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“What kind of activities do I need clothesfor?” I asked, not quite ready to melt from his ridiculous charm.“Tweed for shooting?”
“It’s not a shooting weekend,” he said,fully blowing my mind when the answer I’d expected was, “Those aremade up for movies about rich people.”
Man, I was way underprepared for this kindof world.
“My mother’s party will be formal. You’regoing to want an evening gown for that. Dinner the night beforewill be less formal, but we do dress for it. You can do a cocktaildress. During the day, we’re more casual, but I’ll warn you thatfor my sister, casual still means dressing like a member of theroyal fucking family.” He rolled his eyes and I got the feelingthat he found all these rules as silly as any commoner should. “Iwould also suggest something for outdoors, if we decide to goriding.”
“Riding?” I had never ridden a horse in mylife. I didn’t intend to start now. “Not to be… Can you even ride ahorse, with your leg?”
“Won’t know until I try.” He tilted hishead. “And even if I can’t, it’s a great euphemism for sneaking offand fucking.”
A laugh exploded from my throat. “You’re notgoing to want to fuck me when we’re at your mother’shouse.”
“I want to fuck you everywhere. I want tobend you over this table right now. I would, if I didn’t have toget out of here.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I hate thatI’m going back to work.”
“I love that you are,” I said,surprising myself. “I didn’t know the old Matt, but the new Mattneeds to get into the rhythm of his normal life. And let’s say Idecide to stay here longer—”
He brightened up considerably. “Yes, let’ssay that.”
“If,” I emphasized. “We’re not going to stayin this apartment naked full-time.”
He made an exaggeratedly juvenile, “Aww,” ofdisappointment.
“I’m going to get a job, for one.” That wasnonnegotiable. “I mean, it’s not like I’d be contributing asubstantial amount of income. And I can live without working. But Idon’t want to be caged up here.”
“Whoa, whoa.” He rose and came to standbeside my chair, his palms flat on the table as he leaned down.“Listen to me: you’re never going to be caged up. You’re in NewYork. There is so much to do down there. Shopping, shows,museums—”
“Okay, tourism board,” I interrupted him.“Have you ever been to those museums?”
He hesitated.
“When itwasn’tfor rich peopleevents and galas?” I added.
He dropped his head in shame. “No, I havenot.” Looking up, he added, “But I could! Now that you’rehere.”
“What I’m saying is that I have to have alife of my own so that I can maintain an identity separate fromyou.” I took a deep breath. “Look, I’m going to spend your moneytoday. I have no qualms about redistributing a billionaire’s wealthinto my own pocket. But I’m not going to become a kept woman. Spasall day? Shopping for things I’m buying out of boredom? That allsounds amazing for a week. After that, I’ll get tired of it. I’mfickle.”
“And you don’t want to get tired of me,” hefinished for me.
I reached up and tousled his shower-damphair. “I love you. I don’t want to screw this up.”
He captured my hand and brought it to hislips. “I don’t want that either.”
God, he was so fucking charming. Andhandsome.You’re going to screw this up, an unhelpful voicein the back of my mind warned me.
“Fifty thousand?” I repeated, to be sure I’dheard him correctly.
“At least fifty thousand,” heconfirmed.
“And what do I get if I succeed?” Iasked.
His eyebrows lifted. “Fifty thousanddollars’ worth of new wardrobe.”
“If you were going to punish me, my dragon,I assume you’re also going to reward me.” I sat back and toyed withthe top of my robe, sliding my fingers along the edge of the softmaterial. I opened my legs, but the robe obscured the view I knewhe wanted.
His mouth slanted in a crooked smile. “Trustyour dragon.”
“Completely,” I promised, and watched with asmirk of satisfaction as he adjusted himself under his pajamabottoms before walking away.