CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Jack
“No.” I stood up, walked across the room and leaned against the wall with my arms crossed, looking down at the water far below. “That won’t work for me.”
There was complete silence behind me. I looked at Nico and Carmen Salazar over my shoulder. They were both staring at me.
“What?”
“I don’t think you realize who’s in control here, Mr. Lancaster,” Carmen said in an ice cold voice.
Nico, who was sitting on the edge of Carmen’s desk leaned towards me. “Spoiler alert,” he said, “it’s not you.”
“All I said is that I want her in my house with me. What’s the difference between her having her own condo and having her own suite in my house?”
Carmen leaned back in her chair and eyed me.
She looked beautiful as always. Today she wore a dark purple wrap dress that looked perfect with her coloring.
It also showed just enough skin to be interesting, even though the overall effect was classy, elegant.
Carmen Salazar knew how to put herself together.
“No. The women need their own space away from the auction winners.”
I frowned. “I don’t see why she has to be away from me. I work all day. She’s free to shop, go to the salon, exercise, go to class, whatever else it is she needs to do. She just stays at my house, not in some condo.”
I couldn’t very well explain to Carmen the reason I wanted Daisy close.
Okay, there was more than one reason. I didn’t want her too far away from me at any time.
But the main reason is that I knew she was being stalked.
By someone other than me. Someone that creeped even me out. I needed to know she was safe.
But to tell Carmen that was to reveal just how much I already knew about Daisy’s life. And I got the distinct impression that wouldn’t go over well with her.
Carmen practically snorted. “It’s not some condo, asshole. It’s a luxurious, state-of-the-art condo with a pool, a gym, a sauna, and a couple of restaurants. You should know. Isn’t that where your old fuckpad was?”
I grinned. “Yeah. It’s nice. It’s great, even. But I want Daisy with me or it’s no deal.”
“Then it’s no deal,” Carmen stood up, grabbed the contract I’d just spent the better part of an hour filling out, and walked it over to the shredder in the corner of her office. “There are plenty of men who’ve come forward this week to express interest in Daisy.”
She was just about to shred my contract without so much as blinking an eye. Carmen might be even more of a badass than any of her brothers were.
“Hold on, hold on, hold on.” I stopped her. “Just wait. So, you’re saying I have to follow the rules, huh?”
“For the most part, yes,” she said. “I’m not going to budge on Daisy having her own condo. You can go over there as often as you like. But she has to have a space to herself to unwind or have down time when you’re not around.”
I paced around and thought for a moment. I knew the condos in that building better than the average person. Yes, I had only ever spent time there when I was with a woman. But I knew the security; I knew she would be safe. But what if her stalker lived there? Or gained access to her floor somehow?
“Fine.”
Carmen looked surprised that I’d caved. “Yeah? You want to move forward?”
I ran a hand through my hair, not caring how it looked. “Definitely.” I locked eyes with her and cocked my head to the side. “Wait—did you say ‘for the most part’ I have to follow the rules? What does that mean, exactly?”
“You will give her space, and that means her own condo, bought and paid for by you for the duration of the agreement. You will buy her a car. You will give her an allowance for nice things—clothing, jewelry, lingerie—those sorts of things. You will pay for her spa and beauty appointments. And, of course, whatever else she asks for.” She glanced at me.
“And that’s kind of a lot. She wants her student loans paid off… ”
“I mean, I figured that,” I interrupted, ready to get on with it. Carmen didn’t know it, apparently, but I’d give Daisy whatever she wanted. I caught Nico’s eye, and he shook his head. He seemed to know how I was feeling. Even if he did think I was being ridiculous.
“Just listen,” Carmen snapped at me. “Daisy has five younger sisters, and she’s asking for
college for all of them. She also wants her mom’s flower shop, which is on the brink of bankruptcy, taken care of. And she wants her mom to be checked into some sort of intensive therapy center she found in Arizona. For like a month. That’s in addition to the fees to join the auction.”
My heart melted even more for this woman. “You mean, most of the things she’s asking for are not for herself?” That tracked with what I knew about her.
“Yes,” Carmen nodded. “I had to force her to ask for a condo here in West Bay for after her time with you is up.”
If I had my way, her ‘time with me’ would never be up. But I sure as hell wasn’t going to say that.
