“My mother.”
I chortle. “Yeah, I get that. But what really led you here?”
“No, it’s true. It’s my mother.”
She peers into the cup between her hands, defeat splashing over her face. The sight of her looking that depressed makes my stomach do a backflip.
I frown. “Alex, what happened?”
When she doesn’t respond, I set the teacup aside and sink into the couch next to her, lightly touching the edge of the fur throw. She rests her teacup on the coffee table and nods, allowing me to lift the blanket and sneak my arm underneath. The way she nestles into my side flushes me with warmth. It’s a comfort unknown to me, a reaction so foreign that it actually stings to think about the possibility of never having it.
“My mother decided to barter off my virginity to Osmond Somerville.” I stiffen but try to listen, muscles tensing regardless of how much I implore them to chill out. “I’ll lose my freedom and status if I’m forced to become his fucking sugar baby.”
“That’s fucked.”
She gives a humorless chuckle. “That’s how it’s been lately. What am I supposed to do about that, Soren? I have no choice.”
“You’re not the only one stuck in a rut. I’ll be disowned if I don’t marry you.”
“So, her plan fucks you over too.”
A smile crooks my lips. “You make it sound like you were going to pick me.”
“Don’t get your hopes up.”
“But you thought about it, right?”
She tilts her head to peer up at me through squinting eyelids. “You’re pushing your luck, mister.”
“Pushing my luck sounds like I still have a chance.”
“You never did.”
My smile turns mischievous as I shift my weight and lean toward her, positioning my lips just close enough for her to take—if she wants. It’s one of my signature moves. Since I formulated my plan to seduce Alex, I knew hard tactics wouldn’t work on her. She’s a romantic at heart, a flowers and chocolate kind of girl, basic human fucking decency. Giving her an inch makes her want to go a mile.
All I have to do is set up the bait.
She shudders, her breath laboring when my hand slips to her hip. It’s an easy move, one that makes goose bumps spring along her arm while I wait for her to cross the distance. The ball is in her court. I’m just idling my time here.
“I’m powerless,” she whispers weakly, her breath coasting over my bottom lip. My eyebrows furrow tightly when she slips an inch of space between us. “And you’re being made to feel powerless, I assume.”
My gut twists into a ball when she doesn’t follow through with the kiss. I lean back into the couch, fixing my expression so she doesn’t witness my disappointment. I was so close to having her lips. Her denial is nothing new.
So why the fuck do I feel so bad about it?
“Yeah,” I agree, ignoring the confusion whirling in my chest. “I do feel powerless. My father is so cold with me.”
“At least you have a father.”
The tip of my finger traces her chin, causing her to tilt her head back. Creamy skin presents itself for the taking with a throat that works overtime to swallow. Witnessing the way her muscles respond to me makes me hungry for her, but I shove the feeling away, trying to focus on the situation at hand.
A devilish smile slips over my mouth. Maybe there’s a way the two of us can get what we want without having to compromise anything else.
While tracing her jugular, I whisper, “I have a splendid idea, Alex.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s your virginity that makes the deal with Osmond official, correct?”