Page 62 of Owned

I opened my mouth then shut it again, wondering why I was trying to defend Mr Jordan when Atlas was right, he was creepy and I didn’t like working for him. Still, I didn’t like Atlas’s tone.

“I hope you’re not suggesting that I quit working altogether, Atlas,” I said, equally uncompromising. “Because that’s not happening. I won’t be your literal fuck toy and nothing else, okay?”

The embers in his eyes gleamed. “Is that a protest I hear?”

“Damn right it’s a protest. I’m not a rug you get to walk over.”

“Good. That’ll give me plenty to punish you for later.” Disappointingly, he pushed himself away from me. “What do you want then?” he asked, the question not without a hint of challenge. “What dreams do you have, beauty?”

He wasn’t playing now, it a genuine question and a curious warmth bloomed inside me.

My dreams weren’t things I told other people, mainly because I didn’t have a hope of achieving them. But he’d asked and I wanted him to know that I was more than just a body in his bed.

“I want to go to college, get my MBA,” I said. “Then maybe…I don’t know, get a job somewhere in Europe. Work there for a while, see the world.”

He tilted his head, studying me. “Is that what you wanted Charlotte’s money for? To go to college and to travel?”

“Yes. I wanted to take Mom with me, too.”

He was silent a moment. “Do it,” he said abruptly. “Apply for college. Tell me where you and Cait want to go, and I’ll make it happen.”

A refusal rose to my lips, instant and instinctive, words about how I was going to use my own money, that I didn’t need his. But then I bit down on the urge to say them. The man was a billionaire, he had money to burn, and college tuition and travel would be a drop in the bucket for him. So why shouldn’t I take it? If he wanted to give it to me, then why not?

“What?” he asked when I didn’t answer. “No argument about wanting to use your own money?”

I grinned, unable to help it. “Okay, yes, I thought about it. But then I kind of like the idea of defunding billionaires.”

His easy, slow smile came back, the warmth of it making my heart turn over in my chest. “A small price to pay if it means you get to follow your dreams, beauty. And I won’t hear an argument on that.” He meant that, I could see it in his eyes, just as he meant that he was careful with his things, that he didn’t break them needlessly.

I leaned forward and touched his cheekbone, running my fingertips over his skin and down to his strong jaw, brushing over the prickle of his morning beard. “Thank you. I wish I could give you something in return.”

He gave a soft, devastatingly sexy laugh. “Just sitting here naked in my bed, you’re giving me something, beauty.”

“I would like to do more than just exist,” I said, frowning. Because the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to do something for him, make him feel good the way he was making me feel good. Except the only thing I had to offer him was what he had already. Me. “You said you never let yourself have any sexual fantasies until I came along. So, now I’m here, you must have a couple you want to try out.”

His golden gaze searched my face. “I don’t think you could handle them. Not yet anyway.”

“Oh? What are they then?” He was probably right, I probably couldn’t handle them, but I wanted to know what they were anyway.

He shook his head. “One day.”

I moved my fingertips to his beautiful mouth, tracing the full curve of his bottom lip. It felt soft against my fingers, the only part of him that was. “I’m your toy,” I said, deciding to own the nickname. “Your fuck toy and toys don’t handle anything. They’re there to be played with.”

Gold flames flickered in his eyes at the acknowledgment, making my breath catch. Making my skin tight and my sex throb. “You really want to know?” His features hardened subtly. “What I’d like is to call my friend Caleb, who owns Arcadia. Every once in a while they do a sex show and I’d like to perform one with my little fuck toy. I’d like to parade you in front of people, I’d like them to see you, watch you, want you. Only they can’t have you.” He held my gaze, daring me look away. “Because you’re mine and I want them to know that. I’ll claim you in front of them, showing everyone in that room that it’s only me you want and only me who makes you come, no one else.”

Shock rippled through me. I didn’t know what I’d expected him to say, but it wasn’t…that.

My face warmed and despite the fact that the whole thing sounded way too out there for me, my pulse accelerated. “Public sex?” I asked, trying to make it sound as if it was something I did all the time. “Really? Seems a little tame for a man like you, especially when you must have done it before lots of times.”

He didn’t even blink. “I have once or twice. In the context of an orgy.”

“But not a show?”

“No.”

Why not?” I asked, curious now. “I thought you’ve done everything there is to do with sex?”

“I have. But not that.”

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