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

Bonding Time

Selene didn't own much. A dufflebag and a backpack held everything she possessed. The vast majority was clothing, though she had an extra pair of shoes. The backpack contained her personal papers and records, along with a few cards from people she'd known along the way. Her toiletries were minimal, including only the very basics and a single bottle of perfume someone had given her a few years ago. Since she only wore a little for work, it had lasted a fair while, though she had been using the oil they'd bought from the market of late.

Nick had carefully guarded his expression when she packed up her things. He was dismayed at just how meager they were. Not to mention that much of it was far more well-worn than he'd realized before. Most of the jeans had holes in the knees and many shirts were thin enough you could almost call them threadbare. He didn't pay any attention to her undergarments, though he had no doubt they could all use replacement as well.

"Do you want me to come with you to go shopping with Rachel," he asked once they'd returned to the penthouse. "You may need someone to help carry things," he teased as he watched her put her few things away.

"Oh, I probably won't get much," she answered.

Nick smirked. "Oh, yes you will. You need everything and Rachel will want to hit a lot of shops," he told her. "Besides, I expect there to be a few grand spent, minimum."

Selene looked at him with a startled expression. She opened her mouth to say something, but it seemed that it didn't work at first. "A few thousand," she finally exclaimed. "I can't spend that kind of money!"

Nick raised a brow. "I'm paying for it. You have a minimum I expect you to buy, but no limit. These stores charge more for things, so it won't be as hard as you think. And no looking at price... you know what," he asked rhetorically, "I'm coming."

Selene narrowed her eyes at him. "Why?"

"Because you'll be watching the prices. I've already gathered you're pretty frugal, but you don't need to be with my card."

Selene sighed and rolled her eyes. "I just don't need a lot."

"Well, things are different now. You need a fair bit of things to be convincing as my girlfriend, remember," he reminded her. "You've always had to struggle. Let me provide you with everything. It will allow you to save up all the income you'll be getting so you have yourself a nest egg for the future."

A resigned sigh escaped her and she walked over to sit next to him on the bed. "It's hard to even think about depending on anyone," she admitted, staring at her are feet as she stretched out her toes, then curled them. "It's mot safe."

"I know it's hard. You trust me, don't you?"

She chewed on the corner of her bottom lip a moment before she nodded. "To a degree."

As much as those words stung, he understood that these things took time. He'd been warned by others and he'd made his own observations over the last few months. While he'd not had experience with anyone who'd been traumatized, Nick was determined to learn everything he would need to know to have the tools to help her the right way. All that pain was still right there, under the surface. It was time she had the chance to heal.

A call to his previous mentor was in order, he decided. In the world of BDSM, many have suffered abuses, including at the hands of those posing as Dominants who were only interested in their own pleasure. That was against everything BDSM was supposed to be. The man was likely to have experience with survivors, or know someone who does. The same principles that would be used with a submissive who was in the lifestyle would apply to Selene.

"Trust me enough that I consider this as part of my end of our contract, ok," he asked gently. "I really want to do this for you."

Selene glanced back up at him and nodded. "Ok. Thank you."