6. Atticus
Chapter 6
Atticus
M y eyes bore into Lemon as she stares back at me, the disbelief and hesitance clear on her face at my words. It’s almost too sweet seeing that spark of resistance mingled with desperation. She doesn’t yet know the depth of my need for control, but she will.
She shifts uneasily in the water, causing her breasts to sway in the water and peek out. “What kind of proposition?”
I’m still on the ledge of the pool feet cutting through the cool water as I let the silence build between us.
“You’ll stay here with me and Ezra whenever he can pull himself away from his businesses. But there will be rules.”
Her eyes widen, those striking green pools reflecting both confusion and curiosity. I take a moment to appreciate how much younger than me she is. It should disturb me, knowing the absolute filth running through my mind about her. A fleeting hesitation flits through my mind, but my need to possess everything around me quickly quashes it. The sins of the father must be paid.
“You’ll have stability,” I continue, my tone calm and authoritative. “A place to live. No need to worry about money or safety.”
Her eyes widen slightly, but she keeps her composure. "What do you mean?"
"Exactly what it sounds like," I reply, letting my eyes rake over her form. She's beautiful in that vulnerable, untamed way. "You've got nowhere else to go, and we can offer you a great deal of things."
"And what do you get out of it?" she asks, skepticism dripping from her words.
"I always knew you were smart and just lacked proper application." My gaze locks onto hers, unyielding. "You'll follow my rules. And you'll belong to Ezra and I."
"Belong to you?" Her voice quivers, just a bit. It's music to my ears.
"Yes," I say, leaning forward slightly, letting the intensity of my words sink in. "You obey us. You submit to our authority."
She swallows hard, looking away momentarily. "And if I refuse?"
"Then you're on your own," I say, my tone soft but edged with steel. "But we both know that's not a real option for you."
Silence stretches between us, heavy and suffocating. The only sound is the gentle lapping of the water against the pool's edge. I watch her, savoring her turmoil.
"Why me?" she finally asks, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Because you need us," I say simply. "And because we want you.”
Lemon's breath catches, her chest rising and falling more rapidly as she absorbs the weight of my words. I relish this moment, the raw vulnerability etched on her face. Her fingers skim the surface of the water, almost absentmindedly, creating gentle ripples that distort her reflection.
She paces back and forth through the water before finally sitting on the steps and drawing her knees closer to her chest, inadvertently exposing more of her creamy skin as she moves. A shiver runs through her, but whether it’s from the coolness of the water or the illicit proposition I’ve laid out before her, I can’t tell.
Maybe both.
Her eyes dart toward me before she wets her lips nervously.
"And these…rules?" she asks, her voice tentative but probing, daring to peel back another layer of this agreement.
I lean forward slightly, putting my arms across my knees and feeling the water with the tips of my fingers as I look into those bewildered eyes.
"First, your safety is paramount. There will be no wandering off without notifying either of us. You’ll have a curfew. You’ll check in regularly. Understood?"
"Understood," she whispers.
"Good." I lean in closer. The scent of chlorine mingles with my cologne. "Second, you'll obey us. When we give an order, you follow it. No questions asked."
Her breath hitches. "And if I don't?"
"Then there will be consequences." My voice drops lower, more menacing. "Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes," she breathes, barely audible.
"Perfect," I continue, savoring the control, the authority. "Lastly, and most importantly, you will submit to us. Both of us. "
"Are you serious?" she asks, voice quivering but laced with defiance.
"Dead serious," I reply. "The rules are simple. You do as you're told. You dress how we want you to dress—or not dress at all when we deem it necessary. Your body is ours to explore and command whenever and however we see fit. Your life's been a shitshow lately. You need someone to steer the damn ship."
"Ezra too?" Her eyes flicker, searching to see if I’m serious.
"Yes, Ezra too," I confirm, my tone leaving no room for doubt. "We're a package deal. Two for one special, if you will."
Lemon's face flushes a deep crimson, the shock fighting its way to the top. She bites her lower lip, a gesture more telling than any words she could muster. It's almost as if she's considering the weight of her dignity against the stakes of survival.
"And if I agree," she finally utters, her voice trembling, "will you…will you pay for everything for my father's defense case?"
I pause, letting her request sink in. It's a desperate plea; one last grasp at hope in the midst of havoc. Her willingness to barter anything for a semblance of power over her life will be her undoing.
I straighten up, my gaze piercing into hers. "Yes," I say with unyielding conviction. "I will ensure your father gets his due process. I have the resources, the connections. I can make it happen." I soften my voice just a fraction, almost tenderly. "But in exchange, lemon drop, you must pledge your obedience—your body and your integrity."
Her eyes close for a brief moment as she inhales deeply, trying to steady herself against the feelings brewing inside her. Tears threaten to spill over, but she fights them back valiantly.
She looks up at me, eyes pleading yet resolved. "That’s not fair," she whispers shakily.
"Life isn’t fair," I counter swiftly. "But this is your reality now." I lean back on my hands, casually glancing at every inch of her I can see. I can’t wait to feel every dip and curve of her softness at my mercy. "Give me your submission, and in return, you save what's left of your family."
A tremor runs through her at the bluntness of my words, but she fights to maintain composure. There's a fire behind those eyes. A fire I intend to stoke until it burns solely for me and Ezra.
"That's…that's a lot to take in," she stammers, looking away, her fragility on full display.
"Which is why there's a little stack of papers," I add casually, like discussing dinner plans. "An agreement. Outlining everything including my expectations."
"So like a contract?" she echoes, disbelief coloring her tone.
"Yes, just like a contract and terms are binding," I repeat, holding her gaze.
She laughs bitterly. "You can have literally anyone you want and you want me?"
"Yes," I say, unwavering, "for all the wrong reasons and I can admit that, but you aren’t a child. You’re a grown woman and I didn’t get where I am without taking advantage of what’s in front of me."
"By controlling me?" she challenges, her eyes blazing now.
"By protecting you," I correct, my voice hard and resolute. "And yes, by possessing you. Completely."
"Think about it," Ezra chimes in, appearing as if from nowhere. "You're not exactly swimming in options here, bellezza. Besides, you might find you enjoy it."
"Enjoy being confined?" She scoffs.
"Enjoy being desired," I counter, my tone softening just a fraction. "Consumed. We can play coy, but we both know you got a taste of what it is to be under my hand last night."
“What’s the catch?” she questions. Smart girl, but I’ve got many years on her.
"Catch?" I chuckle, running a hand through my hair. "The only catch here is that you're going to have to decide if you want this. No bullshit."
"And if I don't?" She squares her shoulders, trying to muster some semblance of defiance.
"Then your bags will be packed and left with the doorman," I say, my tone deadly serious. "No halfway measures here. You're in or you're out."
"That's..." she trails off, her gaze dropping to the water around my calves.
"That’s life, lemon drop," I reply, a small smirk playing at the corner of my lips. "Think about it. You've got one week."
"On—one week?" Her voice wavers, betraying her rattled state.
"That's right. I was only going to give you seventy-two hours, but the playboy here curried extra time in your favor," I say, standing up and shaking off the water from my feet. "Tick-tock, Lemon. Make your choice."