Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 26265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
Immediately, Jethro shakes his dark head.
“Absolutely not. You’re not a maid, honey. You’re more of a playmate, and besides, a cleaning lady is no big deal. I’d be happy to pay for it, really.”
But I won’t let him.
“No, it’s okay. We’ll be fine. Maybe we can reevaluate in the future,” I offer in a compromising tone. He nods.
“Okay, I’ll agree to that. We’ll talk about it again in six months, and if you’re sick of my mess, we’ll hire a cleaner then.”
I giggle.
“Hey, but maybe it’ll be you who is sick of my mess!” I tease. “I could be a really slovenly person who lives in a pigsty!”
Jethro throws me a wry look.
“Somehow, I doubt that, baby girl. But yeah, let’s start moving this stuff into your bedroom.”
With that, he takes my bag from me and drops it on the full mattress in the smaller room. It’s comfortable, with a puffy white duvet, white curtains on the windows, and not much else.
“It’s not much, I know,” Jethro apologizes. “I just haven’t gotten a chance to buy furniture.”
But I shake my head, wandering about the small space.
“No, I love it. OMG, and the window has a view of the pool! Plus, I have some tapestries that’ll add a punch of color, and some knick knacks too. Oh wait, can I put stuff up on the walls?”
He gestures with one big hand.
“Be my guest, sweetheart. After all, this is your home, too.”
I smile at him.
“Thank you, Jethro, that means a lot,” I say in a simple tone. “You can’t imagine how it makes me feel.”
Something quivers in the air as we look at each other, and again, I’m struck at how handsome this man is. Does he really want to have unlimited sex with me? Curvy, nerdy, Jessie Norton? It seems hard to believe, and yet, here I am.
But then, the spell is broken and we begin lugging my stuff in for real. It doesn’t take long, and soon my boxes are scattered about the bedroom, half open and leaking random items.
“Okay, I think that’s all the stuff from my truck,” Jethro growls, surveying the mess. “Oh and by the way, here’s your key,” he adds, handing me a chain with two keys on it. “One is for the front and back doors, and the other is for the mailbox.”
I clutch the keys to my chest, my heart pounding. “Thank you. Seriously, for all of this. You have no idea how much it means to me.”
Jethro merely winks.
“Don’t worry about it, kid. I wanted to. Plus, the kitchen is fully stocked, and I grocery shop pretty often, so help yourself to the supplies. Do you cook?”
I smile brightly.
“Yes. A lot. Home-cooked food is so much healthier, so I cook whenever I can.”
He nods.
“Well, there’s a running grocery list on the fridge, so feel free to add to it, and I’ll pick up whatever you need.”
My heart stops in my throat. Does that mean we’ll be sharing meals together? Suddenly, this feels very cozy and intimate, and not like two people who just happen to have sex together.
“Okay,” I manage in a slightly choked voice. “Will do.”
With that, Jethro grins as if reading my mind.
“We’ll work out the details later, sweetheart,” he intones. “For now, I’ll leave you to unpack.”
Then, he disappears down the stairs and I close my bedroom door, my pulse pounding in my ears. Is this really happening? Am I settling into a free use relationship where I exchange my body in return for food and housing? It certainly seems scandalous, and although I know I should be ashamed, instead I’m excited. It’s terrible because what girl does this? Yet Jethro’s so gorgeous and charming, and my thighs squeeze together with anticipation.
But right. Unpacking. With that, I finish getting my stuff settled about the bedroom, and then wander downstairs. Jethro’s sitting on the couch in the living room, looking at his phone.
“Hey sweetheart,” he greets, looking up. “How did it go?”
I nod.
“Good. I don’t have much, so it didn’t take long. But looking at this space, you know with some plants, wall décor, and a few decorative pillows, this condo could really look nice,” I hint.
My man feigns horror.
“Oh no, are you going to redecorate my whole condo?”
I shake my head quickly, giggling. “No, no, of course not! I would never do that. I was just thinking…”
He interrupts with a corny grin.
“I was just kidding, Jessie. Be creative. Go crazy because God knows, I haven’t done anything with this place. Besides, you probably have a better eye than I do. Left to my own devices, I’d probably do this place up as a man cave.”
I giggle.
“You wouldn’t!”
“No, I would,” he grins. “I was thinking of getting a pool table, an even bigger flat screen, and maybe a foosball table to put right there,” he says, pointing to the middle of the living room. I gasp.