“How often do you plan to sleep with me each month?"

"Didn't we agree to sleep in separate rooms? Stay away from me.”

Bettie's heart was pounding so hard that she found herself short of breath.

Lance took her hand and pressed it against the cabinet door. His lips hovered near her ear, his voice low and enchanting. "There's no rule saying we can't be intimate. Whenever you're ready, I'm here..."

Their agreement only specified that Lance could not enter Bettie's room without permission, nothing more. That was to say he could enter her room whenever she allowed it or she could visit his.

“I... I don't want to." Bettie fought to steady her shaky voice and swallowed, her throat dry with thirst.

"Oh? Are you sure you don't want to?"

Bettie opened her mouth to speak, her throat burning and her body aflame, her refusal choked in her throat.

Lance's hand gently caressed her waist, igniting a fire within her and drawing her closer to him.

Just then, there came an unexpected knock at the door.

"I'll open the door!" Bettie snapped to reality and hurried away.

With a spark of desire in his eyes, Lance watched her leave with a sly grin. He took a picture of the gift box hidden in the wardrobe.

Bettie rushed to the door, opened it, and took a deep breath to calm herself. "Mom?"

Amirah, holding a tray of fruit, paused at the doorway upon seeing Bettie's flushed face. "Did I interrupt something?"

"Well... No." Bettie shook her head and said, "Mom, there's something I need to talk to you about."

"What is it?"

"Let's go to your room first." Bettie linked arms with Amirah and led her away.

Amirah pivoted and said, "Very well. Let me take the fruits to Lance."

“Okay." Bettie took over the fruit tray and set it down on the table in her room. “Have some fruits. I need to discuss something with my mother."

“sure," Lance replied, looking up at Bettie briefly. Her lame excuse of running away didn't go unnoticed by him.