Page 42 of His White Moonlight (Dominant CEO Shifter Romance #1)

The beautician had worked wonders on my hair after. I had highlights that made me look even more sun-kissed than my naturally light brown hair, and the beautician had put something in it that made it feel incredibly soft.

Through it all, we’d been given restorative drinks and snacks.

The finale of the day had been the most amazing massage. So amazing that I’d already booked another appointment to repeat. The masseur’s hands had found and eliminated all tension in my body. Why hadn’t I been getting those all along? Oh, right…locked up in an all-girl school.

Stupid, Bennett.

At least I was a complete puddle of well-fed relaxation, now. I climbed the stairs with only one thought on my mind—my bed.

I wasn’t paying attention to the top of the stairs as I plodded upward. My eyes were on my feet, and my brain had a flickering vacancy sign in it. How else could I have missed the presence of a fully grown man standing in my path?

My forehead connected with his chest at a slow speed, so I only bounced back a little. But at the top of the stairs. My eyes went wide.

As I tipped back, I grabbed his suit jacket. His arm wrapped around my waist, and his lips curved into a sexy smile that melted my insides as our torsos connected.

Adrenaline from the almost fall cleared the post-massage brain fog, and I saw the opportunity for what it was. With a little hop, I jumped up and wrapped my legs around his waist.

His humor vanished.

“Wrenly.”

I darted in for a kiss and found myself on my feet, listening to the thunder of his steps down the stairs.

“Chicken!” I yelled after him.

Amused rather than annoyed, I shook my head and continued to my room. My phone buzzed as I closed the door.

Bennett: Take a shower before bed. I can smell another man on you.

Me: I’ll do what I want.

Me: And of course you can smell him. He touched me ALL over.

Something crashed downstairs.

Keeping my man-scented clothes on, I hurried to get under the covers and was grinning as I passed out.

* * *

“Why can’t you see I’m going crazy?”

The soft murmur of Bennett’s voice floated into my semi-sleep awareness as he held me from behind.

“I thought I could give you everything you wanted, but everything I gave you only hurt you. You don’t want me to make up for it.

You just want me to leave.” His hold tightened.

“If that were an option, I’d give it to you, Wrenly.

I’d give you anything. But I’m too far gone for that.

” He growled. “I hate that you smell like another male.”

Still mostly asleep and needing to reposition, I rolled over, facing him, and wrapped my arm around his waist.

“Why can’t you do this while you’re awake?” His fingers carefully brushed back the hair from my forehead. “You own me, Wrenly. Every thought. Every action. It all revolves around you. Please give me a chance to prove I can be a good mate.”

Tiredly shifting my hand up his chest, I covered his mouth.

“Shhh. Sleep.”

He removed my hand, hugged me closer, and kissed the top of my head.

“I will.”

* * *

I woke up alone, but the spot next to me was still warm, so he hadn’t been gone long.

Lounging in bed, I thought about what Bennett had said last night.

He’d acknowledged what I’d wanted but said leaving me wasn’t an option.

Did that mean he wasn’t going to honor the deal he’d made if I met his conditions or that he would do whatever he needed to do to ensure I didn’t meet them?

You own me, Wrenly.

My guess was that it was the latter. So I’d need to trick him into helping me meet those conditions. How?

Lost in thought, I reached for my phone and checked the messages.

Miranda: Let me know if you want me to come over and help you get ready.

Me: Do you still doubt my makeup skills?

Bennett: Aiden and Karter haven’t heard from you in a while and are worried. Did they do something to upset you?

Me: Yes, tell them they should keep enjoying their best lives and that I hope they mistake a Rottweiler for their mates when they’re drunk.

Bennett: I have breakfast ready if you’re hungry.

Me: I want to go for a run first. Alone.

Bennett: Okay.

Miranda: Yes.

Me: I’ll send a picture before I leave and pack my makeup bag. If you don’t like it, you can crash the party to fix it.

Miranda: Interrupt your evening with Bennett and risk my raise? We’re both smart enough to know how that will end. Still send me a pic!

Shaking my head at her, I got out of bed and changed into something more comfortable for running.

Bennett was waiting for me in the kitchen with a piece of toast slathered with peanut butter.

