Page 221 of If Our Hearts Collide

Collins disarms the security system for his unit and guides me inside. I’m glad he is content being at his own place, because I wouldn’t be able to trust Luke to keep his big mouth shut whenever the girls or my brothers pay me a visit. The less he knows, the better. He is the only one who thinks he’s discreet—when in reality he is blatantly obvious about anything he does. I also can’t risk him asking to join in. He’s obnoxious like that.

Collins helps me out of my heels and then curses at the sight of my angry blisters. “You need to stop abusing your sensitiveskin like this,” he scolds, rubbing his thumbs over the sore patches.

I nod, gesturing toward my shoes. “But they look so cute on.”

I honestly didn’t even realize I had blisters until he pointed them out.

He removes his own and places them perfectly on the rack beside the door. “They look fucking fantastic on you, but I don’t need the view at the expense of your comfort.” He scoops me up and starts to carry me toward his bedroom.

“I take it I’m not welcome in your guest room anymore.”

Smiling down at me, he kisses me on the nose. “You are welcome in every square inch of my place, but I much prefer to have you in my bed tonight. The cage for underneath is arriving next week.”

“Oh my g?—”

“Teasing.”

“You better be.” I snuggle in closer to Collins’s chest, loving the feel of his muscles against the side of my cheek. “Can you add spooning to my list of wants?”

Collins chuckles, dropping me into the center of the bed with a bounce. “I will add whatever clause you want to the contract, assuming you can follow my three main rules.”

“And what are those?” I bite at my bottom lip, as I watch him slowly remove his jeans.

His lips curl into a half smile. “I’ll tell you tomorrow.”

I cross my arms at my chest and pout out my lip. “Why the suspense?” Seriously, why is he being so secretive?

“If I show you my cards too soon, you’ll have time to think of some strategies to get you out of complying.”

I’m so confused. “So you’re going to fuck me but then drop a bombshell on me tomorrow with your demands?”

He shakes his head. “No, Penelope. We’re not having sex tonight.”

I feel my jaw unhinging. “And why not? Isn’t that the point?” It’s like he’s speaking another language—one in which I have zero foundational knowledge.

“For one, you’ve been drinking.”

“Barely,” I grumble. I’m not even slurring my words. At least I don’t think I am. Well, damn. Maybe I am?

“I’m not having you making life-altering decisions while you’ve been under the influence of alcohol.”

“Well, you rejecting me—yet again—is pretty sobering.”

Ignoring my mini-rant, he sighs. “Second, I want us both to understand the terms of the contract to every last detail before engaging in a sexual relationship that can muddy the already murky water.”

“Yeah, we wouldn’t want me to take advantage of you or anything,” I say, my tone mocking.

“And third, we will both get physicals tomorrow with a physician of my choosing, and not someone you type into Google to find.”

I sit up straighter on the bed. “So this is what it’s going to be like?”

“What?”

“Where you dictate what is going to happen, and I listen and obey like a good little girl?”

A smile beams across his face. “Now that sounds like music to my ears.”

“I mean it, Collins!”

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