8. Henri
HENRI
“ Y ou can’t be serious.”
“I am very serious. You’ll get eight thousand at the end of the first week and the rest when our agreement ends.”
“But that’s…”
“More money than you could make doing anything else for two weeks.”
“It’s… very generous, but I have some questions.” It was too good to be true, and that meant there had to be a catch.
“Ask your questions.”
I took another bite of omelet while I thought, but it was hard to swallow. “I would stay here for the two weeks?”
“We’ll either be here or at my family’s home in Metairie. I have a suite there as well.”
“Okay. Will I be working twenty-four seven?”
He grinned. “I will occasionally let you sleep.”
“That’s… good.”
“Along with having you at my disposal for these weeks, I will require absolute discretion from you. You aren’t to speak of anything that happens here.”
I could live with that. “And you will pay me eighteen thousand dollars?”
“I will.”
“And no sharing.”
His expression hardened. “No one touches you but me. You’re mine.”
Jesus. Why was that so hot?
“One more thing.” Remington’s tone told me I wouldn’t like his final stipulation.
Instinctively, I took a step back. “What is it?”
“I get to have your ass.”
I’d been thinking he was going to ask for something kinky or ask me to do something illegal—or more illegal than fucking him for money. I should have been prepared for his request, but I wasn’t. “I… um…”
“I want to be the first man to fuck you.”
I swallowed hard. I should say no, but the money he was offering me would be more than enough to get me off the street. I wouldn’t have to go with random men anymore. I could get a new place to live and even have the breathing room to find another job, one that didn’t scare the fuck out of me.
What was I waiting for anyway? Did I think some perfect man was going to come along, sweep me off my feet, and make my first time so special that lights flashed and lovebirds sang? I never meant to wait so long to try anal, but once I came to New Orleans, I swore it wouldn’t happen with a customer.
Telling myself Remington was different was dangerous. He was a man who had hired me, but I liked him. I’d enjoyed being in bed with him. Would it be so bad for him to be my first? “Anything else?”
Remington slowly assessed me. “No condoms.”
My heart pounded against my chest. That was wrong, really wrong, but the thought of him taking me with no barrier between us had my cock starting to plump.
It would make my first time even more intense.
I didn’t have to be experienced to know that.
The heat of him, the feel of his cum inside me, would be incredible, but if I had him like that, with that added layer of intimacy, how much harder would it be to walk away in two weeks.
At least I’d be walking away a hell of a lot richer, and it wasn’t like staying would be a choice. Once Remington was done with me, I’d be back on my own.
I was still on my own, even there. This wasn’t a relationship; it was a business arrangement. I had to remember that, but if I was struggling to make that distinction after a single night, what would it be like after more?
“Henri?”
I realized he was waiting for an answer from me. “So, this isn’t like last night when you asked but I didn’t actually have a choice?”
“You will stay with me, but I want to hear you say it, and I want you to agree to my terms.”
I licked my lips. Was I going to give him what he wanted? Would he really keep me there if I said no? I had no doubt he could. If I didn’t agree, would I be paid? I needed the money, and… I wanted to stay. I just worried it was my soul I was selling instead of my body.
“I agree to your bargain. Two weeks for eighteen thousand more. That’s twenty thousand total.”
His lips quirked up in a smile. “That’s right. It is.”
He pulled out his wallet and counted out two thousand dollars. “There. I’ve settled last night’s debt.”
“You had that in your wallet?” Who carried around that much cash?
Criminals. I had no doubt he was involved in something shady. I just didn’t know what.
He shrugged. “I like to be prepared.”
“That’s a lot of preparation.”
He watched me, looking expectant.
“What now?”
“I’m still waiting for you to agree to the full bargain.”
“I just did.”
Remington shook his head.
I knew what he meant, but I didn’t want to say it.
Remington continued to watch me, tapping his foot with impatience.
He was going to force me to say the words.
Why was that a barrier for me? I was willing to do it, to let him go where no man had gone before.
I was willing to stay there with him, to be available whenever he wanted me for whatever he wanted.
Panic rose in my chest. What exactly would that entail?
What was I agreeing to? “What if I have some stipulations?”
He frowned. “That’s not how this works.”
“Last night you promised you wouldn’t hurt me.”
“Ah. What if I promise I won’t hurt you in any way you don’t like?”
This man was fucking devious because I wanted to respond that there wasn’t any way he could hurt me that I would like, but with him, I wasn’t sure that was true. “I want your word that I’ll be free to go at the end of two weeks.”
“I promise you that unless you’re in danger, I will let you go.”
“Will you be the one to decide if I’m in danger?”
“Henri, I think you know I’m a man with some…
controversial business pursuits. Being around me is dangerous.
Sometimes people don’t like my choices, and sometimes they go after people close to me when I piss them off.
I will not allow you to be hurt because of me.
Otherwise, you have my word that after two weeks I will not force you to stay with me. ”
He spoke more slowly than usual as if he was reluctant to give me that promise. Why? Did he actually think he would want me to stay longer than that? He could always ask instead of demanding if he did.
There were probably many other stipulations I should make, but I knew it was mostly pointless. Remington would do what he wanted, and unless I came up with a clever plan to escape when his home was guarded at all times, I would have to go along with it.
“I agree to give you my body, all of it, and to stay with you twenty-four hours a day for two weeks. After that, I’ll leave here eighteen thousand dollars richer.”
Remington gave me a predatory smile, and my mind screamed for me to run, even though I doubted I’d make it more than a few steps.
“We’re going to need to take care of several things since you’re extending your stay.”
I didn’t like how ominous that sounded.
“First, I need to attend a business meeting. You may use the house freely with the exception of my office. The door is locked, and it will stay that way.”
He seemed to want a response. “Yes, sir.”
“Very good. While I’m gone, I’ll be sending a nurse to take blood for an STD panel.
When my meeting is over, I’m going to take you shopping.
You’re going to need things to wear during the next few weeks for the rare occasions when I don’t want you naked.
By the time we have you properly attired, I will have your test results.
And then you’re going to accompany me to dinner with an associate and his boyfriend. ”
There was no way I could hide my surprise.
Remington laughed. “That wasn’t what you were expecting, was it?”
“Not at all.”
“Imagine how excited you will be after waiting to be fucked, thinking about it, wondering what it will be like all day, all through dinner, dessert, drinks. By the time I bring you back here, you’ll be so ready to go, you won’t even hesitate to open yourself for me.”
Jesus, would the whole two weeks be like this, him talking this way to me and making me want him all the time?