Page 60 of Heart of Stone

“I want to,” he said casually and continued to rub.

I certainly wasn’t about to argue with him and his magical hands, so I relaxed into the chair, sipped a bit of wine, and nibbled on some cheese.

Ahh…a girl could get used to this.

I watched Alexander, so careful and concentrated, fingers working mini miracles over my aching feet. So far, the night had gone off without much of a hitch. And while things seemed to be going smoothly, it was somewhat bizarre at the same time. He said last night that he didn’t date, yet last night and tonight were exactly that – a date, at least in every sense of the word.

“I’ve put some thought into the conversation that we had last night,” I said. “I’ve decided that I’m not looking to date anyone any more than you are. I don’t know why you’re putting on this false charade. The only things missing are a few candles for ambiance.”

I was careful to keep my tone light as I gestured to the room around us.

“There’s nothing false about this whatsoever. I mean, we could just fuck now and get it over with, but I don’t think that would work for you. I can see the questions that constantly circle in your head. You’re curious about me. Because of that, I’ve been giving you space to think about what you want – at least for the time being. You shouldn’t read too much into this, Krystina. I truly meant what I said. I’m not the dating kind,” he reaffirmed. “To classify last night and this evening as a date would only result in certain obligations that I cannot meet.”

“No strings attached sounds good to me,” I said, somewhat hesitant in these unchartered waters. “Although, I’ll have to admit that I’m not very good at this sort of thing. Let’s just pretend that I’m willing to agree to what you want. How do you want this to work?”

“It’s simple. You work for Turning Stone during the day, and your evenings and weekends are reserved for me,” he stated pragmatically, as if he were proposing something that was so very normal.

He might as well have said that he wants to control my entire life.

Trevor and his ridiculous schedules stood out front and center in my mind. The similarities between my past and the current situation were not lost on me for one minute. Sex was one thing, but allowing him to control every minute of my day was a whole different beast. Reclaiming my independence was a hard fought, uphill battle. I was proud of what I overcame. Agreeing to what he was suggesting would be a giant step backwards and risked everything that I tried so hard to protect.

“I have a life, Alexander. You can’t possibly expect me to give it up in order to be at your beck and call.”

“I know that and I won’t be unreasonable. I understand that you have friends and family that need your attention as well. I didn’t meaneverynight in the literal sense. But trust me, sweetheart. When I call, I’ll make it worth your while,” he said temptingly. He flashed me another one of those to-die-for smiles as his hands continued to massage the joints in my feet.

His sexy James Dean maneuvers were making my head spin.

Stay focused!

“So let me get this straight. I work with you during the day, you sign my paycheck, and then I become your kinky concubine at night.”

He grinned and cocked his head to one side. Eventually, that grin turned into to an easy laugh.

“You could simplify it like that if you want.”

“I never thought that going to bed with someone could make me sound like a hooker,” I laughed in return, forcing myself to dismiss the angel that was waving the scarlet letter in front of my face. She wasn’t finding this conversation even remotely funny.

“Don’t cheapen it that way. I’m asking you to willingly submit yourself to me,” he said guilefully, sapphire eyes gleaming with mischief. “And you will agree to it because it will please me.”

“I suppose that next you’re going to tell me that women agree to this arrangement all the time?” I asked, still slightly guarded and somewhat skeptical.

“I typically don’t have trouble working it out. Although some women make it more difficult than others.”

“I can certainly see why some might have a problem with giving up every spare moment of their time for you,” I said dryly.

“Oh, no. It’s nothing like that. I meant that some women prefer to secure non-disclosure agreements first, which I find completely pointless, but will agree to when I have to,” he explained.

“Non-disclosure agreements? Wait – forget it. I don’t want to know. In fact, the whole idea of us working together, sleeping together – it’s all crazy. I don’t see how we can mix the two,” I told him, feeling completely disconcerted over the situation that I had landed myself in.

Maybe it’s time I take heed of the angel’s warnings.

“If you are worried about us being able to work together during the day, I assure you, our paths will seldom cross. I am a very busy man.”

My head snapped up to look him in the face.

“Don’t worry, Alexander. Facing you at work is the least of my concerns.”

“It should be,” he said, eyes burning into me with unspoken secrets. “The things that I will do to you are not things that civilized people talk about during the light of day.”

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