Chapter 17
Anastasia standsbefore me wearing a pair of baby pink athletic shorts that hug her figure perfectly and a matching slouchy sweatshirt. She wears her hair down and tiny gold hoop earrings. Though Brinkley, cradled in her arms, is her number-one accessory. As she speaks, fast and quick, with that oh-so-familiar high-pitched voice of hers, I can’t help but take her in—every little detail. It’s been too long since I’ve truly been in her presence.
After Saturday night, we both needed time to think, time to cool off. I don’t want her rushing into anything she’s not comfortable with. In truth, it’d probably be best if we both forgot that night ever happened, go back to being the pain in each other’s ass and nothing more. But this week has proven to me I can’t forget. Something between us has changed, or maybe it’s just me who’s different. It’s obvious my plan to drive her away has failed, and for the first time, I’m able to admit that I don’t want her to leave. But what do I want? To protect her? To please her? To be pleased by her? Or is this something else entirely? Even as I debate it, I know the answer. I’m just not ready to say it, out loud or internally.
“And finally,” Anastasia says, taking a deep breath before making her last demand, “you must take Brinkley outside to potty two to three times per day. And don’t forget to use the poop bags. The last thing New Orleans needs is a new ingredient added to its iconic stench.”
“Ha, yeah, fuck that,” I say, leaning back in my chair. I cross my arms over my chest in defiance. She’s lost her mind. Handyman work is one thing, and seeing as I’m the one who made sure no one would serve her, it’s only right I make up for it now. But playing butler to the little beast is one step too far. “I must not have done a good enough job Saturday night if you’re asking for all that.”
She tilts her chin up and raises her brow as if to challenge me. “Well, if we both derive pleasure from our time together, then I would be following your rules for nothing in return. If you want me to give you and only you my body, if you want me to give up underwear, and remain as emotionless and detached as you, then I require certain things. Now, I will leave you to consider my terms. You have the same amount of time as you gave me—one week.”
Fuck me. I can’t go another week without her. Like her brother, she drives a hard bargain. It only makes me like her more. With the other women I’ve had these types of arrangements with they’ve never been anything special. Maybe that makes me an asshole. Hell, I already know I am one. With them, it was just about pleasure, and to my defense, they knew it. But with Ana, it’s something more, even if I claim it isn’t. I want her. She’s the only woman who could come to me and negotiate. Anyone else I’d walk away from. But I can’t walk away from her, and I don’t want her to walk away from me.
Ana turns to leave, and I call out to her. “Anastasia.” She stops then and slowly turns back to me. Gone is her pride and smugness. Now, her lips part in anticipation and her cheeks blush pink. The look on her face reminds me of our time together so much so I have to adjust myself in my chair to reposition my dick. I look her up and down. As I do, desire floods my veins like a drug I’ve become all too addicted to. Finally, I shift my attention to Brinkley. Even more than agreeing to be Anastasia’s protector—as if I had a choice—I cannot believe what I’m about to consent to. Though, as Anastasia’s sweet scent fills the space between us, I know I have no choice in this matter either. I’d do anything to be with her again. It’s then that I return my eyes to hers and extend my hand.
“Your terms have been accepted, Ms. Cross.” A small smile spreads across her face as we shake on it. Though the cool touch of her hand and slight quiver of her lips lets me know she’s still nervous for what’s to come. Curious, but nervous.
“Perfect. Now, get up. We’ve got a lot of?—”
“Anastasia,” I say once more, my voice soft as I cut her off. I open my palm. Her brows furrow as she looks at it, confused, and I shift my gaze to her thighs. I wasn’t joking about the no-underwear thing. Though once she gets her store open and goes back to wearing short skirts on the daily, I may have to renegotiate. Or keep a first aid kit handy because I’ll pummel any man who dares to look at what’s mine.
“Oh, right,” she says, lowering her gaze. Her tone is nonchalant, but her body language reveals she’s a bit more flustered than she’d like to admit. Hmm, I kind of like getting under her skin—in more ways than one—but I do hope she can get more comfortable with me. Perhaps the alcohol had more of an effect on her last weekend than I’d realized. If she hadn’t made such strong demands of her own, I might be inclined to make an exception for her. But as she shoves Brinkley into my arms, I have no regrets.
Brinkley growls and nips at me as Ana starts to leave. Alright, fucker. I don’t like it either, but it was your mother’s idea. “Close the door,” I tell her. “I want to see you take them off.” Ana’s back arches as my words hit her.
“Um, okay,” she says, her voice shaky. She pulls the door closed, twisting the lock on the knob for an extra sense of security.
“You don’t have to worry about anyone else, Ana,” I tell her. “When I said no other man is allowed to touch you, I meant that as a directive and a promise. No one touches what’s mine.”
“Or what, you’ll kill them?” she asks. Her voice is tinged with sarcasm, but I don’t deny her assumption. It’s the way of our world, even though she’s yet to learn my place in it. She nods. “Well, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
“Agreed. Now, turn around. I want to get a good look at that ass when you slip them off.”
“You’re so crude.”
“You love it.”
“You’re not wrong,” she admits. “I’m already wet.” Fuck, don’t say that. I’ve still got to live up to my end of the bargain before I allow myself to touch her again. At least, start to. But, as she brings her fingers to the top of her shorts, I question if I’ll be able to make it upstairs without first bending her over this desk.
Slowly, she slides her shorts down, bending over slightly as she does, giving me the perfect view of her bouncy little ass. “That’s right, baby. Just like that. Bend over for me.” She follows my command as I move to stand behind her. She places her hands on the chair in front of her to brace herself. Thankfully, Brinkley doesn’t start off on another one of his barking fits as he roams the floor of my office.
With Ana in the perfect position, I bring my hands to the top of her lacy underwear and slip them down for her, desperate to touch her soft skin. I lower myself to my knees behind her, not letting go of her underwear until she steps out of them. I place them in my pocket and then proceed to inspect the wetness Ana claims to feel. As I bring my tongue to her sweet little pussy, Ana moans and I immediately taste it—the slippery substance that lets me know she truly wants this. This is all I need. We can work through the nervousness together.
I give her a few good licks from behind, slurping up her essence and eliciting more verbal responses from her. And then, exercising every shred of self-control I have, I pull away from her. “Alright, I’ll get my toolbox.”
“Damon,” she groans, spinning around to face me. I laugh.
“Don’t worry, you won’t leave unsatisfied. But if I start with you now, we won’t get anything done upstairs.”
“Fine.” She rolls her eyes in concession and puts her shorts back on. They ride up just as I hoped they would, outlining the crevices of her pussy and cupping her ass to perfection. For the first time, my own rule may come back to bite me. Anastasia Cross is simply irresistible to me.
As we make our way upstairs, exchanging flirty looks here and there, some of the tension in my muscles dissolves with the establishment of our new arrangement. Now I don’t have to feel like I’m crossing a line when I desire her, touch her, spank her. My sense of control has been restored. And yet, I know this is going to be a problem as it can only ever come to an end—whether we want it to or not. But, for today, and every day after until it blows up in my face, I’m going to enjoy it and her.