This isn’t…normal. Or good. Or safe.

“Seven.”

“Keller,” I say, forcing myself to talk and think clearly.

He doesn’t so much as blink. “Six.”

“That's insane. You can't just—” I start.

Her entire surgery. Paid for. She’s needed it for over a year. The risks. The pain.

I know my grandmother would hate this bargain.

But it doesn’t matter.

“Four.”

Keller can afford that sort of expense, and then some. It won’t even be a blip in his fortune. And it would be such a comfort for the woman who selflessly raised me. I’d hate myself if I let this opportunity slip.

If I kiss him and he goes back on his word, I can hate him with all my heart body and soul. And if I kiss him and he does what he promises, I can hate him anyway for making me do it…although, the relief it would bring us would make it hard. At the very least, I’d be able to keep my distance, stay away from him.

“Two.”

I never had any choice. And it’s just a little kiss. It doesn’t have to mean anything.

I cross the space between us, lifting myself onto my toes to reach his mouth.

9. Keller

9

KELLER

Holy fuck.

I expected, I don’t know, a peck. More protests and reluctance, and oh, but my poor boyfriend who lives two thousand miles away and is likely balls-deep in some slut right now, whatever would he think, or something. But it seems all she needed was an excuse.

Claire wraps her tiny arms around my neck and kisses me like she’s dying for air and I am the only source of oxygen in the room. Fuck, I don’t think I’ve ever bothered to kiss anyone like that. Like I needed it. My arms move around her waist on instinct, pulling her to me. And fuck, she feels so right against me. Like she belongs right there.

I don’t even register when I decide to lift her to the bar and settle myself between her thighs as I explore every inch of her lips, her mouth, and neck, my hands on either side of her, caging her in.

You’re going nowhere, my little prey.