Page 65 of Caged By the Ruthless Thief

“Are you batting your eyes at me?”

“I don’t bat my eyes.” Annabelle’s eyelashes flutter.

“You’re doing it right now.” I cough.

“No. I. Am. Not.” She bats in between words and puts her hands on her hips for emphasis.

“What are you trying to say, Belle?”

“I want a darn block. BLOCK.”

Holter shakes his head. “It’s just that there are things you need to be shown slowly.”

“Like?” She leans forward.

Both Holter and I are in agreement, arms crossed over our chests.

“No block?”

“No block.” I confirm what Holter has told her.

“Okay. You want me to buy something? I’d like some science equipment.”

“Done. What else?”

“This is more expensive.”

“It’s your money, Annabelle.”

“Really, Belle,” Holter confirms.

“What are we talking about?” Eros steps into the room, and the pressure changes for me.

“Holter and Nico gave me their money.”

“Oh right. You have an account in the Veiled City?”

Holter nods.

Eros takes out his block, his fingers moving over the screen. “Good. I transfer mine too.”

“Oh, for the love of... No!” my Little Krill belts out.

“What?” Eros’s dark brows dart up. “That’s the way it works here. When we mate, everything we own becomes yours.”

Holter laughs. “She was just telling us that there is something expensive she would like to buy.”

“Well, what is it?” Eros asks.

“I want to buy my uncle out of the farm and pay my dad enough to hire a farm manager so he can take a day off.”

“Hell, yeah. That ass is a prick. Your uncle, not your father; sorry, Sunshine. Let’s do it.” Eros rubs his hands together and plops down on the sofa next to Holter. “You’re using yourmug!”

“I love my mug, thank you.” She takes a sip out of the yellow monstrosity with the sun on the side. The sun has a smiling face. I want to punch the cup in its smiling lips. No, I want to punch Eros in his. He’s got his block out again.

“What are you doing?” Annabelle asks.

“I’m contacting a friend of mine over in Koralli. They buy and sell land all over the world. He can help us out,” Eros says.

---