AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Thank you for your generous contribution of twenty million. I’ll take your payment as good faith for future opportunities.”
“No, you will take that payment for a date. Now, come.” He reaches for my hand and pulls me behind him.
Vance seems almost used to the exchange, as he doesn’t even bother to interfere.
I sigh. Technically, I don’t need to be here. I have enough people trained for this job, and I could easily leave. But it’s the question of should I?
“I think you forgot who you’re trying to boss around.” I pull back.
“Fuck it.” He grabs me, lifts me up, and throws me over his shoulder. “Dinner. With me. Now,” he barks, carrying me out the door and past Clay, who is now just as used to River coming in and taking me when he wants to. I’m amazed he hasn’t been shot yet. Maybe I’ll have to be the one to rectify that.
“So demanding. Are you this demanding with your other women?” I ask as he carries me out to a new car that I haven’t yet seen. He puts me down, careful that my dress doesn’t ride up.
“That was jealousy, sweetheart. I can admit it, unlike some,” he says, wiping something from my black dress. “How about this?” he croons, his fingers now on my lips. “I’ll hike up your dress, taste that sweet pussy, and you can take a photo. And if you feel the need to get jealous again, you can look at it. Fuck, you can even send it to whoever you think you need to be jealous of.” He winks.
“Just get in the car,” I tell him, opening the passenger door for myself. He smirks as he waits until I’m inside, then he closes the door for me and walks around to sit beside me.
“You didn’t like my idea. I thought it was rather clever.” He smiles as he starts the car.
“You just want to go down on me again.”
“Fucking truth,” he says, stepping on the gas and tearing down the driveway and onto the main road. Someone beeps behind us, but he doesn’t seem fazed.
“It’s not the correct way to ask for a date,” I chastise him as I look at my nails.
“It’s a half date,” he corrects me.
“What even is a half date?” I ask, confused. If I’ve learned one thing about River Bently, it’s that he’s about as unpredictable as I am.
“It’s where my mother is also joining us.”
“Fucking hell, River.” I throw my hands in the air. “Parents don’t like me. It’s just the nature of the beast. They hate me, and why would I want to sit awkwardly with your mother?”
“Because you two are the most important people in my life. I want you to like her, and her to like you.”
His honesty catches me off guard. Am I really that important to him?
I’d usually flippantly think “why would I care,” but the thought doesn’t rear its ugly head.
I like the way it sounds, but it doesn’t change the fact that I don’t do well with parents. Not that I’ve ever tried. But considering my own estranged relationship with Meredith, I don’t do first impressions well.
“What if she doesn’t like me?” I ask. “Because that’s a high possibility. Mothers hate me.”
“She won’t once she gets to know you,” he says with unrelenting confidence. “She’s only here for a short while this time, and I’ve already spent most of my time with you.”
“Breaking into my house, I might add.”
“Yeah.” He smirks.
“How did you even get past my guards last night?” I ask, baffled. Anyone else who tried—and there were only two previous attempts—was shot dead before they even made it past a window or door.
“I have my ways.” He winks. “That and I hacked all of your security cameras and had a key made for your front door.”
My jaw drops open. “You just used a key to let yourself in?”
“Yes, Anya. It’s how people used to do it back in the day. You should try it someday,” he says smugly. “I’m not against you firing your bodyguards, though.”
“I’ll get rid of you before them,” I say defiantly.
