You Will Sleep On My Bed

He offered me a small smile. “Excellent question, Willow. I am comfortable facing this with some control over the situation and the people involved. I have been looking for the right woman and nobody threw me off as you did from the first moment we spoke.” He lifted my hand and kissed my knuckles in a gentlemanly manner. “I want you. I like that you lead an uncomplicated life and have no ties holding you back. I like that you are determined and feisty—” he gave me another flirtatious wink. “And I want you to be mine. I want you to be completely devoted and invested in me… in our family.

I was lightheaded from all the information he had dumped on me. The sensation was bizarre; I was hovering over us, watching myself sitting with this handsome yet lonely man.

A part of me was yelling profanities at myself for entertaining this absurd conversation. I wondered what I would be called if I accepted this proposal. I couldn’t be called a ‘prostitute’ because Nicholas wanted to marry me. Slave? Not exactly. I would be doing this of my own free will. Maybe an incubator for his future children?

The same part of me screamed that there was something very wrong with Nicholas. Why would he be so desperate and ask a girl he didn’t know to be his? It begged me to take the tuition fees and run for the hills.

Yet, another part of me was about to ask him for the marriage papers and sign the dotted line. He was offering everything I could dream of and more. What was bad about it? I would be wanted and needed. I would have a place to call my own and a family that I had only thought possible in my sweetest fantasies.

I wanted to grab him and never let him go. He was wonderful and handsome, and he chose me over the billions of other women on the planet. He wanted ME! Maybe… just maybe… he even needed me. That was something I had never felt before.

This part of me demanded that I wouldn’t be stupid and throw away this chance.

I met his gaze and found him hopeful but cautious. My fingers itched to smooth away the worry lines around his eyes.

It was at that moment I knew I had already decided.

"Nicholas, I—"

He placed his finger on my lips, cutting off my words. “You don’t need to answer immediately. Think about everything I just said and we can discuss it further tomorrow. I am sure you will have questions and I don’t want to rush your decision either way and leave you with regrets.”

I was in disbelief. This silly man was about to get his way, but he put a wrench in his own plans by stopping me.

“Have you considered that I don’t need more time?” I challenged. He sighed before smiling.

“I like your decisiveness. But it is always better to take more time.” He stood up and pulled me up with him. “Come, let me show you to your room.” He sounded sad as if he was sure my quick decision translated to him being rejected.

My body screamed to ease his sadness. I was overwhelmed by how much I felt for this stranger. To the point, I was scared of my feelings. So, I stayed silent. I was too impulsive and making a decision might lead to regret. He was right to hold me off. It was a big decision… possibly the biggest decision of my life.

As he led me inside, a piece of information suddenly fell into place. “Wait! I am staying here? At your house?”

He stopped and turned to face me. “If that is okay with you. You will have the room all to yourself.”

I was stunned that I wasn’t going to stay at a hotel but also disappointed that he didn’t want me with him that night.

‘What is wrong with me?’

I nodded in agreement and he continued on, leading me down the stairs and pointing out different parts of the house. It was all amazing even though I felt out of place.

If I decided to accept his offer, would I feel comfortable with this level of luxury and wealth?

Finally, we reached a bedroom and he urged me inside. The room was exquisitely decorated. There was a bed big enough to fit five of my old ones, topped with a light duvet and a mountain of pillows that I felt the urge to dive into.

I noticed that my luggage was already on the bed as I examined every detail of the room. The room even had a lounge chair right beside a small table that held a couple of books. It was surely meant for me to relax and enjoy if I so wished.

"Nice accommodations," I teased.

Nicholas grinned. "I'm glad it meets your expectations, Miss Taylor."

He moved into the room and opened a door to reveal an attached bathroom. “Everything you need should be in here. But if there is something missing, you can contact Laura and ask for it.”

He even showed me how to use the phone if I needed anything else. The house was more like a hotel and although I was uncomfortable having someone at my beck and call like a servant, I gulped down whatever I wanted to say.

He kept his eyes on me as I looked around. I turned to face him. “Can I ask you something?”

"Anything,” he replied eagerly.

“If—IF I agreed to your proposal… is this how we would live?” I pointed around the room.

His brows furrowed in confusion. “I don’t understand what you mean.”

“Would we have separate bedrooms? Separate lives? Just you stopping by occasionally to knock me up?” My cheeks heated as I blurted out the question.

He strode over quickly, stopping a few inches from me. My breath caught when I saw the look in his eyes.

“Absolutely not.” He placed his hand on my arm and then slid it up to rest on my shoulder. I shivered from his touch. “If you agreed, you will sleep on my bed. Our bed. We will be together in every way.”

His lips were on mine before I could dissect his statement. His tongue peered out when I gasped at the sensation. His hand moved down, stroking my spine before it rested on my lower back. He held me tight as his other hand cradled my hand, keeping me still as he kissed me fervently. If he hadn’t held me up, I would have collapsed in a heap on the floor.

I was on fire and I moaned from the intensity that spread from my head to the toes.

He groaned as he pulled away, leaving us both panting and needing.

“It is better if I leave,” he muttered, breaking the moment and leaving me breathless. He retreated to the door and paused right as he reached it. “Sleep well, Willow. I shall see you in the morning.”

With that, he left, closing the door behind him. I collapsed on the bed immediately. My fingers traced over my swollen lips and I closed my eyes to remember how intoxicating his kisses were. Who needed alcohol when the high from his touch was so much better and left me feeling better than before?

If his kisses felt this good, how potent would the rest of him be?

I grabbed the pillow and smothered my squeals as I rolled over.

It was hardly possible. I was having a hard time believing it was happening in reality. The way my body ignited in his presence was enough for me to accept his proposal without any monetary additions. In fact, I knew I could dissuade him from giving me exorbitant amounts of money. That part of his proposal was outrageous.

After I had settled down, I opened my luggage and pulled out a pair of night clothes. I wandered into the bathroom, admiring the gleaming marble and exquisite fixtures before going through my unimpressive nighttime rituals.

I tried to think about the cons of the situation. Yes, it was crazy and impulsive. But I had never experienced anything close to the giddiness and arousal I felt in Nicholas’ presence.

Was it truly wrong to want it? My life before that day was either sad or irrelevant. My life in Atkins had loss, shame, and the stigma of being a burden wherever I went. Why was it wrong to try something where I didn’t feel that way?

I snugged into the bed and thought about Lory. I hadn’t called yet upon landing and I debated if I could do it right then. I wanted to ask her for her opinion, but she would think I was insane for condoning such a proposal.

I didn’t want her to try to talk me out of it.

I settled on calling her the next day, allowing me more time to decide what I wanted without the input of others.

When I closed my eyes and thought about what happened over the last few hours, suddenly I knew what I would give up if I agreed to Nicholas’ offer.

A chance at love.

Obviously, Nicholas and I shared strong chemistry. The air around us sizzled when we were close. But that was not true affection.