Page 40 of House of Payne

Yet she remains out of reach, and I’m not sure what to do to change her mind. I will figure out a way.

I take a deep breath. There’s no need to get so rattled. She will be mine; I know that. I just have to be patient, and for her, I don’t mind.

I’m willing to do a lot to get what I want, but I will not force myself on her.

London will come to me willingly.

I’ll make sure of it, and even though she’s fighting it now, I can see in her eyes she knows it’s a losing battle.

Her boyfriend’s days are numbered.

“I admire that,” I admit. “I respect your loyalty. You’re the first girl who has ever held their own for this long against me.”

“I doubt that’s true,” she scoffs.

I’m being entirely honest. It usually doesn’t take long to get any woman I want. Other relationships they’re in don’t matter: If I want them, I have them. Very few can resist me.

I like the thrill. It’s part of the chase that faded once I got her. My lust for her has increased as I’ve talked to her, and I appreciate the fight she’s putting up. Everything about her is just so intoxicating.

“I knew you were different,” I admit, “from the moment I met you. I can respect that.”

She looks surprised at my words. What? Did she think I was going to rape her? I chuckle. I can be cruel sometimes, but never in that way.

“I don’t enjoy fucking women who don’t want to be fucked,” I continue. “As much as I love control and love a woman bending to my will, that’s too far. I’ll wait because I know I won’t have to for long. One day soon, you’ll beg me to fuck you. And I will, sweetheart. I’ll fuck you better than your boyfriend ever could. Soon, you’ll forget all about him because you’ll be so intoxicated by me.”

“That will never happen,” she snaps, her arms crossed defensively over her chest. “I would never betray the love of my life. I will never even want to touch you.”

I shrug. “It’s only a matter of time. You can cling to your old life if you’d like. I’m sure that it brings you comfort. But your old life is gone, and the sooner you accept that, the better.”

I can sense her resistance. It’s not just in her words; it’s part of who she is. She will hold onto it dearly. But in time, she’ll submit to me. This banter between us will only make it that much sweeter when she does.

“Come on,” I say. “Let me show you around the House of Payne.”

She pales at that, and I chuckle. “That’s our last name,” I explain.

She gives me a tight nod.

I can already sense her fear, and I don’t want to make that worse. I need her to ease into the idea that this is her new reality, because there is no going back.

Not anymore.

Not even after a year.

No one has ever been able to pay off their debt and remain on the outskirts, undeterred by the darkness.

London has a lot more fight than I gave her credit for, but I doubt even she can resist.

With a smile, I lead her from the library and into the rest of the home.

The house is decorated with gold and silver in each room, with gems pressed into every surface. The main color scheme is black and white, which makes the dashes of rich colors like red and purple seem all the more eye-grabbing and elegant.

“It might help you to know the members of the family,” I explain, as I lead her by the room with the white grand piano, an expensive fountain with exotic fish, priceless paintings on the wall, marble statues, and furniture imported from the fine craftsmen of India.

“Since you’ll be with me for so long, you’ll likely come into contact with some of them.” I admire how her eyes widen and light up as she soaks everything in. “My father’s name is Jack Payne; his friends call him BlackJack. I have a fraternal twin, Mathew Payne, who has been traveling the world with my father, closing deals for the family business. You probably won’t see them much because of it.”

London stares at a family portrait, and her brows furrow together. “And the others in the portrait?”

I make a vague hand gesture. “All you need to know is that my other two siblings aren’t here, so you won’t be running into them.”