Aria’s POV
That sentence <b>made </b>my heart race like crazy.
“Anything you want to add to the contract?” he asked.
I thought for a second.
The financial terms he was offering were already more than generous–enough to pay off my debts and even move my grandma into better nursing home.
If I really <b>had </b>anything to ask for…
“Can we
not have sex during the contract period?” I asked.
He raised an eyebrow, and I immediately felt my face heat up.
“I know this makes me sound like a hypocrite, given..what happened before,” I stuttered. “But I was desperate back then and did something really stupid without thinking it through.”
“Of course. If that’s what you want. He leaned back, lookingpletely unbothered.
I still felt the need to exin. “I know the whole ‘no sex before marriage‘ thing sounds ridiculous. But where I’m from, that’s <b>part </b>of our belief. It’s what my mom <b>taught </b>me too.” Until she abandoned us, anyway.
“You’re from Frostpine Pack, right?”
“Yes.”
“I respect your beliefs. It doesn’t affect our agreement at all,” he said calmly.
I felt a little embarrassed. Honestly, what was I thinking? Even if I hadn’t brought it up, he wouldn’t want to sleep with me anyway. He had way too many better options.
“If there’s nothing else, can I take this as your agreement <b>to </b>sign?” he asked.
“Y<b>–</b>Yeah. Of course.”
<b>“</b>Then sign here.”
He leaned forward to point out where I needed to sign. I instinctively leaned in too.
That’s when I <b>caught </b>it again.
The strong scent of pine.
As I said,
our scent only got <b>s </b>stronger when we were either fighting, mating, or… <b>aroused</b>.
I snapped my head up, looking at him. And yet his <b>expression </b>stayed perfectly calm,pletely at odds with what his scent <b>was </b>giving
away<b>. </b>
“Think carefully. Once you sign, there’s no backing out,” he warned.
He was watching me with those <b>dark </b>gray eyes. A spark ran through my whole body.
I let out a nervour Laugh<b>. </b>“<b>What’s </b>there to regret? The chance is golden.”
I quickly grabbed the pen and scribbled my name down. And <b>a </b>strange feeling bubbled up inside me. Well, who would have guessed? I was now officially tied to Grayson Hart.
“So… Do you want to sniff me now or something!” <b>I </b>asked after the signing.
He chuckled lightly. “Not now. Like I <b>said</b>, most of the time I’m fine,
9:46 AM
“Well.. great.
He
nced at his watch. “Maids will show you to your room. Sleep well. I want you fully rested and prepared for this job.”
He made it sound like I was about to start some grueling physicalbor. I was getting more and more curious about what I needed to do exactly.
The maids <b>had </b>filed into the room, ready to take me <b>away</b>.
But I didn’t want to leave <b>yet</b>, I wasn’t ready for this perfect day to end yet.
And yet I <b>had </b>no reason to stay.
He stared at me and then suddenly <b>moved</b>. Before I could react, he had walked up to me and cupped my face with one hand.
My heart almost burst out of my chest.
A quick kissnded on my cheek, and <b>a </b>secondter, he <b>had </b>pulled <b>away</b>.
“Sleep well, Aria,” he <b>said</b>, his voice a low, sexy <b>murmur</b>.
I had the best night’s sleep of my life that night.
The soft mattress, the silk sheets, the scented candle <b>on </b>my nightstand…everything <b>was </b>perfect.
When I woke up in my new room feeling brand new, the maids were already waiting at the door with breakfast, politely offering to set the table <b>for </b>me.
And after an amazing breakfast, I <b>found </b>myselfpletely free.
<b>My </b><b>supermarket </b>job <b>was </b><b>obviously </b>gone. I didn’t have <b>any </b>new assignments from <b>Grayson </b><b>yet</b>, I <b>was </b><b>basically </b>free <b>to </b>do whatever <b>I </b><b>wanted</b>.
So after a litle hesitation, I pulled out my phone.
He <b>had </b>given me his personal numberst night–for work emergencies, I assumed I wasn’t sure if I could text him anytime I wanted.
Are youing home for dinner tonight?] I sent.
He replied almost instantly. (Why?]
II’m cooking. Wondering if you’d want to join? No pressure though! I know you’re busy.]
[OK. I’ll be there.]
My heart fluttered. His response made my <b>day</b><b>. </b>
I quickly asked if he had any allergies, but he didn’t reply. Probably busy <b>again</b>.
I left the mansion in a hurry <b>and </b>rushed to <b>the </b>nearest grocery store. After a quick thinking, I decided to keep the dinner menu <b>simple </b>yet <b>ssic </b>bruschetta for <b>the </b>starter, roast chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans for the main.
Mrs Jones was surprised to see me carry <b>bags </b>of groceries into the <b>mansion</b>, “You went shopping for food, Ms. Collins? Maids could have done it for <b>you</b><b>.</b>”
“No I want to do it myself,” I replied with a sheepish smile. “I’m cooking dinner for Alpha <b>Grayson</b>.”
She raised her eyebrow even higher. “Have <b>you </b>asked Alpha Grayson first?
Yeah. Why?”
“Well..” She was trying to find a delicate way to put it. “Because Alpha Grayson <b>has </b><b>a </b>very high standard for <b>food</b>. I can’t remember how many chefs we have fired.”
9:46 AM
OK now I’m sweating
<b>But </b>I <b>had </b>already asked Grayson, and the frozen chicken was melting in the bag as we speak. There’s no turning back.
“I’ll try my best,” I told Mrs. Jones<b>, </b>trying to hide my panic.
“Of course, Ms. Collins. Kitchen is this way,”
Cooking wasn’t hard for me. I was independent at a very young age, and I liked to <b>study </b>various recipes during my free time.
But I had <b>only </b>cooked for myself and grandma. Having a very picky Alpha taste my <b>food</b>–that’s a first.
So I spent the entire afternoon hustling around in the huge kitchen, trying to make every detail perfect. The time flew by, at 7:30 sharp, I heard engine noise <b>from </b>the front door. A car had just pulled up. The timing was great because the roasted chicken was just done to perfection.
I rushed to the front door to greet him without even taking off my apron. My heart <b>was </b>racing.
“Hey. Wee back!” I blurted out as the door swung open.
Yet the next second, I froze.
Because it wasn’t him who just walked in.
It was a tall woman in a Chanel suit, blonde curls, absolutely stunning–like she’d just stepped off the <b>cover </b>of Vogue.
Fucking hell…
It’s Delh Harl
<b>3/3 </b>