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My skin pebbles when Dacre’s intensity robs the air. It makes me flustered and at the same time it gives me this urgency to drop my clothes, sneak under the table, put my head in Dacre’s lap and show how much I appreciate him.
“Are you busy?” I whisper and his head moves in a slow shake.
“When have I ever not had time for you?”
Never. And the realization makes warmth spread in my body. And now I regret being so scared of him all the time. He has never hurt me and never will. He may be a criminal but he would never turn on me.
Giving him a sheepish smile, I blurt, “I need a favor.”
Dacre raises his brows. “Go on. I’ll give you whatever you want.”
Generous. “I need 200.000 dollars,” I divulge. “Cash.” If Dacre’s surprised by my outburst, he doesn’t show it. Instead he listens seriously, giving me his full attention.
“What for?” he asks and I curse myself for not coming up with a good excuse.
“Personal reasons,” I whisper and Dacre gives me a long look. He doesn’t like the secrecy but to my surprise he doesn’t insist on knowing the truth. Instead he just rises and opens up a safe inside the bookshelf behind his desk.
Grabbing the stacks of cash that I need, he sits down again and waves with the money in the air.
Relief floods me, my body bursting with gratitude and I practically fly over the floor when he stops me, yanking the money back.
“Ah-ah,” he rasps in a tone that gives me shivers and he raises his chin, causing his sharp cheekbones to protrude. “What do I get in return?”
Feeling like I just swallowed a lemon, I stare at him in shock. “W...what?”
He cocks a brow. “You didn’t just think I’d give this to you without getting something back, did you?” He slowly shakes his head. “That’s not how the real world works.”
I swallow. “I’ll pay you back...with interest.”
Dacre doesn’t seem pleased. “Not good enough.” He spreads his legs and puts one hand on his thigh. “I want something now.”
“But I don’t have anything to offer you,” I rasp and Dacre leans his head back.
“Think again, princess,” he urges. “And think real hard.”
It can’t be a kiss. He’s already kissed me and my kisses aren’t worth that much money anyway. What else can I give him....?
The only other thing is my body. The notion gets me all flustered and I must look like a deer in the headlights to Dacre. If we cross that line...then how can we go back to the way we were? And if we do cross it then we’ll have to explain ourselves to high society and our parents.
There were already so many rumors going on about us back in spring. People began whispering, thinking it was strange that a stepbrother and stepsister lived together when they’re both of age to live alone. I doubt Dacre knows anything about those rumors, though.
He’s all about his work while I’m the one socializing. Then again, Dacre probably wouldn’t care what they say but I do. I do care because I was raised to treat my reputation like it was a commodity. It’s all I’ve ever known.
“Princess,” Dacre rasps, stressing me and I suck my cheeks in from nervousness. “I’m waiting for you to tell me what you can give me in return.”
Dragging an inhale so fast I snort, I ignore his question and walk over to the window. “Look at those trees. Don’t they move so nicely in the wind?” I whisper nervously. “Like they’re waltzing...,” I trail off, realizing that Dacre probably couldn’t care less about my random observations but then I catch the look on his face in the window.
He looks...peaceful. The tense muscle on his face easing, his broad shoulders sinking...
For once Dacre, actually looks huggable and I want to wrap myself around him and use him as a human pacifier. Too anxious to tell him I’m ready to offer up my body, I decide to just discreetly show him.
It’s harder than it seems and I feel like every spotlight in the world is on me when I turn my focus to a marble bust representing a half-naked female with no head and a sarong around her hips. “What’s her name?” I whisper but then curse myself.
What kind of a question is that?
Even Dacre seems taken off guard and rasps, “She doesn’t have one.”
Giving him what I hope is a sultry smile, I toy with my skirt to make it flare, and that sharpens Dacre’s attention because he leans forward. Yes it’s working! I’m not the complete disaster I thought I’d be and I straighten with newfound confidence.
