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“Husband,” she said quietly, drawing his attention.
“Don’t call me that.” His piercing gaze met hers, and she steeled herself.
“Sawyer, Aren’t you worried this will upset Olivia?” she asked, straightening her shoulders. “I mean, you love her the most, and if Alina badmouths you to her—”
“Alina isn’t Olivia. I am not going to cater to every fucking friend that exists around my people,” Sawyer interrupted firmly, cutting her off. “And I didn’t ban her for you. I banned her because of her behavior. She disrespected me. This has nothing to do with you.”
Ellie’s chest tightened, as if a bucket of icy water had been poured over her head.
She forced a laugh to hide the embarrassment creeping onto her face. “Of course,” she muttered. “I knew it. Why would you care about me?”
But then Sawyer released her hand and leaned closer, his intense eyes locking onto hers. He tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze. His face was closer than ever, his voice a low murmur.
“Are you jealous?”
Ellie blinked, caught off guard. She laughed again, this time genuinely. “Jealous? No, I’m not.”
Sawyer’s expression remained unconvinced. “You aren’t allowed to be jealous of Olivia. You already know I’m waiting for her to come back, there’s no need to feel jealous. Otherwise, I might have to throw money at you again—and that would be rude.”
Ellie’s eyes sparkled as she stood up abruptly, her voice almost too eager.
Turning toward Sawyer, she immediately insisted, “No, it won’t be rude. Really. Please, throw money at me.”
Sawyer’s gaze sharpened, a skeptical frown forming as he stood up.
Caught off guard, Ellie quickly hid her excitement and her face changed, taking on a sad expression.
Her voice trembled as she spoke, and a single tear fell dramatically down her cheek.
“I mean, I understand,” she whispered, her voice quivering. “Olivia is your one true love. It’s okay if you don’t love me. I don’t mind. I’ll just take the money you give me and pretend it’s love, just to fill the emptiness somehow.” She took a shaky breath, her voice soft but earnest. “I just want to see you every day, please. That’s all I want. Just a glimpse of you. Is that okay?”
She could barely hide the thrill in her voice. ‘If I see him every day, I can keep getting more money from him.’ She thought excitedly.
Sawyer nodded, his expression solemn. He stepped closer, his gaze softening as he looked at her. Without a word, he gently wiped the tear from her cheek.
“I’ll do that,” he said, his voice low and gruff. “As long as you don’t cause trouble for me. Live obediently in my house, and I’ll make sure you’re happy as long as you’re with me.”
“Yes,” she replied eagerly, nodding. “That’s all I want.”
Sawyer’s eyes lingered on her, noting the way she stared at him with an intensity that took him by surprise. There was something in the way she looked at him—like he was the center of her universe, the only thing that mattered. She gazed at him as though him coming home every day was the only thing that she had ever wanted in life.
This girl was so consumed by love for him that he could feel the weight of it—he could barely breathe without feeling the pressure of her longing filled, affectionate gaze.
Sawyer stepped closer, his hand gently cupping her face. His head dipped slightly, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, “I can’t give you my love, Ellie, but I can give you something more precious.”
Ellie’s eyes brightened, her heart racing with excitement. ‘What could be more precious? Bags? Diamonds? A villa? More cash?’ She felt like she might burst from the anticipation.
“Really?” she asked, her voice trembling with eagerness. “What is it?”
He locked eyes with her, a brief moment of silence between them before he answered, “My body.”
Before she could process his words, his lips crashed against hers in a deep kiss. His hand gripped the back of her neck, and the other slid around her waist, pulling her close.
Ellie froze for a moment, shocked by the suddenness of the kiss. The unfamiliar sensation overwhelmed her, and she struggled to breathe as his lips pressed harder against hers.
‘She loves me so much, she must be devastated that I keep pushing her away,’ Sawyer thought, a flicker of guilt clouding his mind. ‘I have nothing else to give her—nothing she deserves. The only compensation I can offer for all these years of unreciprocated love is my body. Let her take out her pain on me, to calm her down and help her forget about me.’
Ellie gasped for breath, but as the kiss deepened, a strange heat spread through her. His tongue slithered over her soft lips, licking and sucking on them before thrusting inside to taste more of her nectar. His scent was all over her, thick and intoxicating, and the only sound she could hear was the ragged breaths between their kisses.