= CHRIS POV =
"If you want a place to sleep tonight, and if you want to get back all of your stuff one day, you either A - go find a sugar mommy or daddy to get 16,000 yen from and stay at the hotel down the road, or B - stick to the contract you have with me, because at least with me, you don't have to wonder if the apartment is still going to be yours in the morning. It's mine, I've been renting it for three years now and I'm going to keep renting it until I buy my own place. So, what's it going to be?" I asked, my arms crossed, glaring down at her.
Sarah's lips parted, but no sound came out. Her eyes darted toward the floor, her cheeks burning as the weight of my words sank in.
"So then…it's for real? I have to cook, clean and do…do…" She stammered nervously, her fingers twisting the hem of her shirt.
"Well," I interrupted, leaning forward so that I could look at that beautiful nervous face up close. Her eyelashes brushing those creamy cheeks, still stained with traces of tears..
"I think since this is based on my rules, forget the 'C's. Let's call them…requests. You have to fulfill three requests a day, for staying at my place. And the requests are… anything I want."
My lips twitched with amusement as her face turned an even deeper shade of red.
"Let's just take cooking and cleaning off the table. You're terrible at those things, but there are other things you're pretty good at," I said thoughtfully, releasing her and rubbing my chin with my free hand.
"Yes, and if you don't, for whatever reason, fulfill my request, you get strikes. One strike, one punishment. Take it or leave it."
Sarah's hand twitched as she started to reach out, before her hand fell back, limp against her side.
I could see her hesitation. She was on the verge of giving in, and yet I wanted more.
I wasn't sure she had learned her lesson yet, and I wasn't about to let her off so easily.
I let my gaze drop, dragging it slowly down her body, taking in the flush creeping up her neck, the nervous way she fidgeted. My lips curled slightly, and I bit the inside of my cheek to keep my composure.
I couldn't stop myself from feeling greedy…hungry. Everyone else had gotten to have her, touch her, keep her in their beds.Why not me?
"Oh, and you also have to pay me back for renting the storage unit. I'm literally paying to house your shit in a separate location, and you're not paying a dime for it." I tilted my head and raised an eyebrow.
Did I need the money? No. Did I want the money? No. It was just $300 a month, chum change. I rented a similar storage space for $1500, it was nothing to me. But she didn't know that. I just wanted to see it in her eyes.
I wanted her to feel guilt.
I wanted her in debt to me.
Sarah looked up from the ground she had been drilling holes into with her eyes and covered her mouth in surprise. "Seriously?" she gaped.
"What? Do you think storage units are free? Nothing is free, Sarah."
I took a step towards her, crowding her space "You don't like it? Say the word and I'll call off the movers. They're already on the highway. What do you want them to do? Dump your stuff on the side of the road?" I asked curtly, leaning closer to her.
"I literally just saved your ass by pretending to be your girlfriend and have made arrangements to get back your money for you, but all that is coming in a week or two, so all this is coming from my own pocket."
Sarah shook her head quickly, her hands wringing together. "What do I have to do? I'm still job hunting. Can I take a loan? I will pay you back, I promise," she said, her voice trembling and eyes watery with tears.
I raised a hand to her face and cupped her cheek gently, smiling slowly, letting the moment hang in the air between us. I was relishing this, this power I had over her, For years she had flitted around me, a beautiful butterfly, just out of my grasp.
Nothing I had ever done had rustled those iridescent wings. Not when I fucked girls right in the same room she was studying in, or even made out with her friends right in front of her.
Not when I manhandled her called it..mutual masturbation - gosh she was so sweet, believing every silly notion I concocted just to keep her under my fingers, and in my line of sight.
But now, she had somehow tried to turn the tables.
She had thought she could play me like a fiddle in a little game she started on a whim.
Did she think she was going to take advantage of me? So innocent, so trusting.
No, she's right where I wanted her, and this time, she's all mine.
No boyfriend to run off to. No friend to bunk with. No options. No job. No way out.
And I was going to keep it that way.
"You have to sleep with me," I said, my voice dropping low. I knew I was pushing it, but my pulse was racing, and the hunger clawing at my chest demanded more.
Sarah's head snapped up, her eyes wide, her breath caught somewhere between shock and disbelief.
"Sleep with you…in your bed?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper as her face turned scarlet.
I took a step closer, my gaze never wavering.
"In my bed. Beside me. Every night. No exceptions," I said, savoring the way her breath hitched.
Sarah's lips parted, but she didn't speak. She just stood there, trembling, her wide eyes, locked onto mine, waiting for me to make the next move.
And God, did I want to.