Page 98 of Roulette: The Madam

She toyed with the petals of the roses, refusing to look up at me. I rested my back on the chair. She was special. My kind of special. And, while I respected her outlook, and shared it even, there was something about her that made me want to reconsider.Everything.

“Do you like them?”

Her eyes found me, finally. My heart halted instantly. Her lips curled slightly with a nod. Like a defibrillator, she restarted the beat that kept me alive.

“Yes. Yes, I do.”

There it was. Those softened edges that were underneath the rough ones.

Gentle, Israel.

“There will be more.”

“I look forward to it.”

“Is there anything else you look forward to as it concerns me?”

“Kidnapping.”

“You’re no kid, Princess.”

“I didn’t create the word. I’m just using it.”

I sniggered, covering my mouth with the back of my hand as I did so. Something so small and insignificant shouldn’t have exposed all of my teeth, but it had. She had. My burst of happiness had little to do with what she’d said and everything to do with what she’d done.

Willingly, she’d joined me for dinner. I didn’t have to toss her over my shoulder or cuff her to the door for the drive. I would’ve, but it wasn’t necessary. She wanted to be here. She wanted to be with me.

“Thank you.”

“Thank me? What have I done besides grace you with my presence.”

“That’s all I wanted,” I confessed. “That’s more than enough, Princess.”

“Says the man that was missing for three months.”

“I wasn’t missing. I was getting my heart and my head together. And, I didn’t want to compromise my opportunity due to my position in your life.”

“Israel. You have no position in my life.”

She was blunt. Her words cut like a knife, but they were true. I didn’t have an official position, but that would change with time. My time. Not hers. Because, leave it up to Princess and she’d be a bachelorette for the rest of her days. That wasn’t happening. Not on my watch.

“Furthermore, how good your dick is bears no relevancy on how beneficial you are to my family. Business is business. Pleasure is pleasure. I never blend the two. It’s tacky. Tasteless. Classless.”

“Why can’t you?”

“Come again?” She leaned in, unsure of what I was saying or referring to.

“Belong to one man. Why can’t you?”

“I’ve never believed monogamy was natural. A choice, maybe. A preference, definitely.”

“Most think cheating is a choice.”

“It is. In fact, it’s all a choice. And, as long as you’re sure of your choice, you don’t have to worry about upsetting yourself or your partner.”

“Hmm.” I considered her point of view.

“Never blur the lines. Make your intent and expectations clear immediately so no wires are crossed. There’s no miscommunication.”

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