I’d never been a vindictive person, but at that moment, I could quite safely say it would be so easy to be one.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“No meaning.” I stayed, staring up at him.
He was tall. Handsome. Even with his scar. Why couldn’t he have been ugly? He was older than me. Perhaps in his forties. His age didn’t bother me though. Strange.
“Are you hungry?”
“Will it be undercooked like the eggs?”
He smiled. I liked it. I really shouldn’t, but it was nice.
“You’ve got a smart mouth.”
“You’ve promised not to hurt me.”
“And you believe me?”
“You’d have killed me already.” I rolled over and fell to my knees before him. I was a virgin. I’d never kissed a guy or been felt up by one. Never had one give me an orgasm. The ones I’d given myself were pitiful. It didn’t mean I was completely unaware of sex. I’d seen porn. I’d even heard my mom with some of the men. It was disgusting, and I knew kneeling on the floor, with my hair falling around me, I looked submissive. The clothes available in this room were not so sexy. Sweatpants and a large shirt, but I liked them. I felt like I could hide when I wore them. “Unless what is really going to get you off is the chance of me being dead. Is that what you want, Earl? A dead virgin?”
I watched him closely. He gave nothing so obvious away. It was all in his eyes. The way they stared at me. I hit a nerve, but the truth was I didn’t care.
I wasn’t going to be at his or anyone else’s mercy, not ever again. Even though my heart raced as I fought him, I took great pride in not giving in.
“If you want to eat, follow me.”
My stomach chose that moment to answer for me. Traitorous hunger. Getting to my feet, I followed behind him. The boat was still swaying. Part of me wondered if a shark was circling. I could push him overboard and take over the crew. It would never happen. I had more chance of dying through drowning than taking over this boat.
I expected us to head above deck, but he led me to a sitting room. Along the curve of the room, I saw sofas. They looked so comfortable. A large television screen dominated a wall, and three large boxer dogs lifted up when Earl entered.
“Stay,” he said. His voice commanding, deep, husky.
Another table was set for the two of us.
Earl held out a chair, and I went to it, sitting down, and he slid it beneath the table.
As I sat on my ass, his fingers traced along my arms, and I waited for him to touch me some more. It never came.
I placed the napkin into my lap and watched him sit. He’d changed out of the white trousers, and he now wore gray and white. I was a slob in comparison to him.
“Did you enjoy your bath?”
“Yes, thank you.”
He snapped his fingers, and a man came out. I’d noticed none of the men even looked at me. I wondered if it was because of my ugliness or if he’d ordered them not to. Why would he do that? A small bowl with white-looking soup was placed in front of me. I waited for him to start before picking up my spoon.
I took a spoonful and closed my eyes. Cauliflower, herbs, I thought I detected some rosemary, one of my favorites. I knew not a lot of people liked it, but I did. It was especially good on roast potatoes. I couldn’t believe that while I was seated opposite a man, I was thinking about food and ingredients. I was so fucking weird.
“Good?” he asked.
“It’s delicious.” I took another sip, and I wasn’t lying. It was good soup. One of my favorites, in fact. I loved cauliflower. As an ingredient, it wasn’t appreciated enough. Emily loved what I made out of cauliflower, from barbequing it up, to making it into a pizza, using it as rice. So many good things.
I finished the soup, wishing I had some bread to dip around the edges. There was perfectly good food, and I hated to waste anything because of the years of living with my mom when she’d worry about the next paycheck, or the wealthy boyfriend who would pay all of her bills.
Again, Earl snapped his fingers, and I sat through two more delicious courses before dessert finally came out. Chocolate mousse, yum. I used the tiny spoon provided to take small amounts to enjoy the taste. I did this in an attempt to know what ingredients were used. At that moment, I wished I had my notebook. Emily often teased me about carrying around it around, but I loved it. It was like a security blanket. Not that anyone could blame me after everything that had gone down.
“I love watching you eat,” Earl said.
Now there was no food as a distraction, I had no choice but to face him. Holding my hands across my stomach, I stared at him and waited.
“Have you thought any more about my request?”
“You think you’re giving me a choice?”
“Everyone has choices, Ashley.”
This caused me to laugh. It wasn’t a nice sound. All my life, I hadn’t had choices. My mom took them away from me. Even the Monsters didn’t give me a choice. I’d always been told what to do.
“I don’t have a choice. You’re not going to let me out of here until you get what you want.”
“True.”
I wanted to play with something. Fidgeting was a comfort to me, but the moment I was in his company, I seemed to freeze up, standing still. It was infuriating because I didn’t want to give in to him. The last thing I wanted to ever do, was allow him to think he’d won. He hadn’t won. Sure, the man made me nervous, but who wouldn’t be.
He was handsome with a bit of a boy-next-door look, with blond hair that appeared to be swept back but was yet never out of place. Green eyes, striking, and they held me in place. He was muscular as well, with hints of ink displaying beneath his shirts. I’d never seen him naked, and the truth was the thought of it terrified me. He was all man in every way, but he was also scary as fuck.
This man was a beast.
The scar wasn’t just the one indication.
It was the way he commanded. A simple nod. A flick of his fingers. All of it gave way to a man who was completely in control over everything.
I didn’t know if I liked it.
Still holding on to my stomach, I waited for him to speak.
“Just because your choices are limited doesn’t mean you can’t negotiate.”
I raised my brows at him. “Negotiate?”
“I’m happy to hear your terms and conditions.”
This caused me to frown, and I sat up, trying to understand a little more clearly. “I’m not sure I follow.”
“You’re here for me. The end result is I will take your virginity and keep you as mine for as long as it amuses me. That’s non-negotiable. That’s the prize at the end. Getting to that point, during it, and of course, after it, all of which I’m willing to hear your requests and conditions.”
Okay, this was new. “Why?” I asked.
“You think I don’t understand the situation I’ve put you in? I do. I’m well aware of what I’ve done. Doesn’t mean it has to be difficult for the two of us. I don’t want some terrified woman in my company, Ashley. I happen to think we’d get along well if you gave me a chance.”
I chuckled. “You’re a monster.”
“I like to think of myself as more a beast. We’re not in Crude Hill anymore.”