Page 142 of His Good Girl
“I know.”
“And with me,” he continued, “you will tell the truth. If you need tenderness, you say so. If you need space, you say so. If you need me to put you over my knee and spank your ass bright red, you say so.”
My face went molten.
He smiled faintly. “There it is again.”
“You enjoy this too much.”
“I enjoy you.”
My heart went pitter-patter in my chest.
“What am I supposed to call you?” I asked before I could lose my nerve.
His brows drew together slightly. “In what sense?”
“At work. In private. In my head. To Jules. Am I your… girlfriend?”
It came out smaller than I wanted. Callum did not answer immediately, which was cruel and probably wise.
He lifted a hand and brushed his thumb along my lower lip. “I want you in my life, Avery. Not just in my office. Not just in my bed. I want you everywhere.”
My throat tightened.
“So, yes. If you want to be my girlfriend, you will be my girlfriend.”
My heart beat even faster then.
“I might want it,” I said.
“Might?”
“I’m negotiating with my dignity.”
“How is it going?”
“Poorly.”
He kissed me once, softer now. “Then take the day. Decide what you want to call it. But know what it is to me.”
“What is it to you?”
His eyes held mine.
“Serious.”
I nodded because I could not speak around the sudden pressure in my chest. Then he unlocked the door and I looked at him, offended.
“That’s it?”
“For now.”
“You are a terrible man.”
“I’m a very disciplined man.”
“That is worse.”
