I rolled my eyes. "I'm bein' serious."

"So am I."

I groaned, and placed my head in my hands. "I just want me family to think we're a real, happy couple. That's it."

Alec chortled. "Trust me kitten, this will be the easiest job I've ever done."

I uncovered my face, and raised my eyebrows at him. "It will?"

Alec nodded, still smiling wide. "Yep."

Perfect!

I smiled also. "So does that mean you will escort me to the weddin'?"

I had my fingers and toes crossed, hoping he would say yes.

Alec laughed at me. "If you abide by my conditions then yes, I will."

I frowned and uncrossed my fingers and toes. "What are your conditions?"

Alec held up his index finger. "Number one, absolutey no falling in love."

Oh, he had a sense of humour!

I couldn't help the snort that erupted out of me then or the laughter that followed it. Alec's eyes narrowed as I snorted again mid-laugh which of course only made me laugh harder.

"I'm being serious Keela," Alec growled, no trace of humour on his face or in his tone.

Oh, crap, he was serious!

I laughed harder then, and quickly fanned myself. "I know, that's why... I'm laughin'... so hard."

Alec stared at me blankly and unblinking, so I forced myself to relax until my laughter subsided. "Okay, so I'm not to fall in love with you. Got it, what's number two?"

Alec rolled his eyes and said, "Number two, you treat me as a person and not as the hired help."

I frowned. "I will always treat you as a person... I can't treat you like hired help even if I wanted because I'm not payin' you."

Alec clicked his tongue at me. "You could pay me in sexual favours."

I raised my eyebrows then gave him a get-real look and said, "You will get paid with nice manners."

Alec smirked. "The rest of my conditions might make you a little uneasy then."

I sat up straight as a shiver ran down my spine. "What are they?"

Alec lifted his arm and rubbed the back of his neck. "You sure you want an honest answer to that question, kitten?"

I nodded my head and ignored the bulge of his bicep even though it whispered for me to take a peak.

Alec shrugged and said, "I want to fuck you."

I was about to laugh, but Alec's tone and facial expression shut me up before I even made a sound. I did nothing but stare at him for a few moments before I opened my mouth and said, "Why aren't you laughin'?"

"Because I'm not joking."

I widened my eyes in sheer horror. "You better be fuckin' jokin'!"

Alec sat back a little and raised his eyebrows and hands. "I don't joke about conditions for a contract."

I smacked my hands down on the kitchen table. "This is not a contract, this is a favour. You don't get paid for it with anythin' other than a verbal fuckin' thank you."

Alec folded his arms across his chest. "So I'm to be your boyfriend without receiving the privileges or benefits of having a girlfriend?"

Seriously?

"Yes! This is all only pretend!"

Alec shook his head. "Nah, that's a no-go for me. We're going to hash that out right now, if you want me to be your boyfriend then I want some privileges at least. I'm a man - I have needs."

Oh my God!

What the hell was this?

I rubbed my temples with my fingers. "What exactly do you want from me, Alec?"

If he said he wanted to fuck me again I was going to smack him.

"I like physical intimacy. No feelings or emotional bullshit, just the physical stuff. I like holding hands, kissing, cuddling, hugging, and fucking. If I'm to be your pretend boyfriend then this is what I want, it's not asking for much."

Not asking for much?

NOT. ASKING. FOR. MUCH?.

Men!

I was mad that he wanted to have sex with me, but I couldn't help but also feel a little flattered because men who looked like Alec never peeked in my direction, let alone look in it. Flattered or not, I was also extremely disgusted that sex is all he wanted from me. I wasn't expecting anything to come from this arrangement, but to be told someone wanted me for my body, and my body alone, was not a mistake I would make twice in my lifetime.

My heart was hammering against my chest and my stomach contents were rolling around inside my belly.

"Shaggin' is not on the table at all so you can get it out of your head right now."

I could not believe he even suggested that he get laid as a condition to escort me to Micah's wedding!

Alec grinned. "We'll see."

I growled, "What do you mean 'We'll see'?"

"I mean we will see."

Fuck that and fuck him!

"We won't see anythin'! I change me mind, I don't need your help," I snapped and stood up from my chair. I pushed it into the table then turned and walked towards the door, but Alec's arms stopped me as they surrounded me.

I was more than a little shocked that he was behind me again - I didn't hear him move from where he was sitting.

"You came to me for help, not the other way around, kitten. You don't have anyone else who can help you or you wouldn't be here... Like it or not, you do need my help."

I shrugged out of his hold, then spun around and placed my hands on my hips. "I'm not shaggin' you. If that is a deal breaker for you then so be it, I won't sleep with you in order for you to escort me the weddin' as me boyfriend. I don't care how good lookin' you are. I'm not that kind of girl!"

A smile stretched across Alec's face as he looked down at me. "You think I'm good looking?"

Of course his bloody mind would focus on that part of my sentence.

I narrowed my eyes to slits and glared at Alec which made him lightly chuckle and hold his hands up in front of his chest like he was surrendering.

"I want to fuck you, no doubt about it, kitten, but it doesn't have to be a condition since you're so against it. In fact, since you're dead set against it, I'm going to make you a bet instead."

I raised my eyebrows and stared at him curiously.

"What kind of bet?" I questioned.

"A sexual kind of bet."

He lost me.

"What?"

Alec smirked. "I bet that before anyone says 'I do', I'll have you on your back with your legs spread wide as I pound away between your thighs."

I felt my jaw drop open.

"And you will be the one begging me to suck and fuck you."

My eyes widened to the point of pain.

"Are you serious?" I asked my voice a whisper.

Alec nodded his head.

I laughed, and I laughed hard.

"You've got yourself a bet, laddie."

Alec didn't realise it, but he was setting himself up for disaster with this bet because I was the almighty queen of self-control. I fucking had this!

Alec tilted his head and smiled at me as his dimples earned an inward sigh from me.

"My updated conditions are that we sleep in the same bed and that I can kiss you, touch you, and cuddle with you whenever I want."

The sneaky fucker!

I deadpanned for a moment, but then smiled wide. "You think by doin' all that I will willingly want to shag you?"

Alec shrugged his shoulders, but had a ghost of a smile appeared on his face that confirmed my suspicions.

"Fine, we can sleep in the same bed, but you have to wear pyjama bottoms."

Alec held up his hand. "I sleep naked, always have and always will."

I clenched my hands to fists. "You will wear pyjamas. I'm not backin' down on this, playboy."

Alec blinked at my insult. "Playboy, really kitten?"

I hissed, "Stop calling me kitten!"

Alec shook his head and said, "Nah, I like it. You're small and vulnerable like a cute little kitten."

Puke.

"If kitten is staying then so is playboy," I warned.

Alec laughed and shrugged his shoulders. "I've been called worse, kitten."

I narrowed my eyes. "I really don't like you."

"Give it time, and you will like me plenty."

Cocky bastard!

I shook my head and refocused on my condition. "You must wear pyjamas when you are in the same bed as me, do you understand me?"

Alec smirked down at me. "I like you giving me orders."

"Does that mean you will follow them?" I asked hopefully.

He laughed. "Let's not get too hasty, kitten."

Fucker.

"I'm not backin' down on this, wearin' pyjamas is a condition of mine."

Alec raised his eyebrows and folded his arms across his bare chest.

"Is that so?"

I swallowed but firmly said, "Yes, it is so."