“Oh, and a nice vacation somewhere,” Carmen added, looking over the papers in front of her.
I shrugged. “No big deal. I have a house in the Bahamas. We’ll go there.”
“Sounds amazing,” Carmen said wistfully, and I briefly wondered how long it had been since she’d had a vacation herself.
“So, all of that is fine with me. What rules do I not have to follow?”
Carmen’s lips twitched. “You’re only the second person I’ve done this for.
But if you really want Daisy, I think the two of you would be a great match.
I want to see her happy and well cared for.
So, I’m willing to give you some inside information to make sure your form matches really well with hers. ”
“Form?”
“Sexual preferences form.”
“Oh.” I lowered myself in the chair, unsure I was ready for this conversation. “Show me.”
Carmen pushed Daisy’s sheet of sexual likes and dislikes in front of me.
I read over it, trying to ignore how my cock was feeling. When I got to the part where she enjoys a man taking control, I swear I almost came in my pants.
There was nothing I liked more than controlling the situation. Not in a smack the woman around total Dom sort of way, necessarily. I’d never put a name on it. But I was very comfortable with taking the lead, tying women up, and doling out some light punishment if they didn’t do what I asked.
Life with Daisy was sounding better and better.
“You need to notice this,” Carmen said sliding a perfectly manicured nail along a sentence on Daisy’s form that had a checkmark by it.
I read it quickly. It indicated that Daisy didn’t want anyone who was married, had a girlfriend, or planned to date other women while we were together. “That won’t be a problem.”
Her eyebrows almost touched her hairline. “Seriously? That’s considered the checkmark of death with most of our auction participants. Though I have spoken to a few besides you who are willing to go that route for Daisy.”
Oh my God. I wanted their names so I could have them taken care of… I was surprised at the rage that flowed through my veins at the thought of her with someone else.
“Are the rumors true, then?” Carmen asked. “You’ve given up your fuckpad?”
I nodded. “I sold it a couple of weeks ago.”
Nico laughed in disbelief. “You’re going to be happy fucking one woman for a while, Lancaster? That’s not what all the rumors and social media posts say.”
I barely glanced at him. “It won’t be a problem.
” He had no clue. Once I’d seen and interacted with Daisy, she was it for me.
I knew Nico lead a playboy lifestyle. His was way worse than mine had been.
But I knew one day, when he least expected it, some woman would knock him on his ass. I hoped I’d be around to see it.
“Honestly,” Carmen said, comparing the sexual preferences sheet I’d filled out earlier to Daisy’s, “the two of you are very compatible without me having to do any doctoring of the sheets. I think you’ll be quite happy with each other.”
“Sounds great.” I took a deep breath and leaned forward again. “But that brings me to other ways I want to bend the rules.”
Carmen frowned. “I’ve never bent them more than this.” She glanced at her brother, and I saw a look pass between the two of them. “Fine,” she said, tossing her hands in the air. “Let me hear it.”
“I want to examine the condo you pick out before she moves in.”
Carmen frowned. “Why?”
“I want to fill it with all her favorite things.”
Her face softened, while Nico, from the corner of the room, snorted and said something about me being pussy whipped before I’d actually gotten much of the pussy. I ignored him.
“I think we could arrange that. Once I get it decorated and ready, I’ll let you come in and add some personal touches here and there. Are we talking flowers, chocolates, special foods in her fridge, that sort of thing?”
“Yes.” Hell, no. We were talking about tiny cameras I could install where no one would realize they were there. Cameras not meant to spy on her, but to keep her safe. And, I mean, maybe a little spying if I was being honest.
“Okay. We can work that out.” She folded her arms over her impressive chest and leaned back in her chair. “You’re assuming you’re going to win the auction.”
I sat back down in the chair in front of her desk, leaned forward, and balanced my hands on my knees. “I know I’m going to win the auction.”
“How?” Nico looked truly interested. “I’ve seen the list of men who are coming. You’re one of the richest, but there are plenty of others who could drop big money if they decide they want her.”
I smirked at him. “I have a plan.”
Carmen heaved out a sigh and looked at her brother. “This fucking friend of yours is causing problems.”
Nico held up his hands. “I promise, he’s good for the reputation of the club or I wouldn’t be doing all of this.”
“He better be.” Carmen pursed her lips. “What’s your plan?”
And I told them.