The Arrangement

Chapter 45

"Why'd you stop?" I blurted out.

"Stop? I'm still massaging your shoulders." Trent chuckled.

"No, before."

"Oh . . ." Trent's fingers stopped and he pulled me flush against him so my back was pressed against his stomach and he kissed my shoulder. "I'm tired of using you. As you put it, all I think about is what I want, what I need. You want to trust me, so I'm trying to give you reasons to. I don't want us to be a regret."

I took another sip of coffee because I wasn't sure what to say back yet. I'd told him to prove it to me. He was trying. I still wasn't sure how to tell him what I was thinking. I set my coffee on my nightstand and stood up. I turned around and straddled Trent's waist.

I kissed him then and we spent the night together telling each other what we were feeling without the words. I was warm and in Trent's embrace. He kissed my shoulder as he held me.

"I can't believe you wanted a pet tarantula." Trent laughed.

"It's not that shocking."

"I never would have guessed."

"I've always like animals. People, not so much, but animals yes."

"Still, a big hairy tarantula?"

"I was an angsty teen." I admitted with a shrug. "Besides, dogs and cats are hairy, what's so different?"

"They're furry." Trent corrected. "And cute. Tarantulas? They're straight out of horror movies."

"Oh hush." I rolled my eyes. "It wasn't long I wanted one anyway. Mom has terrible arachnophobia."

"So, if you could have any kind of pet now, what would you have?"

"Nothing, I don't have the time to devote to it."

"Hypothetically, if you did, what would you want?"

I shrugged. "I haven't given it much thought. Probably a cat."

"Why?"

"They're independent. I mean if you leave a dog alone for ten minutes it's like you've left for a lifetime and they go nuts. They're completely needy and always want something."

"And cats don't?"

"Nope. Cats, as long as there's food and a clean litter box, they're okay. If you pay them attention, they might let you, they might not."

"Kind of like you?"

I turned to glare at him, but couldn't even manage to look mad. "Uncalled for."

"I'm mostly teasing." Trent smiled as he kissed my neck and I shivered. "But let's face it, when you don't want to be touched and I try to kiss you, you get pissed."

"If you know I don't want to by touched, why insist?"

"Because, I want to hold you. I want to touch you all the time. When you're concentrating too much and thinking too hard, all I want to do it kiss you senseless to distract you. That and you're adorable when you get that surprised look on your face."

"I don't find it adorable when you make me mad."

"You're so used to getting your way you're like a spoiled child. It's fun to watch you not get your way every now and then."

"What did you just say?" I asked as I turned to face him.

"You're a spoiled little princess." Trent grinned before kissing the tip of my nose. "Spoiled rotten. And now, I'll be the one to spoil you from now on." Trent kissed my forehead.