Chapter 10
ten
Christian.
I headed to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator to get the chocolate cheesecake. After I unboxed it, I put the entire thing on a plate, added two forks, and grabbed an additional bottle of wine before returning to the dining room.
"Dessert," I announced and set the cheesecake down between us.
After she examined it she lifted her brow and peered at me. "Did you make that too?"
"No, my skills in the kitchen are not that damn good. This is from Seasonal Sweets downtown."
"Honesty. I appreciate that."
I poured more wine into our glasses. "I only lie when absolutely necessary and never about dessert."
She smiled and I felt it all over. I had seen her confident, nervous and unraveling while I had my mouth on her, but this unguarded relaxed moment was new. I enjoyed the visual appreciating how damn beautiful she truly was.
"It looks good." She picked up a fork and dove in.
"It is. Probably the best in the city."
I watched her take the first few bites, closing her eyes briefly to savor the taste while I savored the sight of her.
"You were right. It's so damn good."
"I'm almost never wrong."
She arched her brow. "Modest too."
"Modesty is overrated."
"So is arrogance."
I chuckled hating how much this woman made me want to smile all the gotdamn time. "Confidence not arrogance. Similar but not the same."
"School me then, Mr. Devereaux?" Those beautiful browns raked over my face while her smile appeared after she slid the fork from between those pretty ass lips, capturing what was left of the cheesecake she just enjoyed.
"Arrogance is thinking you're better than everyone else. Confidence is knowing your worth, and because I know my worth, I know I'm better than everyone else."
She burst out laughing and rolled her eyes, taking another bite. "And which category does forcing someone to live with you fall under?"
"I didn't force you. You agreed."
"Under duress."
"Was it duress or taking advantage of a prime opportunity? Be honest, Scotlyn. You want to be here as much as I want you here."
Her eyes met mine but she didn't agree or disagree. She took the easy way out and changed the subject.
"Is there a story with this house?"
"Not one that's interesting. My father had it built the year after he married my mother because she demanded something that proved how deep his pockets were. She had the entire thing gutted and remodeled after my siblings and I were grown."
"Sounds like my father."
"Flashy?"
She wiped cheesecake from her mouth then lifted her wine, taking some down.
"Not really flashy but he does like to put our family's deep pockets on display.
When I moved out of our family home into the city, he and I had a month-long argument because he wanted me to purchase an overpriced penthouse in Manhattan.
I chose a brownstone in the suburbs because it was just me.
He was pissed that a Whitney was living in such menial accommodations. "
"He and my mother have a lot in common. She refuses to live here but has it written in both my father's will and hers that we can't sell the place under any circumstances. The Devereauxs have a standard. Which I'm sure you can tell." I circled my finger in the air and she smiled.
"It's a really nice house."
" Estate . My mother would put a hit out on you for calling this a house. It's an experience…" I mocked my mother and Scotlyn grinned.
"From what I've seen, I would have to agree."
"You've barely seen any of it. Trust me, there's so much more over the top shit here you can't even begin to imagine."
"Sounds very rich-ish."
"Would you like a tour?"
"I would."
I stood and extended my hand to help her up.
"Come on. We'll start with where you'll be staying."
We walked through the house, past the main staircase and down a hallway to the west wing.
"This is my area and the entire section was recently renovated. It has two bedrooms, my study, a gym, and private access to both the indoor and outdoor pools."
"Why the renovation?"
The truth was complicated but there was no point in lying. I hated my ex-wife and anything associated with her. I wanted a reset. "After my divorce, I needed a change. I didn't want reminders of how much time I lost loving someone who didn't give a damn about loving me."
I watched her expecting an adverse reaction because even though my words were true, they were still pretty harsh.
"I get that." Her eyes met mine for a brief minute and I nodded and kept going.
"This is yours." I opened a door to a room with a king-sized bed, sitting area, and private bathroom.
The decor was neutral with cream walls, tan and cream bedding, and natural wood furniture.
Simple but still nice. She walked in and moved her fingers over the dresser then smiled at me over her shoulder. "It's beautiful in here."
You're beautiful in here…
"I'm glad you approve. Everything is new. You'll be the first person to stay here."
