Free Part II by Vera Roberts Page B

scale of 1-10 of annoyance, Mariana was at a 7. “And what do I get in return?”
     
    “You can have whatever you want, Mari.” Scott replied, “All you have to do is ask me what it is you want and I’ll make sure you’ll get it.”
     
    “So let’s say I want to upgrade my car to a Bentley? Am I going to get it?”
     
    Scott chuckled. “Why on Earth do you want a Bentley?”
     
    Mariana smiled. “You just said I can have whatever I want.”
     
    “You can have whatever you want if it’s what you really want .” Scott reminded. “If you want to be like all that hip-hop garbage you listen to, then yes, I’ll get you a Bentley.”
     
    Mariana had to simmer her temper down. She felt like throwing her glass of Merlot in Scott’s face and calling it a night. “You know, I really don’t like it when you’re a condescending asshole.” Mariana smiled.
     
    “And I don’t like the fact you're testing me when I’m already being generous enough as it is.” Scott spread butter on his roll and took a bite. “That’s another dollar.” 
     
    Mariana began to think hard about her arrangement with Scott. She started to think she might be in over her head. She suddenly remembered what she had learned earlier. “Total Power Exchange,” she mumbled.
     
    “What was that?” Scott asked.
     
    Mariana cleared her throat. “Total Power Exchange.” She said loud enough for Scott and surrounding patrons to hear. “That’s what you’re doing.”
     
    “My girl has already studied,” Scott was proud like a father would be when their child takes their first steps. He sipped his wine. “Do you have a problem with that?”
     
    “I don’t have a problem with it because I know everything you’re doing is for the sake of me becoming a better person. I’m just wondering what you’re going to do when I don’t need you anymore.” Mariana shot back.
     
    “Need me?” Scott asked.
     
    “Yes, need you. What are you going to do, Mr. Dominant Wealthy Executive, when I won’t need you anymore?” Mariana asked.
     
    “I’m not doing this because you need me. I’m doing this because you want me to. Let’s face it, Mari, you never had anyone put you in check and for once, someone is doing just that. You like I’m keeping tabs on you. You like how I’m dominating you. You like I’m giving you opportunities no else have. You like,” Scott smirked, “how I’m fucking you.”
     
    Mariana didn’t want to admit Scott was right. He knew her too well. “You sound like you own me.” She hoped Scott was over this slave bullshit.
     
    “I own parts of you, yes,” Scott paused, “just like you own parts of me.”
     
    Mariana didn’t guess or wonder what Scott was implying. She only wished he just came out and said it. Heart, body, and soul. “Why are you so difficult?”
     
    Scott let out a small sigh. The answer was relatively easy. It wasn’t the time or the place to dive into detail. “You want to learn more about the Lifestyle, there you go.”
     
    “No, this is not about the Lifestyle .” She shook her head. “Why are you – you – so difficult?”
     
    “How am I difficult?” Scott was nonchalant.
     
    “I ask you what our status is, you reply with ‘lovers.’ I tell you I’m not your slave, you reply with ‘I own parts of you.’” Mariana remembered what B. said earlier. If mystery man was your boyfriend, you wouldn't be flirting with me. “You are difficult.”
     
    “We went over this.” He replied.
     
    “I can understand why you act that way at work. I don’t understand why you act like that at home.” Mariana questioned. “What do you get out of being an asshole?”
     
    “That’s five dollars.”
     
    Mariana flicked her hand in the air. “Start a tab.”
     
    “When you’re an asshole, there’s no mistake on what people expect of you. They know what you are and what you’re capable of. It’s when you’re nice, people take advantage of it.” Scott warned. It