Page 46 of Riches and Romance

“You were only here until your house was sorted.”

“Things have changed. There’s you.”

“You can’t just upend your life, leave your businesses and everything you know for me.”

“I can do whatever I want. You think about it and let me know.”

I don’t needto think about his offer. I want to live with him. But that means I have to pay Conrad. While he sleeps soundly next to me, I send a wire transfer from my bank. This time, I send him enough to last him a year.

Then I send a text telling him to expect the wire in the morning and that there is no more where this has come from.

He writes back,“That’s a pity. Have a nice life.”I delete the conversation and block his number. I saw a quote once that read, “No man is rich enough to buy back his past.” I don’t remember who said it, but I hope like hell they were wrong.

CHAPTER 16

FALLING

Six MonthsLater

Jules

“I can’t believeI wore these all night,” I groan and slip my feet out of the torture devices that masquerade as shoes. My poor toes flex after being confined for so long and sink into the soft rug that covers the floor under his bed.

“I love you in your sneakers, but I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t mind feeling the point of those in my ass while you scream my name tonight,” Omar drawls from the bed behind me where he’s spread out like a lion after a satisfying meal.

He had a meal all right: me. As soon as we climbed in after the event at Inner Temple tonight, he pulled me over to his side of the car, lowered the seat, and ate me until I was sobbing in ecstasy.

But it wasn’t enough, and I can’t wait to pick up where we left off. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of him, and nothing makes me happier than when he makes it clear he feels the same way.

The last six months have been, unequivocally, the very best of my life, professionally and personally. I am in a place thirteen-year-old me couldn’t even imagine.

And during a beautiful ceremony at the Temple Church this evening, I was awarded the coveted Pupil of the Year award.

I didn’t have to scan the room to catch the eye of anyone as I walked to the stage to accept it. Tonight, Omar sat by my side, and when my name was called, he kissed me so long and hard that several wolf whistles accompanied the applause that rang through the room on my way to the stage.

He was on his feet when my speech was over and held my hand while I accepted personal congratulations from my peers and superiors.

“I want to show you something,” he says, and I look over at the bed with a coy smile and wag my finger at him.

“I’ve gotta use the ladies’, but get yoursomethingready so I can hop on and make it worth the wait.”

He chuckles, lifts his phone up, and taps the screen. “Not thatsomething,my little nympho.”

“You made me into what I am.” I snicker and shimmy my hips. “And I can’t wait to see it, but first I have to answer nature’s call. Where’s my phone?” I look around the bedroom and spot it on the bed next to Omar’s black sock-clad foot.

I reach for it, but Omar makes a wild lunge from the bed, using his long arms to snatch the small clutch before me.

“What are you doing?” I stare at him, confused.

He pulls it out of the bag. “It’s rude to use your phone in the bathroom.” He glances at my screen and quirks his lip. “It’s dead anyway.” He rolls over and sticks it on the charger.

“Thank you, I guess. Be right back.”

“If you’re going to be in there long enough to need your phone, please for the love of everything holy, turn on the fan,” he yells at me through the closed door.

“I’ve told you, I don’t need the fan. Because my shit does not smell bad.” I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from laughing out loud.

“Everybody’s shit smells bad.”

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