Chapter 8 #2
Somehow, my legs manage to hold me upright. Did he say something about being pregnant?
“I need an assistant,” he states, totally changing the subject.
That’s another odd sentence I can’t decipher. “Okay.” I assume he’s going to hire someone.
“Turns out, this job is monstrous. I need to be all over the place at once. Someone is going to have to work the phones and greet people when they come to the office.”
I glance out the small window over the sink. “I assume that double-wide being placed next to the garage is your office.”
“Yep.”
“So, you’re going to hire an assistant?” Why are we discussing this?
“Nope. You’re going to be my assistant.”
My eyes bug out. “Me?”
“Yeah. Why not?” He takes another step back. The place isn’t big enough for him to put any significant distance between us, but there are a few feet now. He plants his feet wide and crosses his arms. His narrow-eyed expression is intense enough to melt most humans on the spot.
I can’t think of anything I’d like more than to be Haden’s assistant. The idea never occurred to me before this moment. But, he has it all worked out. “Are you asking me?”
He gives me that slow smirk. “Nope.” His gaze lowers to trail down my body.
Now that he’s taken my mug away, I’m empty-handed and fidgeting. I fist my hands, my fingers digging into my palms at my sides. I narrow my gaze at him. Two can play at this standoff. “You’re never going to ask me whether I want to do something or not again in my life, are you?”
“Not often,” he concedes.
“So you talked to Brody and he spoke to Dallas. Sounds like the three of you have it all worked out.”
“Pretty much.”
My heart is pounding. What I want to do is one of those excited stand-in-place dances.
The kind of thing you do when you’re alone and no one can see your private celebration.
But I’m not alone, and I don’t want to divulge how happy I am so blatantly.
This man needs some pushback from me. “The last thing you told me was to go to my room and think because you weren’t the right man for me. ”
He nods. “I did.”
“You’re very cryptic, Haden.” It’s bizarre that he has said so little while making me horny in doing so.
He shrugs. “Did you think about what I said?”
“Yes. Most of the night.”
“Did you come out here this morning wearing that thin dress without a bra and panties to entice me? Did you position yourself next to the RV because you wanted to tell me you’d changed your mind and have decided you don’t want what I’m offering?”
Damn him.
I can’t stand still any longer. He’s unnerving. I finally cross my arms.
He shakes his head. “Lower your hands, jitterbug.”
My heart races. His voice is always soft and firm when he calls me jitterbug. And I always obey him.
His gaze comes to my chest. Why the hell did I think it would be a good idea not to wear a bra?
It feels like we’re in a standoff, negotiating a business merger. It’s on the verge of tipping in either direction. Except that’s not true. We’re negotiating the rest of our lives. There’s no doubt which way it will go. This faceoff is just a game.
The air sizzles between us. I shiver as if there’s an electric current in the small space.
He doesn’t wait for me to answer. It’s not necessary. He’s right. I dressed to entice him and then stood outside his home to wait for him to notice me. I didn’t do that so I could tell him to get lost.
“You’re mine, Emilia.”
I gasp. His voice… So firm. There’s no wavering.
“I stayed up half the night, too, jitterbug.” That soft tone again. “I rehashed everything we said. Everything we did last night. No one has ever reacted as strongly to my dominance as you have. I’m just stating the facts. You’re mine.”
“And…what does that mean?” I whisper.
“It means you aren’t going to have any more coffee because when I fuck you, I’m going to fuck you bare, and you will get pregnant.
It means you’re going to go back to your room and change out of this dress because I don’t want anyone else to see your pert little nipples.
It means you’re going to stay in Wilde and be my assistant so that I always know where you are. You’ll be with me.
“I know you love kids. That’s why you got a degree in early-childhood education.
You and I are going to have a bunch of them.
So are all the other couples living here.
In about nine months, there will be so many babies in the Wilde mansion that you’ll never feel like you got cheated out of doing what you love. ”
I can’t breathe.
He takes a step closer and reaches out to hold my biceps. “It means we’re going to spend every moment possible together because the last twelve hours without you made me feel empty.”
