Page 60 of On Ice

Pink touches his cheeks, but when he speaks, his voice is laced with anger. “What do my financial obligations have to do with you?”

“I want to help you.”

That tugs a harsh laugh from him. “Bullshit.”

“I truly do.” I study him, debating whether to be blunt or ease into it. He looks on edge, and I’m not sure how he’ll react if I lay out the details. But there’s no point in dragging this out. “I know you pay for your mother to stay at the Laurel Gardens Memory Center, and that you’re helping your father with legal debt from a drunk driving incident a few years ago. And then there’s your brother. I know you cover the cost of his therapy, so he can see a private therapist instead of going through the VA.”

He clamps his jaw tight and then gets to his feet, glowering at me. “You touch any of them and I’ll kill you. I mean it.” His voice shakes as he continues. “They have nothing to do with what’s happening with you and me.”

I stand too, and my pulse picks up at the feral look in his eyes. I’m not easily intimidated, but Evan is a big, athletic guy and he looks like he’d love to rip my head off with his bare hands. “Calm down,” I growl. “I don’t want to hurt your family. I want to help you take care of them.”

He takes a step back, still looking angry. But at least he seems to be listening. “What are you talking about?”

“It’s honorable that you’re trying to help your family, but let’s face it, by the time you’ve paid for all their needs, there isn’t much left for your own living expenses. You’ve still got agent fees, food, and rent. Your apartment’s not pricey, but it’s not free, and rent in Seabrooke is high, even for small apartments.” I shrug. “I’d like to take some of the burden off of you.”

“And why the hell would you do that?” His voice is hard.

“Because I want you happy.” I ignore his snort of disbelief. “But you’re too buried with financial responsibilities to enjoy life.”

“You’re seriously trying to pretend you’re doing any of this forme?” The veins in his neck distend. “Stop whitewashing whatever this is. What’s in it for you to help me? Because, let’s face it, that’s what this is really about. You want something from me, and you think helping me financially will get you what you want.”

“Is it wrong of me to request something in return for keeping you alive and taking care of your family?” An uncharacteristic wave of anxiety tightens my chest as I hold his antagonistic gaze. This is the moment of truth. Once I lay all my cards on the table, this conversation will either get me what I want, or make everything implode.

“Give me details. What exactly do you want from me?” When I don’t immediately respond, he frowns. “Why are you stalling? Do you need a kidney or something?”

“No.” I laugh, but my heart is racing. “You’re right, I’m not just doing this for you. I’m doing it for me too. I really enjoyedour night together, and I want more of you. One night wasn’t enough.”

He looks confused at first, but then he seems to catch on. A chill shifts through his eyes as he says flatly, “You want sex.”

“Yeah. It’s not just about sex, but yeah, I want more of that too.” I hold his disgusted gaze. “Everyone who wants you dead will back off if I say you’re my property.”

“Your property,” he murmurs, curling his lip. “Jesus, there really is no bottom with you, is there?”

Heat touches my cheeks, but I pretend his words don’t bother me. “Don’t act coy. You enjoyed fucking as much as I did. We both know you did.”

He gives a harsh laugh. “I had no idea who you were. That makes all the difference. I don’t want to repeat what was already a horrible mistake.”

“Don’t get me wrong, this isn’tjustabout sex.” I dismiss what he’s saying because I don’t believe him. He’s lying. That kiss we shared earlier thatheinstigated proves he’s full of shit. He wants more of me but he’s too proud to admit it. “There’s an unspoken rule in the Firm that significant others are untouchable. But this arrangement would serve two purposes. It would save your life, but also allow me to save face. It’s win-win for both of us.”

He shakes his head. “No fucking way would I enter into that agreement with you. You must be out of your mind to even suggest it.”

“And you need to stop being emotional and use your brain.”

Red spears appear on his cheeks. “I’m emotional because I don’t want to be yourwhore?”

“There are worse things.”

“You would think that, wouldn’t you?”

“Do you realize if your little escape plan tonight had worked you’d most likely be dead?” My voice is hard. “Vincent has his men parked outside your apartment building right this minute. If you’d gone back to your apartment, you’d have been a sitting duck.”

His face twitches. “How do I know that’s true? Maybe no one gives a shit that I didn’t throw the game. Maybe they’re all mad at you, not me.”

I laugh. “Oh, they’re mad at me too. That’s why, in order to keep us both safe, I need this agreement with you. The sex is just the icing on the cake, baby. If you agree to this arrangement, it’s perfect because everyone understands why I’d forgive my lover for fucking up. What they won’t tolerate is me going easy on you if you’re just a slob who refused my orders. See the difference? One scenario makes me look weak, while the other makes me look like a doting lover. If you’re officially my property, that protects you and me.”

He laughs harshly. “I don’t want to be known as yourproperty.”

I sigh with exasperation. “Evan, if I don’t shield you, you’ll die. But I’m not going to go to all that trouble unless I get something out of it.”

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