Page 25

Zeus

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

"It's quite big."

"Yes, it's a little over a hundred square meters."

Actually, it's more than three hundred, but I don't own any smaller residences.

"Is there a subway nearby?" She tries to play it cool, as if this is no big deal, but her eyes shine as she looks at the backyard.

"Yes, but you won't need it. Larry will be at your service to take you to the nightclub. And I'll bring you back."

She's facing away from me, her sexy ass swaying with the gentle movements of her round hips. "I won't only be going to the nightclub. I have other commitments."

"Then I'll arrange for a driver to serve you."

"Will it make a difference if I say no?"

"What do you think?"

"That you’re managing to be even more arrogant than your brother."

"It's natural. I'm older."

"How much older? My mother asked your age, and I didn't know how to answer."

"Thirty-four. I guess we really do fit the baby and daddy roles, although that name sounds kind of incestuous."

She laughs. "Believe me, you don't remind me of my father at all."

"Are you finished looking at the house? Is this the one?"

"Is it yours?"

"Yes."

"You won't need it for a year? Because I won't return it sooner. A deal's a deal." She seems ready to fight if necessary, and I guess she must have done that all her life: fought for every little conquest.

"No. No matter what happens between us, it'll be yours for a year, Madison."

"Did you bring the lawyer's contract?"

I clench my jaw, trying to contain the irritation, and nod my head. I messaged her earlier today to let her know that my lawyer would meet us here to sign the contract, because as much as it pains me, I won't go back on my word. Madison said the lawyer didn’t need to come, that it was enough for her if we sign it together without any witnesses.

The woman knots my brain. More than once she told me she doesn't usually trust people, yet she trusts me all the time.

"How do you know I didn't just download it from the internet? How can you be sure it's valid?" I ask, throwing common sense out the window. I grab her hand and lead her inside the house. I want her, and having to sign a damn contract to have her is a blow to my pride.

"Trust isn't something you give halfway, Zeus, and I've given mine to you. I know you wouldn't deceive me. You wouldn't do that to me."

I lift her into my arms and sit her on the kitchen counter. "No, I wouldn't."

"Then why are you angry?"

"Say again that you're with me because you want to be."

She looks down. "Something happened that made me propose to be your sugar baby, but I've wanted you since I saw you sitting there that night in the private room."

I pull her to the edge of the counter and kiss that sinful mouth.

"I want you," she whispers in my ear when we pull apart. "I don't like wanting something, because I always get disappointed, but I want you so much, Zeus."

I'm normally a cold guy, but she has the power to make my blood boil with a simple admission.

I grasp a handful of her thick hair, tilting her head back. "Don't hide from me, Madison. I want everything."

"I wouldn't even know how to do that, but even if I did, I don't want to pretend; I want to experience this fully."

I'm about to take her mouth again when my phone vibrates.

I'm tempted to ignore it, but I know who it is. The expert I had my secretary call to conduct the electrical and gas inspection. I bought this house as an investment, and since the renovation, no one has lived here.

"I have to take this call. It must be the expert outside checking the house."

"You were so sure I would like it?"

"Of course."

"God, you're so arrogant."

We're in the car on our way to SIN. The inspection took longer than I calculated, and Madison said she needed to get to work.

"Park in the back. I don't want us to be seen together."

"Everyone will know about us at some point, Madison," I reply, annoyed because I've never been in a situation where the woman wanted to hide me.

"I know, but not inside the club. This is my job. If you want to come every night like you said you would, it'll be as my client and not . . .”

"Not what?"

"As my lover."

"Your only private dance tonight is all mine."

"Are you going to do this every night?"

"I haven't thought about it yet, but it's likely."

She puts her hand on the door handle. "I know you like opening the door for me, and I feel like a princess every time you do it, but not here. Wait a while before coming in, please."

"No. I need to talk to Ares. I'm never going to hide, Madison, regardless of the reason."

She exits with a heavy expression and without saying goodbye.

Two minutes later, I also get out and head straight to Ares' office. "Madison won't be working tomorrow," I tell him.

He runs his hands over his face. "Are you seeing my dancer?"

"We have an agreement. She's mine for six months."

"Yours for what?"

"Mind your own business, Ares! Fuck!"

"I hope you remember the deal with old Gordon. He's traditional and hates scandals."

"Fuck him. I have an agreement with him for a year from now. No one has the right to tell me how to live my personal life."

"Hey, I'm not the enemy. Not yours, at least," he says with his usual sharp humor.

"I've never lived."

"What are you talking about?"

"I don't complain about what I had to do for the family business, but I've never lived, and that's what Madison represents to me: life."

"She's not just a fling."

"I don't know what she is. I haven't taken her to bed yet, but everything she does drives me crazy. She doesn't give a damn who I am or how much power I have."

"Jesus, Zeus. This could end so badly . . .”

"No, I know what I'm doing. We'll have six months together, and I intend to make the most of every second. That's all."