Ruthless King

Relief filled her and she blinked her tears away. “I know. My father never cared about me. Not like you do. He would never have dropped everything to take care of me while I was ill. He didn’t want to know what mama or I thought. I know what you want isn’t like his need to control and demean us. You only want to take care of me.”

Regent ran his hands up and down her thighs. “Yes, I only want what’s best for you, baby.”

“Your confidence and protectiveness are part of what I like about you. Even if you do always think you’re right and can be a bit too bossy.”

“So you’re all right with me bending you over furniture whenever I get the chance? Tying you up? Ordering you not to come? Following my rules for health and safety?”

“I’m okay with all of that. Although I might need to know those rules first.”

“They’re pretty simple. Don’t do anything to put your safety or health at risk. I’ll also be assigning you a bodyguard who will go everywhere with you when you’re not here at the house. That’s non-negotiable because being with me means you have a target on your back.”

“Right.” She didn’t actually intend to argue about that. “I can still see my friends, though, right? And what about the library?”

“Your friends will be vetted. If they pass, you absolutely can. With your bodyguard or me. Do you still want to work at the library?”

She thought about that. Was it something she wanted to continue? “I need the money.”

“Baby, I have more money than I can ever spend in three lifetimes. You don’t need money,” he told her arrogantly.

Jeez Louise. This man.

“I have bills. Not just house bills. But everything that Lowell left me.”

Regent’s face hardened. “You won’t be paying any of that.”

“I have to, they’re in my name.”

“No. Gerald found the utility bills you were behind on and he’s paid them all for me. I want all the details about these debts Lowell incurred in your name. Then I’ll take care of them.”

“Wait. What? Gerald found the utility bills? And they’ve been paid?”

“Yes.”

“Regent! You can’t do that!”

“I believe I already have. And I’ll pay these other debts too.”

“I can’t let you do that.” She shook her head. This was insane. He’d paid her bills? That was bad enough. She couldn’t allow him to pay for anything else.

He grasped her chin. “You’re not asking. I’m telling you. And I need that information about Lowell. I’ll send someone over to the house get it. But you will not worry about the debts. Understand?”

Sheesh.

“It’s not right for you to pay for them.”

“And it’s not right that you have to either. When you become my woman, your debts, your worries, your battles become mine. And you will let me take care of you.”

It was too much. He was making her mind spin. And yet she could tell he wasn’t going to let this go.

Pick your battles.

Right.

“You’re sure?”

“Yes. And I don’t want to hear anything more about it.”

“What if I don’t want to be a kept woman? What if I want a career?”