AllFreeNovel
Share Us
We both glanced at Merrick, but he’d turned away. He had his elbows on the table, which was odd for him, and his hands clasped.
He was back to talking easily with the Cardiffs as though nothing had happened.
“No, he spoke highly of you,” I said.
“He’s been looking at me like he wants to break my neck.”
“Merrick can be very protective,” I explained. “It’s nothing personal.”
The rest of the meal went much better. My heart slowed and I wasn’t so hot and cold anymore. I made small talk with Osian while we ate and I found myself relaxing more and more around him.
He was smart and he could hold a conversation well. We talked about college some more and he told me about his future plans as the heir to his father’s empire. They ran thousands of luxury hotels and resorts and he’d been groomed from a young age to take over the business.
It sounded very glamorous.
Exactly how I’d imagined my future.
After the meal was over, Merrick and the Cardiffs split from us so we could have time alone at the bar. Osian took my hand, leading me behind him as he crossed the room. I glanced behind me, making sure I could see Merrick out on the porch through the glass doors.
He was deep in conversation, but the minute I looked for him, he turned and sent me a quick glance of reassurance.
Osian helped me onto a stool and turned his seat so he could face me. “What are you drinking?”
“A Cosmo,” I said.
He ordered for both of us, shifting his seat closer to mine. His knee was between mine and I felt the contact in my whole body. But nothing prepared me for his palm settling on my bare thigh.
Hot and a little overwhelming.
“As is tradition in the organization, I’ll bring you a piece of jewelry in the next few weeks,” he said. “If you accept, and Merrick approves, then I’ll buy you more and we’ll be engaged when you accept the last piece.”
“So we won’t be engaged for a while?” I asked. “I don’t know a lot about the formal engagement process.”
He shook his head. “We won’t actually get engaged or be exclusive until you’ve accepted all the gifts. Usually happens several months after the first piece of jewelry. It’s a whole silly process, but it’s tradition.”
I sipped my Cosmo, glad for the liquid courage.
“So what kind of jewelry?” I asked, just trying to make conversation.
He leaned back, taking his distracting palm from my thigh. “Usually a full set of jewelry. Diamonds.”
“And it ends with an engagement ring?”
He shook his head, smirking again. His bored eyes were gleeful for a second as he sipped his drink lazily.
“Not usually. That’s reserved for more intimate things,” he drawled.
I stared at him, unsure where he was going with the conversation.
“Okay, maybe I…don’t want to know,” I whispered.
He shrugged. “We’re both adults. If you accept all of the gifts, and they are approved through Merrick, then I get to lay intimate claim to you. That's when we’d become exclusive.”
“How?” My voice sounded raspy.
He leaned in and my stomach flipped. He was very close and I could see the little scar on his eyebrow and lip in high definition. His eyes were a mottled blue-gray and they bored into me until I felt like I was burning up inside.
“A clit piercing.”
