Page 81 of The C Agreement

“Where did Em and Rayne go tonight?” I pried, hoping to sound casual.

Rayne had been acting differently the past week. She’d been initiating sex left and right with me, and while I enjoyed it—I was a healthy man—it struck me that she was using sex to avoid something. When I asked her about it, she told me it was because her lessons were almost over and she wanted to get the most out of them, but I didn’t quite buy it.

Something had changed, but I couldn’t figure out what it was. And I was running short on time to find out.

I was hoping a night with Em would make her feel better.

Beau didn’t even look away from the TV when he said, “Em is at dinner with her friends, and Rayne is on a date.”

What?!

I counted to five so I wouldn’t accidentally yell when I asked, “Rayne is on a date? I thought she was with Em tonight.”

She hadn’t said anything to me about going on a fucking date. She’d just let me assume she was hanging with Em after we talked about it at the hospital. It seemed she’d forgotten the part of our deal where she wasmine.

“Em asked, but she said no. I guess a friend set her up with him.”

She also hadn’t mentioned that a friend even wanted to set her up with someone. I was furious, and I had to bite my tongue so I didn’t ask more questions. The last thing I needed was for Beau to be suspicious.

I grabbed my phone from where I had set it on the coffee table.

Me:Where the fuck are you? And don’t say with Em. I know you’re not with her.

Rayne:I wasn’t going to. You assumed I was hanging with Em, but you never asked.

Me:You also didn’t correct me. Now, tell me where the fuck you are.

Rayne:If you must know, I’m on a date.

Me:What the fuck, Rayne? You promised you were mine for the month.

Rayne:No, I promised my pussy and my body were yours. I’m not going to have sex with him. And the month is almost over. I have to start dating sometime.

Me:Yeah. AFTER Sunday.

Rayne:Too late. I’m already here.

The urge to find her so I could throw her over my lap and spank her ass until it was red was strong. Never in my life had I wanted to punish a woman so badly.

Me:Where is here?

Three dots formed but went away. It happened again, and I pictured her getting sidetracked by some handsome guy.

But when the message popped up, I realized why she’d taken so long to text me.

Rayne:He took me to Iron House.

* * *

RAYNE

Hugh laughed at something he’d said, and I felt awful for not listening. Despite my feelings for Cade, I had really wanted to give this date a chance. And I might have if, ten minutes in, the very man who haunted my thoughts hadn’t texted me.

So as not to be rude, I had excused myself to use the ladies’ room while I messaged Cade. But I had to come back after I told him I was eating at his restaurant. If I had waited any longer, Hugh would have thought I drowned in the toilet. Or worse.

But it didn’t matter because Cade hadn’t answered. Even though my smartwatch would vibrate if I had an incoming text, I couldn’t stop peeking at it under the tablecloth.

Which made me a real shit. I should have waited one more week for this date instead of trying to force myself to forget about a man who I was going to see later tonight anyway.