“You’re a woman of tradition, are you not, wife? Why run the risk of going to a clinic and having others find out about this new arrangement of ours, when to ensure your pregnancy, all you need is a bed and a man willing to plant his seed in you? I wash my hands of such a privilege and want no part of it, but as you can see, wife, you’re in luck. You have two Kelly men right here up for the challenge.”
This is a test.
He’s testing me.
He came up with this sordid plan thinking I’d balk at it and immediately refuse.
The only thing he didn’t account for when he came up with this scheme was how desperate I am to finally live a life of my own.
I get up from my seat and mimic his form down to the planted palms on the table.
“Are you sure there is no other way?”
Money isn’t an object for a man like Tiernan Kelly. He could buy a fertility clinic if he wanted and buy the silence of everyone working there. But that would defeat the purpose of putting me in my place and reminding me who holds the key to my future and happiness in the palm of his hands.
“Very sure.” He smirks in victory.
“Well then,” I start evenly, my severe gaze never wavering from his. “If this is the only way you see to uphold the treaty, then I have conditions.”
“We’re negotiating now?” He arches an amused eyebrow.
“A man like you should be accustomed to such things by now.”
“True. Negotiate away, wife. You have the floor.”
“Every night, you will come home at a decent hour and have dinner with me. I’m tired of eating my meals alone. But the minute you walk through the doors, I’ll also want you to leave the day’s work outside.”
It takes everything in me to keep my composure in place when Tiernan fights not to roll his eyes at the pitiful excuse of a negotiation attempt.
“I can accommodate that request. But only until you give birth. After that, I see no need for such pleasantries.”
“Fine,” I concede.
“May I include a clause of my own now?”
“By all means. The floor is all yours,” I reply sarcastically.
This time the smirk that rises to his lips doesn’t hold any malevolence to it, only odd amusement.
“I asked Shay to accompany you today to find a house that is to your liking. If you are to mother the next Kelly generation then it’s all the more important that both you and the child live in an accommodating setting.”
“Child? As in one?” I interrupt before he picks up from where he left off.
“Are you planning on wanting more?” His brows pull together in suspicion.
“I think to guarantee a Kelly successor, it would be prudent to have more than one, yes.”
His fingers begin to tap on the table as he seems to genuinely consider my statement.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
“Very well,” he relents. “Once your first child turns two-years-old, then we can revisit this proposition and see if you are still interested in having more. Childbearing and motherhood aren’t for everyone. You might find that having just one child is enough of a challenge and change your mind. You and I both know how fickle you can be.”
“Fair enough,” I reply stoically, proud that my cheeks didn’t burn a flaming red with the memory he just conjured up of the night I lost my virginity to him.
“How many children were you thinking?” he questions dryly, once he sees his little dig at me didn’t get the desired effect he expected.
“Three,” I state evenly, looking directly at the three men sitting in front of me.
Tiernan’s jaw ticks, giving my own smile of triumph free rein having gotten a reaction from him.
“What else?”
“I think it’s your turn to make demands, husband,” I coo, batting my eyelashes at him.
“As long as you are no longer living under my roof when all of this is done, I have all that I want.”
I smile sweetly, hiding the hurt his cold words have caused.
“Very well. Then my next demand is that I don’t want the transaction to happen at the apartment. I want it to be on neutral ground. For all parties involved.”
“I can consent to that. There are a few apartments at The Avalon I rent out. One of them is currently vacant, so you can use it for your gatherings. Anything else you need to add, or are you content with your negotiations?”
“I only have one more thing that I want. Then I’ll sign anything you put in front of me.”
“Now, wife, there is no need for contracts. That’s not the world we live in. My word is my bond. That should suffice,” he adds with a sardonic grin.