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“Okay,” he whispers, still holding me in his arms. “The phone will be kept here. On the table. You can use it when you like, but it will stay here.”
“Doesn’t that go against the contract or the rules or whatever?”
“I make the rules. The contract you signed had a provision that indicated the rules and statutes can be changed at any time by me. You clearly don’t remember what you signed, so we’ll make a point of going over them tomorrow. I want you to feel safe, but I won’t allow this modern obsession with a phone to impede your progress. So, it stays here. We clear?”
I nod. “Clear.” I agree as he steadies me back on my own feet. “You won’t snoop?”
He shrugs, looking at the phone, then me. “Trust, remember? I’ll trust you not to take the phone from here and you’ll trust me not to snoop.”
As he reaches to tuck my hair behind my ear, I lean forward, pressing my body against his, my hand at my hip. I can’t help myself. I reach down, grinning to find him hard.
But he pushes my hand away and takes a step back, staring at me.
“I’ll never take advantage of you, Kitty, not even if you beg,” he says. There’s no denial that he’s turned on. No attempt to put the blame on me. Just a statement of fact. “If I don’t think something is in your best interests, it’s not going to happen. Now, tell me why you were recording us.”
I flinch. He’s not accusing, he’s just asking, but my conscience pricks me in the ass. “I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do. Tell me.”
I meet his eyes. Those strong, deep eyes. Eyes that could anchor me in a storm.
I shrug. “I was hoping to get some leverage on you. I don’t like being helpless.”
“Do you feel helpless?”
“Actually, no, not really. I feel safe. I…” I swallow, forcing myself to go ahead. To cleanse myself of sin. “I’m sorry.”
And my world lights up as he blesses me with a smile. “Good girl.”
Good girl.
Why do those words make me feel like purring? Why do I want so desperately to please him?
“I think we’re done for today. You should go and relax. Shower if you like, change your clothes, do some reading. If you wish to leave the building for a walk or any reason, you must let me know.”
I nod. “Yeah, these clothes need a wash. I didn’t even change this morning. I was mad. These are the clothes from last night—"
“We’re going to burn them,” he says. “You need to wash off that asshole that touched you. Put on your safest, most comfortable clothes and we’re going to order pizza for dinner.”
“Pizza?” I laugh. “Isn’t that like a sin? Gluttony?”
“Only if we eat the whole thing. Even then, what is forgiveness for if not for sinning?” His eyes flash with humor. “What’s your favorite movie, Kitty?”
“Chocolat.”
“Well then, that’s the plan. Pizza and Chocolat. I’ll come get you in an hour. What do you like on your pizza? It’s ladies’ choice.”
I nod. “Ham. And…” I hesitate. What I’m about to say has alienated more people than religion itself. “Pineapple.”
I wait. This is it. This is where the rubber meets the road.
I steel myself for the grimace. For the oratory on how pineapple doesn’t belong on pizza but instead, he blinks, teeth denting his bottom lip on a nod. “You are heavenly, Kitty Tennant. Heavenly.”
I let the laugh I should hold back go in a belly jiggling burst. “Thank you…for being on the right side of the pineapple-on-pizza debate. I trust you more already.” He keeps his focus on me, sniffing as I see his jaw harden, then I add, “Not just for pineapple, but for listening. That’s the first time in ages anyone’s listened to what I said rather than just waiting to speak. Can I ask you for something?”
“Of course. If it’s in my power, I’ll do it.”
“The journal… If trust goes both ways, then you should have one too. I should be able to ask you things as well. Things that you’ll answer without fear of repercussions.”
