No Strings Attached

Chapter Four

"Surely, you see your friends? You go out? You're so young not to."

I chuckle awkwardly. "I'm afraid not. I've never been much of a party person. If you saw my apartment, you'd know."

"What's in your apartment?"

"Books. Too many to count or possibly read."

He smirks. "I'm the same with records."

I'm holding the contract, trying to come up with a way to change the subject, and yet, I don't.

"Do you date? Are you dating?" he asks.

Jesus, that question. I stare at him silently for a moment.

"I just told you I live and breathe for my job."

"But no man?"

I smirk, deciding not to answer him, which makes him smirk as well.

"Every new moment I spend with you makes me confident we'd be perfect for another."

"I don't have time for anything, Giovanni. I'm serious when I say this," I press firmly, finally gathering the courage to lay it down. "I don't want love. I don't want a man to come home to every day. I like my life, my independence."

His gaze is steady but surprisingly gentle. "Easily, we can make this the farthest thing from love and still satisfy the craving."

"The craving being sex, you mean."

Scarlett, you're falling down the rabbit's hole... bad. Real bad now.

"Yes."

"Sex is never just sex. Haven't you ever watched a movie? They've made hundreds on exactly what we're saying right now."

"We literally don't have the time to love one another, Scarlett. You want me sexually. I want you sexually. We're constantly away on trips, constantly working, but when we're in town together?"

I stare at him, completely silent.

"We don't date. We don't call or text or fawn. We don't spend the night together."

"You must be pretty sure of yourself to proposition this like you're reading off Sunday's paper. How do I know it'll be worth it? To put my job in jeopardy because right now, I don't think there's a thing you can do to change my mind on the fact that fucking you would ruin our professional relationship. I'd end up just like your other unfortunate publicist."

"We'll put it in writing."

I set down the contract, flabbergasted. "Giovanni."

"Saying you are anything like her is an insult to your character. I knew the moment I saw you that your career is your life, as my business is mine. I'm tired of women wanting more, and you want your space."

I shake my head, mostly at myself for even contemplating this. He is so good at turning things in his favor. I am too, which makes him even more impressive.

He stands up from the chair, and my head swivels towards the noise, my heart now racing in fear. Delightful fear.

"You know what we can have."

I do. I can feel it hovering around us. It's explosive. It's different. It's rough.

I set down the heavy contract with a thud as his hands, warm and smooth, grip my arms, his body pressing against mine from behind.

"Whatever you desire, Scarlett. We will use one another to satisfy our fantasies... submit to this."

I am struggling to breathe. "You sound like you want to dominate me."