Page 32 of Ly to Me

Carver sat back down, settling into the same position of nonchalance as he pointed at the papers. “Read.”

Although I’d seen it when I signed, the names at the top gave me pause. If he noticed, he stayed silent. I flipped through a few of the pages, skimming at best because my focus was still on thenames repeated at the top of every page. I decided against asking and continued. The last page, the one I’d seen him writing on before when I demanded more money, was the one that stood out the most. All the other pages were part of a will, but the last—

“Find the parts you need?”

With my head still angled down, I flicked my gaze to him. “Still reading.”

He adjusted his towel. “Take your time, then. I know I am.”

I shot another death glare his way, and he chuckled as I started reading the handwritten, numbered articles of our arrangement:

Image of their marriage contract, which reads: 1. The arrangement between both parties must appear real. No one outside of the arrangement can know it is anything but a real marriage. 2. The benefactors will live together under the same roof for the duration of their marriage. Lyra Thomas will gain access to her earnings on the thirtieth day, not a single day before or after. 3. All and any funds needed while living under Carver Roland’s roof will be granted by Carver Roland as he sees fit.

I paused and glanced at him. “There’s no amount here.”

“I only had a pen, Ly.”

“And?” I asked.

“You thought I believed you’d settle for the ten-thousand dollars I offered at first?” My eyes flicked to the pen, and mybrows furrowed. “I was signing my name when you changed the amount that was verbally agreed upon.”

I glared at his cocky smirk before I continued.

Image of their marriage contract, which reads: 4. Lyra Thomas agrees to follow any and all rules set forth by Carver Roland. In exchange, Carver Roland agrees to stop when a safe word is mentioned. Safe Word: ______

I looked up again and pointed at Article Four. “Why is the safe word blank?”

“Figured you should pick that, seeing as it would make you safe from me.”

“Whatever happened to good ole fashioned ‘no?’”

“‘No’ it is, then.”

I drummed my fingers on the papers, my focus still on him. “Why even give me a safe word if you’re so keen on making my life a living Hell for the next thirty days?”

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “If I don’t give you a safe word, then I won’t know when to stop.” His eyes flicked to my knee, where a thin line of red stretched. “And contrary to what you might think, I don’t actually want to hurt you. Not in ways you won’t enjoy, at least.”

“You pinned me down in the mud.”

“And your pussy was wetter than the stream behind us when I did.”

I picked the papers up this time, blocking my face as heat flooded my neck.

Image of their marriage contract, which reads: 5. The marriage must be consummated at some point within thirty days or all monetary benefits for Lyra Thomas are null and void.

I flipped the papers over, seeing the note I’d left him when I took his credit card, then thumbed through to see if I’d missed another section since the last number ended at the very bottom of the page. But, there was nothing I had missed. I tossed the papers beside me on the bed.

“I take it you read that last one, huh?”

“I read itall.”

“Good.” He stood again and instantly let his towel fall to the ground right as he turned to walk into his closet.

“What if I object to anything in those articles?” I raised my voice, assuming he couldn’t hear me just as much as I couldn’t not stare at his ass while he walked away.

Carver had been attractive as a teen, but had been comprised of a lean type of muscle that wasn’t nearly as defined as what it was now. Now…now it looked like every piece of muscle had been hard-earned and more cut than the stones I stood on top of in the stream. The tattoos that spanned his arms, up to his neck, and even down to his thighs were mostly a collective montage ofindividual images, but only added to his overall appeal. And the smattering of hair I’d glimpsed that trailed down…and down…

As much as I fuckin’ hated him, he was still the most attractive man I’d ever seen.