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He gave the basket a little shake. “I see the word lair hasn’t frightened you off.”
“Do you want me to be frightened of you?”
He let go and folded his arms over his chest. “I’m hungry. I want you to leave the basket and return to the kitchen.”
On Orrin, hungry could have many meanings. It was another word for powerful. “And I want three wishes.”
He leant against the doorjamb, showing his amusement. “I did say lair, not genie’s bottle.”
Now she could see a living room, a big padded leather sofa and a couple of easy chairs. Much better furniture than everyone else had. “This whole place is your genie bottle. Your thing is making wishes come true, what’s a couple more? You’ve already assumed the position.”
“Assumed the—” he glanced down at his arms. “Rosie Woods, you’re making fun of me.” And he liked it. It showed in his expression.
She held the basket and his eye contact. “Hear me out and I’ll hand over your dinner.”
He tipped his chin in agreement. “I know the first. You want a real job.”
“I do. And I want my phone and laptop.” She wanted her e-reader but the other two were more potentially valuable.
“You don’t need your tech. It’s mostly dead out here.”
“I do need it. I keep a diary and there are books and music on my laptop. I want my camera. I don’t need to be connected to anything to use those things.”
“None of those old ways of spending time matter here. No one else finds the need of those devices. You were aware there was a digital detox.” He shook his head; his words, his posture were meant to make her feel chastised. “I’m disappointed you have not settled in.”
She looked away to play her part. “I’m finding it difficult. If I had a job where I could contribute, where I could be useful, it would be easier.”
“You worked in a gallery. Sold random things to people with more money than good sense. Did you think that was being useful?”
She thought that was remarkably mean of him. “Why do you hate me?”
“I don’t hate you. I chose you to come here. Answer my question.”
“You separated Zack and me. You’re keeping my tech. You won’t give me a proper job. You want to fuck me. I’m not stupid. Most men do, but they get there by being nice to me, not making me feel bad.”
“That’s not the answer to my question.” He gave her a smug smile and that looked good on him too. “I’m not most men.” He wasn’t denying it. Game definitely on.
“Why are you waiting? You have all the power here.”
“I want you to have my child. A new person from us to populate the new world.” He lowered his voice. “You’ll be a beautiful mother.” Predatory pretending kindliness. Her stomach recoiled. “I won’t take you by force. I have no need to do that.”
Oh, how very generous. Fuck you, Orrin Epcot. How to play this? Resist. Make him chase, but not too much. “I won’t learn to love you, if that’s what you think will happen.”
“Romantic love has nothing to do with being lovers.”
“I’d have to love a man to have his child.” It was a convenient point to argue but as she said it she knew she believed it. Sex was better when she loved the person she got sweaty with, and parenthood was such a big deal, she couldn’t imagine doing it without someone she loved, who loved her unfailingly back.
“You know that’s an idea that belongs in the old world. We’re making a new world with new rules.”
Let’s see if he was turned on by defiance. “I can sleep with anyone I choose, right? That’s in the rules.”
He nodded but his jaw tightened. He didn’t like that.
“Good to know.” She put the basket down but as she straightened up, he took hold of her arm.
“What makes you happy, Rosie?”
That reaction. The shift in his detachment. The firm hold he had of her. The fact that he responded to her challenge. “Lots of things. My brother. My tech.” It told her he didn’t like the idea of losing her to another man first. An Achilles’ heel.
