50 Shades of Drake 1 and 2

Chapter Twenty-Five

     The contract went on and on. There were appendixes and a section for Destiny to fill out her chosen safe words. There was a section that specified which sexual acts the parties preferred, or took great enjoyment out of. There was also a section for both parties to specify the acts they would not like to partake in.

    Destiny ran a hand through her hair, overwhelmed with it all. She began to feel doubts that she could enter into an agreement like this. Could she allow Aubrey to date other women while she could only spend time with him? Essentially cut off her own social life so she could be available for him if he chose to call? Allow him to control most aspects of her life?

    He'd already shown great care in how he handled her, but was that enough for her to trust that he would truly look our for her well-being? She noted that the agreement period specified by the contract was three months. Three months where I cut off my social life, where I give myself only to him, and where I let him control who I hang out with and what I do. There was no way she could make a decision on a contract this intense without taking more time to think about it. "Aubrey!" she called over her shoulder. Mentally, she reminded herself that once she signed her name on the dotted line, she'd no longer be able to call him Aubrey. She'd have to refer to him as "Sir" or "Mr. Graham."

    He strode down the hall and entered the living room, rubbing lotion onto his wrists. He still had on his dress pants and dress shirt, but he'd taken off the suit jacket and tie. His dress shirt was completely unbuttoned, revealing his chest and abdomen. He approached her and looked down at her. "Did you read through the entire document?"

    She nodded.

    "What is your initial reaction?"

    "I'm not sure if I can do this," she said bluntly.

    He exhaled and sat beside her, rubbing his hands on his thighs. "All right. Tell me what part of the contract makes you hesitate."

    "I can't date anyone else, but you can?"

    His eyes smiled, but his mouth didn't. "Yes. That is one of my stipulations."

    "In what way is that fair?" she asked him. "I make myself available for you for the entire time that I am not at work or school. How is it fair that you aren't doing the same for me? That you can go out with another girl while sleeping with me?"

    "I will make sure all of your needs are met and cared for," he told her, not breaking eye contact.

    But if what I need is you, and you're off with another woman, then what? she wanted to ask him. "That doesn't completely answer my question," was all she said.

    "Those are my terms and requirements," he said softly. "There are articles in that contract that are up for negotiation. That doesn't happen to be one of them."

    "Why do you feel it's necessary?"

    "I feel it's necessary because it helps to keep our agreement in perspective. We would not be in a committed relationship. It would be important for..."

    "For you to sleep with other women to remind yourself of that fact?" she finished for him.

    A muscle in his jaw twitched. 

    "It's not that I don't understand why you should be allowed to see other women," she said. "It's more that I don't understand why I can't see other people."

    "Because I don't want you to see other people," he said flatly.

    Her brows drew together. "I don't want you to see other people," she returned.

    He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I don't expect you to agree to these terms tonight," he told her. "I expect for you to want some time to think it over, and that is completely fine with me. No pressure."

    "So you can't tell me why it's important for you to be able to see other people while I am only allowed to see you?"

    "I can't give you the answer that you want, no," he told her. "I can only tell you that it's what I want. And you're right. It might not be the fairest of arrangements. But if you agree to my terms, and you serve me, and please me, I will spoil you in ways that you couldn't even imagine."

    She stared down at the papers in her hand, her brows still furrowed.

    He reached out and touched her hair. "Between the Jordan situation, the charity gala, and this contract, you've had a lot to deal with today. I propose that we get some rest tonight. Tomorrow I will take you back home, and I'll let you have some time to think about whether or not you'd want to enter this agreement on my terms."

    "All right," she said, setting the contract on the coffee table and standing. She held her hand out for him so she could help him up.

    He took her hand and kissed it before standing. He led her to the bedroom, where he closed the door and turned off the lights. He guided her to the bed and stood behind her, trailing a hand down the length of her back. He unzipped her dress and lowered the straps down her smooth shoulders.

    She trembled at his touch. She could feel tears gathering at the corners of her eyes. How was it possible that a man could be perfect in every other way except one? And it wasn't ever just a small imperfection. It was always an imperfection that teetered on the edge of being a dealbreaker. She stood still as he undressed her.

    "Get in the bed," he whispered softly.

    She did as she was told, without thinking. She pulled the covers up to her chest and stared up at the ceiling.

    He removed his clothes and joined her in the bed, immediately curling his arms around her and pulling her back against his chest.

    She caressed the birthmark on his right forearm. "If I sign that contract, I wouldn't be able to touch you without permission," she said softly.

    "But you know that you would often have permission, right?" he asked her.

    That response didn't satisfy her. "I wouldn't be able to look you in the eyes without permission, either."

    "Something else that you would often have the permission to do," he said shortly before yawning.

    "Then why even put it in the contract?" she demanded.

    "The contract is standard. They aren't terms I came up with specifically for you."

    "Maybe you should have drawn up a contract especially for me," she muttered.

    He laughed in the dark.

    "Your eyes are my favorite feature on you," she said, and even to herself she sounded like she was whining.

    He pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder. "And you would often have my permission to look into them whenever you want," he promised.

    Still unsatisfied, she continued to trace the shape of his birthmark. Burning hot tears trailed down her cheek and dropped onto the pillow.