I didn’t want things to have to come to this, but it didn’t seem like I had any other choice. I had to go through with it and hopefully this man would keep his word.
“Let’s do it. Let’s have sex,” I declared boldly.
Bradon’s brows shot upwards before he cocked his head slightly to the side in disbelief. He clearly wasn’t expecting this sudden turn of events and neither did I. Before I could pause to think and change my mind, I began untying the sash around my waist and peeling the robe that I had on away from my body. I could feel him watching my every move, but I didn’t have the luxury of changing my mind anymore.
“Did you come here with sex in mind?” he asked as his eyes travelled down my body before returning to my face and narrowing suspiciously at me.
“Not really but I’m glad that I’m dressed for it...” I replied casually.
He must have thought that I came to seduce him given the quite revealing nightgown that I had on. I guess this might count as dressing up nice and pretty for what we were about to do. In a way, I might be making Jenna proud even if it wasn’t quite in the way that she had initially expected. I let the robe drop to the floor at my feet.
“I thought you said that you would never sleep with me in exchange for your freedom,” he reminded me coldly.
“I did say that. Then after that you said that I would be stuck here until either of us changes our mind. Well, I’ve decided to change my mind,” I replied with a dismissal shrug of my shoulders.
Bradon nodded his head slightly as if he was liking what he was hearing from me for the first time in forever. Suddenly, he started laughing as if I had just told him a relatively good joke. As for me, I couldn’t see what he thought was funny.
“You’re quite crazy...” he said after his laughter had subsided somewhat.
“Whatever they say...” I mumbled without much care.
“Come here, Dahlia...” he beckoned me over with a crook of his index finger.
I was quite surprised that he suddenly called me by my name as I walked over to his side. My mind was too busy thinking of the conditions that I should set in our agreement to worry about what we had to do to seal our deal. Taking things one step at a time seemed like the right way to go about it and the surest way to make sure that I wouldn’t lose my mind.
“Sit...here...” he instructed as he patted his lap with his hand.
It was clear enough where he wanted me to sit with that gesture. I let out a soft little sigh before lowering my ass onto his lap. His arms circled my waist naturally and pulled my body back against his until I could feel his body pressed up against my back. In contrast to the cold air in the room, his body felt so warm against mine and I could feel his breath softly against my ear lobe.
We’re so close...
“Is this how you normally get men to do things your way?” he asked passively.
“I won’t do anything for free...” I replied while repeating his own words to him.
I turned around on his lap so that I could see his face clearer than before. As expected, Bradon was staring at me with some curiosity dancing in the depth of his blue eyes.
“What is it that you want?” Bradon asked as if he knew that I had conditions that I would like to state and deals to make with him.
“I like it...” I murmured before I could stop myself.
“What is it that you like?” he asked in a low voice.
“That you’re being straightforward with me and that you’re willing to listen to me,” I replied before showing him a small hopeful smile.
“An agreement can’t be made if both parties don’t state their own conditions. What is it that you want, Dahlia?” he asked again.
What is it that I want...from him?
Now that I seriously thought about it, I wanted so many things from him. Although I didn’t know if he was willing to bend or go along with me to that extent, it didn’t hurt to give it a try.
“I want my freedom back. I want to be able to go outside, wherever and whenever that I want to go,” I stated my first condition.
“Sure, with the condition that I accompany you,” he countered without taking pause.
He wants to come with me?
“What if you’re not free?” I asked.
“Zain will accompany you or one of my trustworthy men,” he replied without the need to pause and think.
“Right. Fine...” I mumbled.
It felt too easy. I never thought that Bradon could be this accommodating. I wondered for a moment if this was all because I had agreed to sleep with him.
Could it really be that simple?
“What else?” he asked as if he could tell that I had more to demand from him.
“I want you to act your part in our fake relationship. When other people are around, I want you to act like a good husband,” I stated my second condition.
“I’ll go along with that to the extent that I’m comfortable,” he replied coldly.
It seemed like that was the best that I could get out of him. It wasn’t like I was expecting him to suddenly turn into a love-stricken husband that worshipped me or anything like that. If I told myself to be realistic with my expectations, then I should have felt thankful that he was being honest with me and managing my expectations.
“That’s good enough,” I replied with an affirmative nod of my head.
“Good. What else?” he asked.
“I...I want to see Anthony...” I stated my last wish before sucking in a deep breath in anticipation of his answer.
--To be continued...