Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 90448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
he whispered in my ear, “Lucy told me you talked, and you wanted to come to some sort of compromise on the arrangement.”
His breath tickled and delivered a tiny shiver across my skin.
I stifled a moan. “Yes. I’m willing to try this situation if we can come to an agreement with my own rules and limits.”
“So a negotiation?” He got in front of me. His lips curled at the edges. “Now we’re talking. This is something I can understand. Let’s go somewhere we can hear each other better.”
With his hand still on my back, he guided me past several rose bushes.
The music’s volume decreased with each step until only the sounds of our footsteps on the stone walkway lingered. A gray wall with carved writing appeared next to a bench. A sparkling stream lay in front.
The sky and its glittering stars reflected on the watery surface.
The roses’ perfume wrapped around me as I lowered onto the bench.
“Okay. Let’s start.” Chase sat down beside me. He attempted to glance at my index cards.
“Stop that.” I pressed the cards to my breasts. “Okay. The first thing is that if I’m joining this arrangement, I will date other men.”
“No.” He narrowed his eyes. “Next.”
I rose. “I won’t budge on that, Chase. It’s the worst and dumbest part of your harem.”
“It’s not a harem.” He touched my arm. “Please sit down.”
I returned to my position on the bench. “I will date other men.”
He spoke through clenched teeth, “No sex with them.”
“No.” I smiled. “Next.”
We stared each other down for several seconds.
Neither of us seemed like we were willing to budge.
Heels clicked on the stone path behind me.
Lucy’s cheerful voice sounded. “How is everything going?”
“He’s being an asshole.” I glared at Chase.
Chase countered, “She’s trying to get innocent men killed,”
“So it sounds like you both are being stubborn.” Lucy patted Chase’s shoulder. He scooted over and allowed her to sit between us.
Lucy smiled. “What’s the problem?”
“I want to date other men.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “And I won’t even consider this orgy fest without that.”
“You heard her.” Lucy turned to Chase. “If she’s going to try this then you can try her dating men for a few weeks.”
“And at the end of these weeks if I still don’t like it?” Chase leaned forward so I could see him.
“Then I walk away,” I replied.
He directed his gaze to the stream in front of us. “Can I approve of the men before you date them?”
“No.” I tapped my feet. “I doubt you’ll ever approve of anyone else.”
He groaned.
I sucked my teeth.
Lucy laughed.
This is a waste of time.
“How about this?” Lucy clapped her hands together. “Chase approves the guys you have sex with. You have to realize that Stone Industries has many enemies. It’s protocol that anyone close to Chase’s friends or family gets investigated.”
I eyed her. “Will the guys know they’re being investigated?”
“They don’t have to.” Lucy shook her head.
“Guys?” Chase’s voice held a dangerous edge. “How many are we talking?”
“I’ve only slept with two men in my life.” I raised two fingers. “It’s not like I have a line of men waiting to spread my legs to.”
“You do. You just don’t realize it,” he muttered.
“Let’s stay focused.” Lucy clapped again. “So far the compromise is that Jasmine dates other men.”
“I have to be a part of any investigation of the men and approval,” I added. “Plus, Chase doesn’t get the final say on who I do or don’t have sex with.”
“They’ll need to be checked before any physical stuff happens,” Lucy said.
“Including kissing,” Chase added.
“Just sex, Chase.” Lucy grinned. “Dawn will want the guys to be tested for STD’s and—”
“That’s fine, but I’m using a condom regardless,” I interrupted. “Which brings me to my other rule. If Chase and I have sex it’s always going to be with a condom.”
“I don’t like them.” He stood up and started to pace.
“I told you I had to get an abortion once. It’s something I feel horrible about and I vowed to always wear a condom until I was having sex with my husband.”
Chase dove his hands into his pockets. “Can we revisit the condom discussion later? Perhaps find other alternatives.”
“Maybe. But it will have to be before we have sex. And I doubt I’ll use any other contraceptive.”
“Fine,” he mumbled. “Anything else?”
“I won’t be living at Willow Park and I’ll only try this for two weeks.”
“How are you meeting me halfway? You’ve only spouted out demands.” He tilted his head to the side. “What is up for negotiation?”
“Nothing.” I bit my bottom lip.
“Jasmine, that’s not fair,” Lucy said. “What can you renegotiate?”
I considered the question.
All of the limits were pretty concrete for me.
Chase walked over and knelt in front of me. “I want a three month trial period where you won’t run off like a crazy person.”