Page 33 of Rotanev
“My mother refused,” I said, the memory darkening my thoughts.
“Why?”
“Money, mostly. She could barely afford to keep me fed, what with her, uh, habits.” I really should not have gone down this path because it wasn’t something I wanted to talk about. At all. “Anyway, I’ve always loved the water. I swam a bit while at college, but my aquatics membership expired when I disenrolled.” Another topic I didn’t want to discuss. “Uh, what about you? You seem to enjoy water.”
Yes, good save, Liani, I chastised myself.He won’t see through that at all.
“More than you know.” His sensual tones reminded me of the smooth ocean surrounding us, all calm confidence underlined in palpable lethality. “Why did you withdraw from your university?”
Of course he wouldn’t let that go. I sighed. Telling him the truth would only paint me in an even more inferior light. But I didn’t really have a great excuse, either. So I kept it vague. “For family reasons.”
“What kind of family reasons?”
Oh, you know. My mother borrowed money from a loan shark—a lot of money—and then skipped town.“My mom needed my help with something.”
“Something financially related?” he guessed.
A logical assumption, considering my employment choice. “Yes.”
He pushed onto his back, folding his arms effortlessly behind his head as he used his legs to balance beside me. “Is my money helping?”
No sense in denying it. “Yes.”
“Do you need more?” A soft question, one that seemed to still the water between us.
I swallowed. “Y-yes.” It came out on a whisper, shame following in its wake. The very nature of our conversation proved the unrealistic undertones of our relationship.
He paid me to date him.
To fuck him.
To do whatever he desired.
But the fact of the matter was, I’d do all those things for free if I didn’t need the funds. Nero Rotanev didn’t need to buy a girlfriend. Was he a rough lover? Yes. Was he dominant? Also yes. However, both aspects pleased me to no end. And more importantly, I enjoyedhim.
He remained quiet for a long moment, his feet lazily kicking him in a circle around me as if claiming his territory. “Will you tell me how much you need and why?” he finally asked.
“Why do you want to know?”
Nero righted himself in the water, facing me. “Because I need to know which battle of yours I’m helping you fight.”
“Why would you help me at all?”
He tipped his head toward me, one of his hands finding my hip. “Because you’re mine, Kailiani.”
“For how long?” I asked softly, allowing him to draw me closer to him.
“Where I’m from, time is inconsequential.” He brushed his lips over mine. “We think in terms of eternity, not days or weeks or months.”
That didn’t tell me anything—a common theme to his riddles. “I don’t know if I can let you help me,” I admitted. “I’m not… I’ve never relied on anyone other than myself.”
“Then allow me to change your mind,” he murmured, kissing me again. “Let me prove how reliable I can be.”
My legs wove around his waist as he masterfully held us steady without so much as a ripple.Magic, I thought.Nero is full of magic.
An inane notion, but he continued to do things that surprised me.
Such as wanting to help me with my problems.
