Page 15 of Saint
“Hey. I was just coming to see you,” she announced, stepping aside so I could enter.
She sat down on the bed, dressed in one of the pajamas I had one of my father’s staff purchase and deliver to the house before we arrived. Pajamas never looked so damn good. The way they conformed to her frame, the way the color complimented her skin, the way she seemed at ease in them… Realizing I was staring, I trained my eyes to the view behind her instead.
“So, I had a few questions.”
“Okay,” I spoke, relaxing against the door frame and raking my fingers through my beard as I waited for her to speak.
“So, just for clarification…”
“Okay…”
“Will I be… Expected to have sex with you?”
My gaze shifted to her nipples peaking and peeping through the lace bra beneath the silk fabric she wore. “No,” I deposed, though my jaw flexed and my wistful expression spoke differently. She didn’t have to be intimate with me if that’s not what she wanted. I wasn’t in the business of forcing a woman to do anything against her will. The lost prospect did feel disheartening, however. Victoria was a beautiful woman.
“Will we share a bedroom?”
“No,” I sighed, relieved to be clearing everything up beforehand. I couldn’t imagine sharing a bedroom with her, exposing myself, and letting her see all my… unconventional behaviors. Hell no.
Stay your pretty ass over here.
“How will I be protected? How will I know I’m protected? Like what measures–”
“A detail, Beauty. You’ll know you’re protected by the men under my employ assuring your safety. You’ll know by the blessing of you opening your eyes to meet a new day, and arriving back here at the end of it to lay your pretty head to rest.”
She nodded, though her eyes were distant as she searched for more uncertainty for me to reconcile.
“Will you tell me what your connection to Javier was prior to you shooting him?”
My fingers raked through my beard as I considered that. The less she knew, the better for plausible deniability. She sought to understand my actions to put herself at ease. If it would enhance the likelihood of us staying married, I could give her that… “After we’re married,” I acquiesced.
One question after another, I laid her fears to rest.
“Will there be other women if I don’t sleep with you?”
Squinting my eyes, I palmed the crown of my head. “Victoria, there aren’t any women, but be reasonable. If you aren’t having sex with me, why would you care if someone else does?”
Already, I was sure of the answer to that question. It was her ego. It had to be. Otherwise, why the fuck did that matter? Our relationship would only exist on paper.
“Um. I was just wondering what to expect. I know you’re a man. I’m not foolish enough to think you don’t have needs the same as I do. I just want to brace myself for women coming to the house to –”
I could feel my patience waning as we remained on the uncomfortable topic of intimacy.
“Victoria,” I inflected. “I would never subject you to that, but what I choose to do with my dick is none of your concern if you openly reject him. Married or not.”
She took a deep breath. “Okay. So, moving along. You said I’ll have my freedom. Will you allow me access to technology? My phone. A laptop. Can I return to work?”
“After we’re married.”
“Okay. But can I–”
“A million dollars,” I breezed, leaving a look of confusion on her face. I hadn’t moved from my stance against the door frame yet, but figuring I needed to be less relaxed as I made my offer, I stood to my full height, waiting for her response.
“What?” Her eyes flourished, awaiting an explanation.
“Marry me. Stay married for at least a full year, maintain your silence surrounding the events of the last two days, and I will give you a million dollars. After our time comes to an end, you can divorce me and return to your life before I ever came into the picture.”
I didn’t miss the way she blinked several times, the way she swallowed, the way her chest heaved up and down, or the way she gripped her manicured hands. It was an offer she couldn’t refuse. Internally, I chuckled at the Godfather joke I’d made to Supreme on the plane. I needed her to accept it as quickly as possible before my father acted on his threat.