She chuckled. “I was already planning on finding another job. I can’t go back to a place that had a bet on me. I already know I need to find a new job.”
He shook his head. “This is not about you finding a new job.”
Chris felt her heart pound inside her chest.
“What does this mean?” She licked her lips, and he was reminded of what her mouth felt like wrapped around his cock. Crap, he was struggling to focus because of what she could do with her mouth. Biting down on his own lip, he looked into her eyes, trying to bring himself back to her.
“You’re not getting another job. The crappy apartment you’re living in is going to go.”
“Chris, no.”
“Rachel, yes, you’re mine. You’ll be here, living with me where I can take care of you.” He silenced her with his lips. Hearing her protests was starting to piss him off. She submitted to him, opening her lips and letting him inside.
She pushed him away. His cock was still inside her, and he couldn’t move that far.
“No, I can’t let you take over my life like that. I need to work.”
He pressed her hands to the bed. “You’re not working jobs where men take bets on getting into your pants. I’m not letting that happen to my woman.”
“We just had sex.”
“Yes, you’re mine. You knew this was going to happen. Stop fighting it.”
“Is this what you did to Claire?” she asked. Her anger was clearly getting the better of her. He wasn’t going to let her bring his dead wife into this. Claire understood him, and she knew Rachel would be better than she was.
There was a part of Rachel that needed taking care of. She always brought the protective side out of him, and as the years passed, he’d pushed the attraction away from him. He couldn’t lust after Rachel. She was out of bounds. Never once in all the years he’d known her had he seen her as a kid. She’d been her own person, one he respected.
“I was the guy who won the bet at work. She was the nurse no one could get inside. I did, and I fell for her. The first moment I could, I got her out of work. No woman of mine is working. You’ll be at home waiting for me.” He growled each and every word at her. Her eyes widened in shock. “Claire knew everything. She didn’t get every part of me, Rachel. I’m not going to hold back with you. You’re going to get every part of me.”
“Are you a dominant or something?” she asked. Tears were glistening in her eyes.
“No, I’m not into BDSM or tying up or spanking. This is who I am. I’m the guy; I wear the trousers here, and you’re the woman.”
“That’s barbaric.”
“I don’t give a fuck. This is who I am, Rachel. You knew this, and a part of you knew what I’d demand. You see me properly.” He stopped to withdraw from her. Chris wasn’t surprised when she wrapped the blanket around her body. He stood looking down at her, naked.
“You follow my orders even when you didn’t have to.” Running fingers through his hair, he cursed. “This is who I am. You need someone to be in charge.”
“I can’t believe you did that to Claire,” she said.
“She accepted me for me, Rachel.”
“What if I can’t?” she asked, looking up at him.
“If you couldn’t accept me the way I am, you’d have walked away long before now.” He turned away. “I’m going for a shower. You’re free to join me.”
Chapter Six
Keeping the blanket wrapped around her body, she padded out into the apartment. The kitchen looked far more appealing than the bedroom. Walking into the kitchen, she headed straight for the kettle. Filling it with water, she placed it on the holder. Setting up a cup, she moved to the fridge. Her stomach was killing her. Glancing through everything he had, she grabbed some leftover ham and cheese.
She slowly started to make herself a sandwich. Her hands were steady as she worked, which surprised her.
The sound of the shower could be heard even over the kettle boiling. Leaning against the counter, she ate her sandwich, thinking about everything that happened. Claire had quit work, but Rachel had always thought it was down to being pregnant.
Shaking her head, she nibbled on the sandwich, wishing with all of her heart that she could make sense of the feelings crashing throughout her. Nothing was making sense. Not a part of her was willing to come up with a good enough argument. Christian had been part of her life for a long time. The thought of cutting him out was the furthest from her mind.
He cleared his throat, and she jerked up, seeing him standing before her. A towel was wrapped around his waist, and his hair was wet.