She didn’t say it out loud, but he knew that was what she was thinking.
“Not exactly,” he said, moving his hand up to cup her face, turning her toward him. He knew he had to say this carefully. “I’ve really thought hard about this. About us. I don’t want forever after, Tara. I can’t offer you a commitment. I’ve been married once before and I don’t ever intend to do that again. I’m not looking for long-term.”
“Well, this isn’t exactly the most romantic offer I’ve ever had,” she attempted to joke.
“I’m sorry; I don’t know how to say this without sounding harsh. I want to be honest and upfront so that neither of us gets hurt. I can’t offer you love, because I don’t intend to ever love anyone again. I don’t want you thinking that I’m offering that picket fence. I’m not. I want to have fun, enjoy each other’s company. I want to be your Dom. I want to fuck you and dominate you for as long as we want to be together. I don’t want a messy break-up with hurt feelings.”
She was silent for a long moment. “For how long? A few weeks? A month?”
“I thought we’d start with two months. I have the club contract. We can amend it to suit us. What do you say?”
She sat and moved to the side of the bed. Her face was cold. He’d screwed this up.
Alex sat and quickly grabbed her before she could stand, pulling her onto his lap. “Wait. I’ve fucked this up.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” she said coldly. “You’ve just told me what you want.”
“What I want is for us to explore this attraction we have. I want us to enjoy each other’s company. I’m too serious. You make me smile. You’re fun and sexy and while I can’t promise forever, while we’re together I will protect you and put you first. Just think about it. A no-strings relationship, would that really be so bad?”
Chapter Five
Well, it wasn’t a marriage proposal. But then she hadn’t been expecting one. In fact, she’d half-expected to be kicked out of his bed as soon as the fun was over. Oh, he’d do it very politely, of course. But she figured she’d be shown the door.
She could say no. She could walk out of here and never do this again. Part of her couldn’t help but feel rejected. Was there something written on her forehead that only men could see?
Do not commit.
There had to be. Either that or she was falling for the wrong guys. But you couldn’t help who you were attracted to, right? And it seemed like she was attracted to men who were commitment-phobic.
She didn’t expect a real relationship from Alex, not after one night. But this seemed so unromantic, so cut-and-dried.
Two months. She’d have him for two months. Surely she could stop herself from getting her feelings hurt. She knew what he wanted. A no-strings affair. Friends with benefits, wasn’t that the term?
Sounded so cold when she thought of it that way. But what was the alternative? Say no and always be pining after him? She’d always wonder what she was missing out on. This way she could get him out of her system. Fuck ‘em then leave ‘em.
Maybe that could be her new motto.
She nearly snorted. Yeah, right. Somehow she didn’t think it would be that easy to say goodbye. So at the end of the two months she’d invest in a whole lot of ice cream. Because she was going to say yes.
“All right.”
“What?” He looked at her in surprise.
“I said okay. I’ll sign a contract.”
He grinned.
“But I have a condition,” she added.
His grin faded and he looked at her suspiciously. “What?”
“For the time that we’re together, we’re exclusive. No sleeping with anyone else.”
“Agreed.”
Well, okay. That was quick.
Alex took her mouth in a deep kiss. “You won’t regret this, I promise.”