I’d have thrown a number out first, and I’ve never known Hayes to be reasonable or malleable. “I’m not sure it’s quite the same, but I appreciate you saying it anyway.”

“Is there anything you would want though? What did you imagine your relationship with Nate would look likebefore you considered him just a meal ticket?”

“Bold of you to assume he was ever anything but a ticket out of here,” I mutter. “He’s not exactly my type, y’know? I didn’t want someone loud and obnoxious. But my choices around here are painfully slim, so I don’t know. I guess it depends on what you’re asking me. Like what did I envision my future sex life would be like? Or an actual romantic relationship?”

“Both. I’ve never had a real relationship, so I’m curious what women think about when they picture it.”

Me too, because I never fucking bothered.

“I don’t know. I guess I hoped my sex life would be fun and passionate, like everyone does. And the rest... never mind. I don’t know what women think about so I decline to answer.”

“Say it,” he commands, lifting my gaze to his. “Tell me.”

Ah, hell. He’s already seen me in more embarrassing situations than I’d ever care to remember, so what’s one more?

Shakily, I study the lighter flecks in his eyes to distract myself.

“I just wanted to be loved. To be with someone who didn’t see me as a cursed girlor a burden, but as someone worth protecting and giving a shit about. Stupid, isn’t it?”

“I don’t think it’s stupid.” He leans in closer like he wants to kiss me. “I’ll protect you, Samara. Do you believe that?”

He’ll protect me, but all the other shit? Forget it. One out of four ain’t bad. “I do. You already have, even if you weren’t happy about it.”

“I have my reasons and I don’t expect you to understand them. But we’re here now, and I won’t kick you out on your ass. Youaresomeone worth protecting. You’re just also a pain in the ass.”

“Why?” I push. “I cook, I clean, I stay out of your way unless your cock is in my mouth. What’s so bad about that?”

“That wasn’t the case not long ago. It didn’t matter how much I tried not to imagine your mouth around my cock, I always failed. Then I’d go over and see you, and you’d just run your mouth at me knowing I couldn’t do anything to silence it. I don’t mind the shit talking now that I can punish you for it, but back then, it was brutal.”

My, how things change. The fact that he can admit that at all with a straight face isastounding — and also kind of fun. “So you’re telling me I can still bully you, huh?”

“No,” he growls, only there’s an amusement in his tone that wasn’t there a second ago. “You misheard me.”

“Oh? Sorry, must’ve been breathing through my ears again. What’d you say?”

“You do that a lot. I said obey me or get spanked.” He grips my chin and gives it a little squeeze. “Brat.”

Oh, that’s the goal. Fuck, he’s hot. “Hurricane,” I correct. “Get it right.”

“So you like that one now, huh?”

He leans in to kiss me like he couldn’t hold himself back anymore, and I have to admit, it feels different. Like he’s not trying to prove something, he’s just... kissing me because he wants to.

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