✔️ The Arrangement (A Kinky Romance) [1st Draft]

The Proposition

Once Selene had cried it out, Nick helped her wipe her face off before he bothered with his chest. He didn't care about that and waved off her apology.

"Do you feel any better," he asked, brushing some stray hair out of her face.

Selene nodded, taking in a deep breath before she looked up at him. "You don't think any differently about me?"

Nick cupped her face. "I do," he began, but hurried to explain as her expression fell. "I think so much more of you now. What you've endured and still remain a good and decent person – that takes strength and courage that can only be admired. I think it makes you pretty damn amazing and I appreciate your trusting me with this. I can't tell you how much it means to me."

A bright light appeared in her eyes and he saw hope. It pained him to know others had disregarded her because of what had been done to her.

"I will make sure that those people aren't allowed near you. I am getting you a lawyer and we'll work out a plan with mine. I'll get you a publicist person to help field reporters and questions. We will do this together, ok," he asked, making certain she knew he was serious.

"Nick, that will cost a fortune. I can't have you do that. I couldn't even begin to pay you back," she protested.

The light went off in Nick's head at that moment, though he wasn't offering it for the same reasons anymore. "Be my girlfriend," he blurted out. When he saw the frown, he shook his head. "I mean, my fake girlfriend. You can come with me to events and protect me from the social climbers and leeches. You can live here, we can hang out, you will be closer to work and in a more secure building that will help keep people like your parents out, and in public you act like you're in love with me and ... act like we're together."

Selene's lashes fluttered repeatedly as she seemed to fumble a bit while processing what he just said. Her blank stare told him she wasn't quite understanding.

"Ok, here's the thing. I wanted to ask you to do this before, and I'm perfectly willing to give you an allowance so that you can pull it off, but you still live your life and do your thing... I'm not trying to take over your life or anything... I thought it would help get you out of the motel and save up some extra money, since I'm happy to pay you for it and I would need to get you a lawyer and a publicist person anyway..."

Selene put a finger over his lips to stop him. "Let me get this straight. You want me to pose as your girlfriend in public and at these.. parties you go to. In exchange, I live here and you give me money?"

Nick chuckled at himself and nodded. "Basically."

"What are you getting out of it," she asked with a deep frown.

"I get not hassled by greedy, selfish women and have someone with me I can actually have a good time with," Nick explained. "You don't know how rare that would be for me. Most of my friends are either men or they don't go to these things. I kind of have to because of my business, so you coming with me would be worth paying for."

Selene laughed, in spite of everything that had happened in the last half hour so. "You poor guy. All those women bugging you."

Nick's brows rose and he swatted at her butt. "I'm serious. It's tiring. I'll have at least two try to climb all over me to seduce me. Then I have to have the stink of that perfume they wear on me all night. I've had them try to sneak into my apartment and show up at my office trying to seduce me there."

"That's just tacky," Selene responded with a look of distaste. "So, basically, you consider this an equal trade?"

"I consider it as more than equal. I get to have you around all the time. No more empty apartment every night or eating dinner alone. The best part is that I'll also worry less about your safety, and you will be able to save up a nice bit of money for whatever you decide to do later," he told her honestly.