Shacking Up(108)

As if this makes me feel any better. "How the hell do you know she doesn't own panties then?"

"Because she flashed me the last time I took her out."

"Why should I even believe you?" I push up off the couch so I can prop a fist on my hip. It would be so much more effective if I didn't look so pathetic. "Besides, what does any of this matter since we need to make 'adjustments to our arrangement'? And maybe we need to talk about the money you left for services rendered."

Bancroft shakes his head. "Services rendered? I don't even kn-"

"I must be in the wrong business if my pussy is worth five grand a week." I motion to my crotch.

Bancroft looks so confused right now.

"What am I supposed to think when you leave an envelope of cash to compensate me for sex? Do you have any idea how degrading that is? You can't buy me, Bane." Oh shit. I think I'm going to cry.

His expression turns remote and he crosses his arms over his chest. "You honestly think I'd pay you for having sex with me?"

"Well what the hell else was it for? Just in case I end up with lockjaw down the line from trying to deep throat your cock?" Okay, that might be taking it a little too far.

"I was worried I might be gone longer than I hoped. I didn't want to leave you without money. I'm not trying to buy you, Ruby. I'm trying to take care of you."

"I don't need to be taken care of. And you said we needed to make adjustments, that it was all too fast. And the first thing you do when you get back is go out with Brittany!" I'm incredibly flaily right now. If I was sitting down I could shove my hands under my thighs to keep them still. 

"Fuck. This is why I hate voice mail." Bancroft rubs the space between his eyes as if this conversation is giving him a headache. "I didn't set up a date with Brittany. This was my mother's attempt at matchmaking again. I have no interest in dating Brittany. The only reason I went to dinner at all tonight was so I could find out where you were from Amalie. When I said things were moving faster than I expected it wasn't supposed to be a bad thing. I was flustered at being sent to London again."

"Oh." This is a lot different than what I expected. "But you didn't call me once while you were gone."

"I left my phone on the plane and I hadn't backed up my iCloud so I didn't have your number anymore. I messaged you on social media hoping you would respond, but I got nothing back. Do you have any idea how confused I was when I came home to find you'd moved out?"

I suppose deleting the private messages he sent without reading them was a bit hasty on my part. He must read the guilt in my expression. Based on his loud sigh.

"I knew we needed to talk about things, and I probably should've said something long before I did, but then I had to go back to London and I had no choice but to wait. I honestly didn't intend to get you naked so soon after I came back, but then the club happened and I didn't have the restraint necessary to wait."

I raise my hand to stop him. "You planned to sleep with me?"

He takes a step closer until my open palm rests against his chest. "Planned sounds devious and calculated."

I don't move away, but I lift my chin so I can see his face. "Were you being devious and calculated?"

Bancroft shrugs. "It was a good thing I was out of the country at the beginning. That first night you stayed in my condo, before I left, I had a very difficult time not making a bad decision that would have felt, very, very good. I'm sorry I wasn't clear in my intentions and that it took this long for me to express them. I would like to be forgiven. Do you think that's possible?"

I nod. "I'm sorry I didn't give you the benefit of the doubt, but the messages and the money . . ." I swallow hard as he covers my hand with his. It's difficult not to get caught up in the feel of him so close to me. "I'm actually glad we didn't make bad decisions before you left."

He cocks his head, his gaze questioning.

"If I'd slept with you before you left it would've complicated things. I would've felt as if I were being bought."

He picks up my hand, bringing my fingers to his lips. "Which is how I made you feel when I left last week."

"I've been dependent on my father's support for a lot of years. His money always came with a price, and I didn't want that to happen again. Even without the misunderstanding I would've had to move out."

"But I like having you with me." The fingers of his free hand trail down the side of my neck. It's rather distracting.

"I can't, Bane. Because it's yours. Because I need to stand on my own first. I can't live with you if we're dating."

"You already were."