Page 29 of Hurt Me Not
“How’s this? Do I get the Emerson seal of approval?”
Anything she wore would—especially when she wore nothing at all—but I didn’t tell her that.
Instead, I nodded and stood.
“Let’s get going.”
She followed me, silent all the way down to the garage and even as I started driving to work.
“I have to work tonight,” she whispered after some time. “Did you… think about what I said?”
It rubbed me the wrong way that she wanted to keep that job. I knew she probably hated it, and there was no way they treated her well enough to deserve her loyalty.
But it was what she wanted. And if Pearl wanted it, she got it.
“If you want to continue torturing yourself, be my guest. But don’t forget about our contract.”
I looked over just in time to catch her little pout. It annoyed me how cute I found it.
“That's not something I could forget,” she said, her eyes slowly coming to meet mine.
I let the smile spread across my face as I looked back to the road. We were close to the office, but instead of turning right at the intersection, I went straight.
Who cares if we're a few minutes late?
I wanted to soak up this time with her. I wished I could reach out and grab her leg so I could feel her skin. The memory of her riding my thigh was fresh in my mind, and I wished she could have done it all night long.
I could barely sleep last night, knowing she was just a room away. It was a strange feeling. I finally had her close, but I couldn’t have her close all the time.
The whole fucking night felt more like torture.
“I have to get my stuff from my apartment tonight, after work. I also need to end my lease soon.”
I nodded.
“I'll take you there.”
“It's okay. It's really close to my work. I can just walk.”
My hands tightened against the wheel.
“You're not walking at night, alone.”
“I do it all the time?—”
“Let me rephrase. You're not walking at night alonewhile under my contract. How's that?”
This time, when I looked at her, her jaw was set.
Am I… making Pearl angry?
“You could get hurt,” I said, suddenly feeling the need to explain myself. “It's not safe. You can get robbed, or worse.”
“I've been here for years, Emerson. I can handle a small walk home. How about tonight I pack up my stuff and sleep in my apartment and you come pick me up in the morning?”
Oh yeah, she’s definitely mad.
There was nothing in the contract stating that she couldn't stay at her apartment. In fact, I tried to make sure that she didn't feel like I was trying to control her entire life.
