Clearly, Francesca didn’t grasp the change their relationship had undergone. The fact that she didn’t believe theyhada relationship was galling enough, but the thought that she’d probably expect to run along back to her regular life as soon as she could made him want to barricade the doors like some kind of orc.
Luckily, he had the contract. It’d work to keep her by his side until he figured out how to keep her permanently.
EIGHTEEN
Easton fumbledaround with his scorched suit jacket for a while until he managed to pull out a somewhat worse for wear white envelope from the inner pocket. Making a production of how hard it was for him to stand up from the couch, he hobbled over to hand it to Luis.
Snatching it like the precious thing it was, Luis opened the flap and pulled the single piece of paper out.
All the potential contestants had been given a copy of the contract to look over, but he’d been too distracted by everything to do more than skim it. Now he read every line three times. The contract was long and detailed, but the first half was a given: Francesca was required to provide nourishment to the winning vampire roughly every two days or as needed by donation or by bite for a total of thirty days. In return, the vampire would provide a daily stipend of one thousand dollars, cover all medical expenses, and, should she allow it, pay two thousand dollars per bite.
He read the most important terms carefully, picking over each word like there was some clue to keeping her in them.
“The Anchor waives the right to provide Nourishment for others during the term of this Agreement;
The Anchor has the sole right to control and direct the means, manner, and method by which Nourishment required under this Agreement will be provided;
The Anchor shall reside in comfortable housing provided by the Vampire for the length of the term;
The Anchor has the right to refuse all advances, sexual, romantic, or friendly, from the Vampire;
The Vampire agrees to the immediate termination of the Agreement and complete payment if any coercion by subtle or obvious means is attempted;
The Anchor shall not be required by the Vampire to devote full time to the providing of Nourishment required by this Agreement.”
Luis scowled. It was a damn good contract. He could tell Maxine had to have been the one to write it because it provided absolutely no room for interpretation from the vampire involved. All the power was in Francesca’s hands, which was great except for the fact that it puthimon the back foot.
There was a lot he liked in it, of course. She could only provide him with blood and she had to live where he wanted. Those were two huge wins. And, he realized with an unreasonable amount of glee for a man who was actively having his side sewn back together, under thefinancial responsibilitiessection of the contract, it was stipulated that hehadto provide her with material gifts — something she never in a million years would’ve allowed before.
Oh, kitten,he thought, casting her a sly look out of the corner of his eye.You’re about to be so fucking spoiled.
“Pen,” he grunted, waving a bruised hand in the air.
Milo, always prepared, tossed him a blue ballpoint pen. Luis pressed the paper to the top of his thigh and carefully filled in his name, the date, and his signature — as well as a few smallchanges. A little blood smudged the white paper by the time he was done, but he figured that only made it more valid.
Passing the contract and pen to Francesca, he gave her a stern look. “Sign.”
Glancing warily at him, she held the contract in front of her for a quick look. And then another.
Balking, she sputtered, “You can’t change the contract!”
“I did,” he challenged, lounging backward into the couch with his fingers laced behind his head. Alvin gave him a vengeful poke with his needle for the shift in position, but Luis didn’t mind. It was important that he meet Francesca with complete confidence. No more waffling. No more pretending.
In an incredulous voice, she read,“The Anchor agrees to follow all of the Vampire’s rules no matter how arbitrary, over the top, or ridiculous they might appear. Failure to follow the rules will result in punishment determined and meted out by the Vampire.”
Maxine snatched the contract out of her hand. The lawyer declared, “That’s completely invalid! Frankie, you do not have to agree to that. And…” Maxine’s eyes widened. “Wait, you crossed out all the nourishment clauses.”
“I did,” he calmly replied.
“Why?”
He cast Francesca another sidelong look that made her cheeks turn a violent shade of red. “Because I didn’t play the Games for her blood. I played it for her. When I bite her, it’ll be because she wants it, not because it’s contractually obligated.”
The lawyer looked completely lost. “But that means you’re just paying for her to live where you want her to.”
“Yes, I am.” He looked meaningfully around the living room. “With me.”
Maxine opened her mouth to demand more explanations, probably loudly, but Francesca stopped her by yanking thecontract out of her hand. She muttered, “Whatever. It’s just thirty days. It doesn’t matter.”