"I wasn't going to ask."
I arched my brow and she smiled, big as hell. "I didn't say I wasn't going to think about who else might have been in that bed, just that I wouldn't ask."
I chuckled and nodded.
"Why two bedrooms in your private wing?"
"Each one has two. That's how the house was designed. I told you my mother was extra as fuck. There are two outdoor pools and one indoor. Two tennis courts, two racquetball rooms, two indoor basketball gyms; both are full court."
"Shit."
"Makes no damn sense but it worked with the so-called design plans she had for balancing each wing. Overkill, because no one uses that shit."
She grinned and moved around the room. I watched her exploring the space while I explored her.
"I'm out of my element with all this.”
“How are you out of your element? I’m well aware that the Whitney empire is much larger than my family’s.”
“Not your house. This, us. It doesn't make sense."
"What doesn't make sense?"
"Why do you want this contract with me?"
It was a fair question and one I'd been asking myself since Giselle first mentioned her to me. I had never wanted a submissive contract before but I damn sure wanted this one.
I wanted Scotlyn but I also didn't know anything definite outside of wanting her.
"I honestly don't have a simple answer I can give you."
I didn't even have a fucking answer at all…
"Try."
"You're not what I expected."
"In what way?"
"You're beautiful of course, sexy as hell, but I can find that anywhere. I think the thing I like the most is you're confident but when we were together last night, you surrendered beautifully. It's hard to explain but I'm attracted to both."
"That's not a reason to want a contract.
You've been attracted to women before, Christian.
" The tightness in her voice brought a smile to my face.
She was jealous with the thought of me being attracted to other women.
It made me so fucking happy that she was being territorial because she was invested regardless of whether or not she was willing to accept that she was.
"Yeah, I have, but finding someone who matches and challenges me is different."
"So this is about the challenge?"
"Part of it, yeah, but it's also about chemistry. We have it, Scotlyn. Denying that shit would be pointless."
"Chemistry doesn't always mean compatibility."
"True but this isn't just about compatibility.
It's more or less finding someone who aligns with your specific needs and enjoying it for what it's worth.
Your time here and with me is temporary.
We both get to enjoy the chemistry until this contract ends, and at this point in my life, that's really all I can commit to.
" I kept my eyes trained on hers, waiting.
"You make it sound too damn simple."
"Because it is. Come on, I'll show you the rest of my wing and we can tour the rest of the house after you get settled.
" We moved through the rest and she had the cutest smile on her face the entire time, like she was trying to mentally catalog everything.
She wouldn't right away. Each wing was five thousand square feet and I still didn't know every inch of it and I'd lived here all my life.
"The outdoor pool connects here." I pointed to glass doors that led to a patio. "It's heated year-round."
"Definitely an experience." She grinned and I chuckled, nodding.
"Like I said, extra as fuck."
We walked back toward her room and Scotlyn was yawning. Either it was the wine or she was overwhelmed but that was cool. I needed time to think about what the hell I was doing.
"Tired?"
"It's been a long day."
"You're anxious about this?"
She glanced at me and frowned. "This is a lot?"
"You second guessing?"
"I'm absolutely second guessing but I'm also not going to change my mind."
"Good because I have a lot of plans for you that I know you're going to thoroughly enjoy."
She narrowed her eyes and grilled me hard. "You're not helping."
"I wasn't trying to. I was acknowledging your feelings and my plans."
As soon as we made it back to her room, I had a text from Miles. I responded, telling him where to meet us.
"Your things have arrived. Miles is about to bring them up."
She nodded, looking even more overwhelmed. I almost fucking laughed because I would bet everything I owned she was trying to remember the layout of my wing to consider her getaway options. I decided to ease her mind.
"Scotlyn." I waited until she met my eyes. "Everything that happens between us will be consensual. You control how far this goes, both professionally and personally."
"Do I? You're the Dom."
"And you're the one with the safe words. Power dynamics only work when both sides agree to them."
A knock at the door interrupted us. Miles entered with several suitcases and a smug ass grin on his face that he didn't try to hide. I was going to hear about this shit.
"Your personal items are in these two bags," he said to Scotlyn. "The rest will be brought up shortly."
"Thank you, Miles."