Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 66134 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66134 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Valerie turned around and walked into the adjoining bedroom with Stevie glaring after her for siding with me. I had the urge to laugh, but Stevie was not amused and I was already bracing for a battle and didn’t need to aggravate her any more than she already was.
I didn’t mean to bulldoze her. But after what I’d seen, compromising on this issue wasn’t an option for me. My offer would at least give her two months to figure out a different place to live, and with the money I planned to transfer into her bank account in the morning, she’d definitely be able to afford an upgraded apartment with security for her and Valerie once her commitment to me was through and she was ready to move on.
She lifted her chin. “Thank you for the offer, but I’m not taking advantage of your generosity. You’re already paying me a small fortune to be your girlfriend. Living at The Cortland is above and beyond what we discussed or agreed upon.”
No, she didn’t strike me as a woman who’d ever take advantage of me or my money, which only made her that much more attractive to me. That authenticity also made me want to give her all those luxuries she’d clearly grown up without, because I knew she’d appreciate them without entitlement.
“It is more than we discussed,” I agreed as I slowly closed the distance between us, which didn’t take long in the tiny living room. “And you’re not taking advantage of anything because I’m insisting on making this a nonnegotiable part of the deal we made.”
She tipped her head back to look up at me and arched a brow. “Nonnegotiable?” she repeated, her tone incredulous.
“Yes. As in, not up for argument.” I gentled my tone. “I have a fully furnished, currently unleased apartment and it’s yours for two months, or longer if you need it. And since I’m insisting on you staying at The Cortland, I’ll pay the rent on this apartment for the next two months so you don’t lose it, and you can decide what you want to do once the custody case with Owen is over.”
Her chin jutted out. “I’m not leaving Valerie.”
“That’s not an issue,” I assured her. “She’s coming with you. The apartment has two bedrooms. There’s plenty of room for both of you, and as I said, it’s fully furnished. And most importantly, the building is secure, with a doorman and security cameras, and she’ll be safer there than here.”
She opened her mouth to say something, but before she could issue any other argument, I quickly continued.
“This place is not safe, and neither is this neighborhood, Stevie,” I reiterated. “And being my girlfriend, there is no fucking way I’d let you live here.” Hell, even not being my legitimate girlfriend I was having a difficult time with her living in this neighborhood.
“An apartment in your building wasn’t part of the deal,” she said, and I didn’t miss the flicker of pride in her eyes.
“I’m making it part of the deal,” I said softly. “It’s a matter of safety. If I ever need you to pick up Owen, or be with him…this area would not go over well with Alyssa.”
Finally, Stevie nodded in understanding. “Okay.”
Relieved, I reached out and slid my hand along her neck and beneath the fall of her hair, grateful when she didn’t pull away but instead leaned into my touch. I skimmed my thumb along her jawline as she looked up at me. “Thank you.”
“I’m starting to feel like a kept woman,” she grumbled beneath her breath.
Grinning, I resisted the urge to tell her to get used to it, that I was already starting to enjoy spoiling her. Instead, I said, “I would never mistake you for being a kept woman. You’re much too stubborn and self-sufficient for that.”
Her full lips finally curved with a smile, the first one since before Alyssa had barged into my apartment and changed the course of my relationship with Stevie. For the better, I was hoping, though I sensed it was going to take more to convince her that my growing feelings for her weren’t for the sake of pretenses.
Without even thinking because it felt so natural, I tipped her head back and touched my mouth to hers. The contact started off soft and slow, and she even sighed against my lips as her hands came up and pressed lightly against my chest. But then the kiss gradually deepened, real and potent, and she didn’t hold back as our lips parted and I swept my tongue inside, swirling and tangling with hers, quickly elevating the desire smoldering between us. My dick hardened, and forcibly reminding myself that Valerie was right in the next room, I finally let us both back up for air before I pushed her down on the couch and did all the dirty, wicked things to her playing through my mind.