He looked…twitchy. His hair was neatly styled.

He wore what he considered leisure clothes—dress pants and a T-shirt.

But something about the look in his eyes was off as I accepted the toast and took a bite.

“What are the chances you’ll return hurt again if you run?” he asked as I turned around to leave.

I paused, considering the question as I tried to swallow the peanut butter.

Once I could speak, I glanced back at him. “If?”

“I know you never actually promised not to run alone after Storm tripped you, so I was hoping you’d consider making a deal with me.”

“What kind of deal?” I asked, curious what he thought he could offer me.

“I pay for your school. No other strings attached to this deal. Let me watch over you on every run in exchange for your tuition fully paid.”

“At the school of my choice?” I asked.

“The school of your choice.”

He’d actually found something I might have wanted…if I had any trust in him to keep his word, which I didn’t.

“Counteroffer. You give me my bankbook and deposit fifty dollars each time we run together.”

He looked down at the floor, something he seemed to do when he didn’t like what I said and needed a moment to think instead of react. I saw his distraction as an opportunity.

You own me, Wrenly.

Closing the distance between us, I held my toast to the side with one hand and set my other hand on his chest. He froze, and his gaze flew to mine as I looked up at him with my saddest, most pleading, innocent expression.

I’d spent hours practicing expressions and knew it was a good one.

But I hadn’t thought I’d ever use it on Bennett or that it would actually work on him.

I watched him crumble.

His hands came up to cup my face as desperation filled his gaze.

“I’ll pay,” he said hoarsely. “Anything you want.”

“The bankbook too?”

His expression shifted, looking more tortured.

“Why do you want the bankbook if I’m willing to pay your tuition?”

Frustration got the better of me, and I pushed away from him. He caught my hand and pulled it back to his chest.

“Keep playing your game with me, Wrenly,” he said.

I was about to say something aggressively rude when he added, “I’ll give you another five grand.”

“Why?”

“You’ve never shown me the softer, coaxing Wrenly before. I want to see where this goes.”

I set aside my toast and debated my next move while he studied me.

“Do you know how hard it is to control my temper around you?” I asked finally.

“I’ve told you so many times what I want.

Freedom. Yet, it’s what you keep denying me.

Why can’t I access the money I’m earning?

What do you think I’m going to do with it?

Is it that bad for me to want to be in control of paying my own tuition? ”

He groaned, closed his eyes, and set his forehead against mine. He breathed in deeply, and his fingers teased my hairline. Then he was holding my face firmly and bringing his lips toward mine.

My heart slammed into overdrive. I gripped his wrists as I tried to pull free from his hold.

He stopped advancing and opened his eyes. We were too close for me to focus properly, and I was too panicked.

“When are you going to stop fearing me?”

I kicked his shin. It hurt like a bitch, but at least he grunted and released me. I grabbed my toast, turned on my heel, and started for the front door.

“Five hundred dollars cash for letting me follow you today.”

His words stopped me.

“You give me the cash before the dinner, or I don’t go tonight.”

“Deal.”

Taking another bite of my toast, I continued toward the front door. Bennett followed.

I didn’t hate that he was with me. But there were plenty of other things that I did hate. That he was even needed. That I still lived in the big house. That I couldn’t escape yet.

As far as runs went, it was a decent one once we left Alpine Run. I set an aggressive pace—for me, not for Bennett—and I didn’t turn around until we hit five miles. When I saw the gate ahead, I slowed to a jog then walked back to the house.

“Do you usually run ten miles?” Bennett asked.

“I try to get a longer run in at least once a week,” I said, stretching as I removed my shoes. “Usually, three to five miles is enough. Depends on how much time I have.”

“What do you usually eat after a long run?”

“Anything works.”

“Over-easy eggs, hash browns, and bacon sound good?”

As I straightened, I nodded. “Really good.”

“It’ll be ready by the time you’re done with your shower.”

The endorphins from the run that kept me mellow lasted through the shower and to the dining table, where breakfast and Bennett waited. He hadn’t showered or changed, but he hadn’t been sweaty like I had.

Five one-hundred-dollar bills were fanned out next to my plate as he held out my chair for me.