y body for our home. Or rather, it's my mother's plan I'm failing to execute. She's the one who dropped me off less than a mile fr

trade, my virginity in exchange for cancelling the eviction, but my

get under his s

ssible for h

can do it,

iam watches me from the dark end of the vehicle, his long legs stretched out in front of him, a fro

idn't even recognize my last name-the las

, I sense there is so much more under the surface. Past all the scar tissue around his

now if I'm un

if he says no and my time with him is over as quickly as it started? I'll lose my one and only chance to reach the man beneath the devilish exteri

longer. Then

e truth and acce

ing through two tall, wrought iron gates. Then we're speeding up a long, tree-lined driveway, the largest house I've e

. Blessed

ver get

is hand reaching down to adjust his gold belt buckle. "It's what I'm use

e last word, worried I've said something that might reveal me as a tenant. This man doesn't know the people who live in his buildings, though. All we are is numbers in a ledger to him. He has no idea about the pe

s to me that I haven't asked your age. If you're still wr

tion that my favorite hobby makes me immatur

throat hard. "If people such as war generals or ancient philosop

ture of my

e answer could be yes or no, based on his scowl. "Isn't ther

ferring to. I only sense it's sexual in nature. Before I can question him, he laughs under his breath and continues. "I could tell you I swim in my pool

stops at tha

ghts, holding his hand out through the opening and waiting for me to take it. Which I do. An

, and then some. There are no flourishes or homey touches on the outside. It is strict red brick and wrought iron. A tall

to the perfectly coiffed older woman. "This is Grace. She will be staying with m

o me, showing no reaction to my wet clothi

the other way around. But William did promise to spoil me silly and there are two words t

to go swimmi

g his jacket. "Now? Wouldn't you rat

of pathetic, I hug my elbows tightly. "There's a community pool near...near where I live, but it's always packed. You can't swim

it's not any trouble." I get the impression he meant that to sound snappie

find a bathing su

eyes raking down the front of my indecently