I hold his gaze, afraid to blink, wondering if I’m still asleep.
He licks his lips. “If I didn’t need to go supervise the office placement right now, I would go upstairs with you, pick out your clothes, and fucking dress you myself.
Instead, I’m telling you. Go change. Jeans, T-shirt, and tennis shoes.
I don’t want you in a dress on the jobsite. Save your dresses for dinner.”
“Yes, Sir,” I murmur, trembling as those words slip out of my mouth so naturally.
He smiles. “Bra and panties, too, naughty girl.”
I roll my eyes.
He lifts a brow. “Do I need to spank you first?”
“No, Sir.” Only the thin wall of this RV separates us from my cousins and brothers. There’s no telling who might be standing outside. They could be waiting for Haden to reappear. If he spanked me, I’d probably moan or cry out.
One of his hands slides from my bicep to my breast. The only contact I get is him flicking his thumb over my peaked nipple. “This is so fucking sexy, jitterbug. You may wear all the cotton dresses you want with nothing under them when we’re alone. Don’t do it in front of other people. Understood?”
“Yes, Sir,” I whisper. I’m ten times hornier now from nothing more than that small touch.
Haden steps back and points toward the table. “Bend over. Hands on the surface.”
I gasp, hesitating.
He lifts the brow again. I wonder how patient he plans to be while I stumble every time he orders me around.
When I finally do as I’m told, I’m not surprised for him to stand to the side of me and push my dress up to the small of my back. He just told me he doesn’t have time to spank me, though, so I’m confused.
He palms my ass, smoothing his hand over the skin. “I’m just checking to see how pink your bottom is this morning.”
I shudder as he scrutinizes me.
“Will it hurt to put panties on, jitterbug?”
“Probably.”
“Do it anyway. It will be good for you. The elastic will remind you to behave. You have a naughty side that I’m going to enjoy taming.”
I bite my lip. My arousal is running down my inner thighs.
Haden rounds behind me, squats low so his face is inches from my butt, and grips my thighs. “Spread your legs.”
Holding my breath, I follow his instruction. It doesn’t matter what his intentions are. I can’t disobey him. It’s like I’m wired to follow Haden’s orders.
“Good girl,” he praises. He moves one hand to grip my hip and reaches between my thighs with his other to gently graze a finger over my folds. “So soft.”
Panting, I drop my forehead to the table.
“Did you touch this pussy last night?”
“No, Sir,” I murmur.
“Good girl. From now on, you don’t touch it without permission. Understood?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Can I trust you to obey me, jitterbug?”
“Yes, Sir,” I whimper.
He strokes my folds again, not applying near enough pressure. Nothing but the gentlest touch.
I’m dripping, though. I’ve never been this horny. “Please…”
“That’s my girl. I like how polite you are. I bet you need to come, huh?”
“Yes… Please…”
Instead of giving me what I’m begging for, he stands and lowers my dress over my bottom. “Not right now, baby.” He pats my butt. “Go change. Take your time. I don’t want you out here while they’re situating the office. It’s too dangerous. I’ll see you at lunch.”
He helps me stand and turns me to face him. Sliding one arm around me, he hauls me close. His cock presses against my belly. “I want to kiss you, but if I do, we’ll be in here making out for the rest of the day. People are waiting on me. I’ll kiss you until you can’t think straight tonight.”
“Okay.” I’m breathless.
“Can you make it to your room on your own?”
“Yes, Sir.” He’s not asking to be bossy. He’s actually concerned that I might sway and fall on my ass. He has a right to think that. It’s more than possible.
“Be careful. Use the railing.” He’s dead serious. This is a safety issue. His brow is furrowed as if he’s considering going with me after all.
“I’ll be fine. I’ve been climbing stairs since right about the time you turned twenty-one.” I can’t resist the age dig.
He smirks. “Sassy girl.”
“You like it.”
“I certainly do.” He grabs the back of my head, plants a kiss on my forehead, and releases me. A second later, he has the door open. “Get out of here before I change my mind.”