Page 82 of Destroying Everleigh

“Not interested,” he replied dryly.

Desperation trickled through my veins along with a surge of anger. “Then what are you interested in?” I snapped, narrowing my eyes at him.

He pretended to think about that for a moment, as if he didn’t already know. When he was done with his little show, his lips quirked at the corner into a cocky little smirk that I wanted to slap right off his gorgeous face.

“I’m sure we could arrangesomething,” he added. Confusion flooded through me as I tried to wrap my head around it. But before I could ask him what it was he wanted, he placed a soft hand on my bare upper thigh.

I tensed immediately, horror pulsing through my organs. My eyes widened at what he was insinuating. My mouth opened and closed several times before I could even put my thoughts in order. “N-no. I’m not pimping myself out to you.” I shoved hishand off my leg, ignoring the goosebumps that had erupted from his touch alone.

The fact that he even thought for one second that I’d accept a deal like that just told me how much of an arrogant bastard he really was. He’d always been an asshole. But he’s never propositioned me before.

Dallas shrugged, not showing any sign that he was the least bit offended by my rejection. “Very well.” He stood, smoothing out the wrinkles in his suit before retrieving his briefcase from where he’d left it on the floor.

Nervous energy prickled along my skin as he started for the door. I should just let him leave. But something told me that it would be a mistake if I did. “That’s it?” I asked in bewilderment, rising to my feet as well.

He paused and slowly turned to face me. It pissed me off how little emotion he showed about anything. If I knew what he was thinking…

I shut that train of thought down real fast. Even if I knew what he was thinking, it wouldn’t change anything.

“It is,” he confirmed. “I gave you an out. You chose to decline. Make sure the house is cleared out by Friday. That’s when I’ll come for the key.”

My lips parted in disbelief. “You’re really going to kick us out?” I demanded, trying my best to keep my voice from trembling. “My mom just died, I’m a full-time student, I have a job, and I have to take care of my family. You can’t show me even the smallest amount of leniency?”

Dallas took a step toward me, his expression neutral as always. His blue eyes were as void of emotion as his face was. “I have no interest in your family affairs. As for leniency…I granted you an out. Just not the one you wanted.”

I clenched my teeth, anger growing more potent inside of me. And what pissed me off even more was that I was considering hisfucking offer. This house wasn’t worth all the trouble, but it was one of the only things I had left.

He took another step in my direction, like a shark circling in on its prey. He knew I was thinking about it, knew it was a hard offer to refuse. “I’ll even sweeten the deal if you want. I won’t even take your cash. Just your body.”

The old me would have recoiled at that.I don’t do casual. It was starting to feel like a completely different dimension. My mindset was different now, life was different now, everything was so fucking different now. I was living in a world where no one did anything out of the kindness of their hearts. There was always a price to pay. Dallas knew how desperate I was. He wouldn’t have propositioned me otherwise. How long has he been biding his time, waiting until I was broken down enough to potentially consider an offer like that?

Fuck him.

I was still sore from being with Jameson a few nights ago, and Lucas would probably make a surprise visit soon since I’ve actively been avoiding him.

But even I had to admit…selling my body to a hot guy without having to pay him was a difficult offer to pass up. He was also clean looking, so there was that.

“Any day now, Miss Knight.” He sighed impatiently, like this was a huge inconvenience for him.

My shoulders sagged in defeat. I wasn’t moving in with my grandparents. I wasn’t living under a bridge. And it wasn’t like I could go get a dorm. Regardless of how much Briley was pissing me off right now, I wouldn’t leave her to fend for herself like that. Even if it was tempting. Plus, if I didn’t have to pay rent, maybe I could afford to have someone come and get the mold out of this damn place.

“Fine,” I said through gritted teeth.

The corners of his mouth twitch, finally showing me some kind of emotion, even if it was brief. He set his briefcase down again and closed the small distance between us, his hands tightening around my hips.

“Fine?” he repeated. “I’ll need you to be a little more specific than that. What is it you’re agreeing to?”

Asshole.

“You can have my body,” I forced out through shaky breaths, trying to keep my hands at my sides so I didn’t do something stupid like punch him.

He hummed in response. “You can’t back out. Having your body means I get your pussy, your ass, your mouth. Any part of you I want.” He said it so casually—like it meant absolutely nothing to him. And it probably didn’t. It certainly hadn’t meant anything to Jameson.

I nodded. “I’m not stupid.”

He stared at me for a long moment, the silence stretching between us uncomfortably. It was taking everything in me not to squirm under his scrutiny.

“No backing out,” he added, like I’d try finding some kind of loophole—not that it hadn’t crossed my mind, but that would just put me right back at square one. “And when I call or text you, don’t leave me waiting.”

---