Page 9 of Power of the Mind
“Wow. I’m kidding, but the look on your face is priceless. Why is it you can show up at my house at random for a booty call, but I can’t show up at yours?”
I still didn’t respond.
“Can I show up at yours for a booty call whenever I want?”
“No.” A distinct rasp entered my tone, and the single word came out strangled.
Tallus tsked and shook his head. “And why not, Guns? Doesn’t seem fair. Booty calls should go both ways.”
“I… Because… You can’t… I need…” I growled.
Tallus chuckled. “So, let me get this straight. You can stalk me, show up at my house at random for a Charlie Chaplin fuck whenever you want, but I can’t swing by when the mood hits? Ever?”
I opened my mouth, closed it again, and muttered, “No,” even though I knew it was the wrong answer.
Tallus huffed, stopping short of rolling his eyes. “You’re impossible. Never mind. It’s not why I’m here. You can relax. I have a job for us. Get a pen. Take notes.”
“A… job?”
“Yes.”
“Us?”
“Yes. You and me. Us. You know, like old times when we played at being partners.”
I scowled. “But we’re not—”
“Partners. I know. I hear you. You made it abundantly clear months ago. I didn’t forget.” Tallus arched a brow. “Want the details?”
“Of?”
“The job,” he said slower. “Keep up.”
Unsure what to do, I stared. Blinked. Stared some more.
Tallus stared right back, unwavering and waiting. Way too fucking confident.
Without breaking eye contact, I reached for a pen and notepad. I hated how submissive I was in Tallus’s presence. I hated how I always floundered and scrambled to keep up. I hated the feelings of ineptness and confusion and lust that flowed through my veins when he was near.
“Go.” The word came out more guttural than articulate.
“Okay. First off, I can’t pay you, but if you agree to take this case, then you get free labor in the form of a partner,moi, which includes my undivided attention for however long it takes usto investigate. Sweet deal, huh? You can stop slinking around in the shadows, and I can stop pretending I don’t see you. We can go out for lunch, have riveting conversations, fuck if the urge arises… maybe in a bed once or twice. Have sleepovers. Whatever your stubborn heart desires. We can pretend we’re a regular old couple without any of the awkwardness, and—”
“We’re not a couple.”
“I said pretend.”
“I don’t date.”
“Relax, Guns. Neither do I. That’s not what I’m proposing. Do we have a deal?”
I wasn’t sure I understood what was happening, but I caught myself nodding like always, trapped in Tallus’s web. He was his own planet, with his own gravitational pull, and I was constantly being sucked into his orbit. It was too strong to resist.
“Do we have a deal?” he repeated.
“Yes.” Even though the mere suggestion of lunches out, conversation, and fucking in a bed sent my blood pressure through the roof.
“Good.” Tallus settled a foot on either side of the chair where I sat, nestling them against my thighs. I was trapped. He knew what he was doing and smiled.