Chapter 6

• Lalaine's point of view.
• Sam grabbed my bag and turned my attention back to the house. "Right this way, miss."
• On either side of the steps that led to the porch, there were cement statues that looked like stags. Their heads were hung low, as if they were getting ready for battle with one hoof raised in the air.
• I thought I heard the faint sound of a dare, but I was sure they weren't alive.There were tall white columns around the front door and up to the second floor, going from the big porch.
• We were able to get inside after Sam pushed open the double doors. Mystery Man waved his arm for me to go in before him.
• The ceiling was high and dome-shaped, and the floors were made of marble.
• The staircase, though, was what really caught my eye. It started in the entryway and went up to a landing. From there, it split into two other staircases that went in different directions around the house. It looked like one of those sets where the princess waits at the top of the landing until she is called down to greet her guests.
• On the other hand, me? I would probably trip and fall on the first step. As I rolled down the rest of the steps, my body would curl up into a ball, and I would land hard at the bottom. It also wouldn't be classy. Not at all.
• "What do you think?" The mysterious man asked with his arms spread wide.
• It was clear that he was proud of his house.
• "Eh, it's fine." I told her with a bored shrug, "If you're into the whole pretentious overkill thing."
• The truth is that I was impressed. This is really cool.
• "I got the house as a gift." "And I'm not cocky," he said. "Let's get you up to a more comfortable room so we can sleep." Today has been long, and I think tomorrow will be even longer. In fact, I think that will be the case for every day for the next two years.
• He turned around and snuck up the stairs, leaving me to follow him again.
• "It seems we agree on something, Mr. Crawford," I stated.
• A short time later, he stopped and turned to look at me with anger in his eyes. A solemn voice said, "It's Nick," and he went up the stairs. "Only the help calls me Mr. Crawford."
• "Well, don't you think I can help? "Just like you pay them to be here, you pay me to be here," I said.
• "Trust me, they're not getting paid nearly as much as you are." On the landing, he turned to go up the stairs on the right. "You will be with me almost all the time for the next two years." People will need to trust us. If you keep calling me Mr. Crawford, that probably won't happen.
• I said, "Fine then, Nick," just to ear it out. "Which room is mine?" When we got to a long hallway with big paintings on the walls, I asked.
• "We're at the end of the hall," he said, moving forward.
• "Wait. We?"
• "You are going to sleep in my bed." Didn't that make sense to you?"
• I reminded him, "But we haven't even talked about the terms of the contract."
• He opened the door at the end of the hall, and I went with him. He shut the door and pinned me to it with his body as soon as I crossed it.
• He said, "The terms are pretty simple," and his lips slowly touched the skin on my neck. "Youbelong to me, and I can do whatever I want with you."
• His lips touched mine and he kissed me hard, but I didn't kiss him back. He slowed down his movements and lightly touched my lips to try to get me to answer.
• "Kiss me, Lalaine." It felt really girly when that thing in his pants pushed his hips forward. "You just might like it."
• I never thought that he might be right, but I knew I was pushing my luck with him and he wasn't going to keep putting up with my BS. My mom had to have surgery, and I knew we'd be much closer during our time together, so I had no choice but to give in.
• I took a deep breath and pressed my chest against his. Then I opened my lips and took his bottom lip in mine.
• It was easier to reach him when he moved his body so that his thigh was between my legs and his hands were on my hips. He moaned and did this several times.
• When his tongue touched my lip, I let him close the kiss even more, and I knew right away that I would never regret it. The things that man could do with his tongue... I hadn't kissed a lot of guys or was an expert, but WOW!
• When I put my hands on his biceps, I could feel the muscle bulge that moved under his jacket. I wanted to get closer, and I thought he might like it if I took the initiative, so I put my hands under his jacket and on his chest. After that, I put them over his shoulders to make the jacket fall off his arms. Then he grabbed my hips again and pulled me closer. He laid it over the chair next to us with one hand.
• Two hands were on either side of his neck, and I put my tongue around his and slowly sucked. Before he pushed away, he moaned into my mouth. I stood there with my eyes closed, my head tilted to the side, my hands still in the air, and my lips puckered in kissing position.
• It was kind of like that awkward scene in Dirty Dancing where Baby was still dancing around with nothing when Johnny left her alone in a room full of strangers.
• "See, I told you you'd like it," he said with a smirk.
• Why did he have to stand there like it wasn't a big deal when I was about to burst a blood vessel and beg my body not to balloon?
• He took a few steps back and said, "Don't worry, we'll do that again, but business comes before pleasure." The terms of the deal are: As you asked, I will make sure that the money is sent anonymously to the account you gave me. For our relationship, I expect you to keep the details to yourself, and I will do the same for you. Pretty much everyone in my family and workplace will think that we met on one of my many business trips and are deeply in love. You will behave like the well-behaved lady you're supposed to be while going to different social events with me. You will sleep on my bed and be available to me in any way I need when you come to my house. I should also warn you that I have a very vivid imagination. Did I miss anything?"
• I think so, but that kiss was still making my head spin, so I just shook my head.
• He said, "Good," as he laid back on the too-big bed.
• (I start to notice a pattern with all the big things around this man.)
• He stood on his forearms to support himself. "Now, take off your clothes."
• "Excuse me?" I was about to choke up.
• "Lalaine, we're going to see each other naked a lot. So you might want to get rid of that part about being modest and shy. He kissed me and looked at me all the way through. When he looked into my hazel eyes, the look in them almost made me fall to my knees. "You show me yours and then I'll show you mine."