Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 155775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 779(@200wpm)___ 623(@250wpm)___ 519(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 779(@200wpm)___ 623(@250wpm)___ 519(@300wpm)
“But you can’t pay for everything. I mean, I’ll have to pay half of the bills. Groceries, utilities.”
She assumed he didn’t pay rent, but that didn’t mean that Dante wouldn’t want her to.
“I can see we need to talk about a few house rules,” Cash said as he carried her into the living room and sat on the sofa with her on his lap, facing him. “First rule, I pay for everything. Anything to do with the house, like the bills, I pay for. Anything that you need, clothes, shoes, I pay for. But I will let you pay for your business expenses.”
Oh, that was so magnanimous of him. He was going to let her pay for her own business expenses. She didn’t even really have many, except for upgrading her equipment and making sure she had fast internet.
“Cash, that’s hardly fair,” she said.
“We’re not talking about fair. We’re talking about the rules.”
“And do you always get to make the rules?” she asked.
“Yes. Now you’re getting the picture.”
Good Lord.
“Next rule, if you need to go somewhere, you tell me. I want to know when you leave, I want to know when you arrive at your destination, and I want to know when you get home again. I need to know that you’re safe at all times.”
“You think there’s still a risk to me? Even with Monroe not here? We don’t even know that anyone is after her. We only have Limpy to go by.”
“That’s not what this is about. These rules are for all the time. I’m going to be keeping a closer eye on you until we make sure there isn’t any danger, but that never changes this rule.”
“Oh,” she said. “So you really want me to message you that often?” Not that she’d probably go out that much.
“Yes, as often as necessary.”
“Well, I don’t really like to go places by myself, and it’s not like I know anyone around here.”
“You know Bonnie,” he said. “And she likes you. I’m going to introduce you to the rest of the Iron Shadows and their women. You’ve met my sister and then there’s Aidan’s fiancée, Livvy. You can meet Ink and Stone’s women. You’ll soon have lots of friends.”
She knew that he was trying to make her feel better, but part of her was slightly terrified at the idea of being friends with all those women.
You’ve got this. You can do it. You can manage it.
“The Iron Shadows are a motorcycle group, right? That your brother, Ink, and Butch are a part of.”
“Yeah, Hack and Stone are as well.”
“But you’re not?”
“No. Dante didn’t think I could have allegiance to them and him. In a way, he’s probably right. Rule number three, you don’t fix anything around here. Anything that needs doing, anything heavy that needs lifting, any light bulbs that need changing, if something breaks down, I do all of that.”
All right. She wasn’t going to argue that because the last time she’d tried to change a light bulb, she’d fallen off the stool and hurt herself. She and heights didn’t always mix that well.
“All right. I’d still like to go back to the payment of the bills, though.”
“There’s no going back. These are the rules, and you’re going to follow them.”
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re a bossy bastard?”
“Yes, regularly. Ralen got me a mug with that written on it one Christmas.”
She could see why.
“So I don’t have any say over any of these rules?” she asked.
“No, you don’t. I want you to tell me if anything worries you, if you don’t feel well, if you’re in pain, if there’s something you need, if you’re missing your sisters and you want to see them. I want to know. I want you to be happy here, baby. The last thing I want is for you to be sad or miserable. Like I’ve said before, tell me what you need from me. All right?”
“I don’t understand how you can be so wonderful,” she told him.
“You might think differently after I give you this punishment.” He lifted her so she lay over his lap.
“We’re going to do this now, here?” she asked, as she wriggled around trying to free herself.
“Yes, we’re going to do this here and now.” They’d both had showers, and she was dressed again in one of his shirts.
She’d done a quick shopping order while he was heating up breakfast. So she was hoping some clothes would get here soon so she at least had some panties to wear.
“Stay still,” he warned.
“Is this really the way you want to start off our life together?” she asked.
“With me reinforcing the rules? I think this is the best way to start. Now, this is going to be a real spanking, baby. If it gets too much, you let me know. You can say your safeword. What is it?”