It only takes her a minute to toss on a pair of yoga pants and a sweatshirt before joining me in the living room. Before she can get too close, I point to an armchair. I take the spot in the middle of the sofa.
“Have you found a permanent place yet?”
“This is so convenient for you. I figured?—”
“You’ve known since I offered this place that it’s temporary. If you haven’t found one you prefer, then you can stay here. However, it’ll be as a tenant.”
She stares at me, and I know she’s fighting to master her shock then her anger.
“Paying you rent for you to come here and fuck me is fucked-up. Or are you aputonow?”
“Do you think calling me a prostitute is endearing? We both know you’ve been using me for the apartment to stay rent free. You’ve made no effort to find a new one, which tells me you think you can use me. I haven’t come to see you because I didn’t want to just toss you out. But knowing I’m being used doesn’t exactly give me a hard-on.”
“So, you want me out or to pay rent, so you can get it up again?”
“No. That part of our arrangement has been over for months, and you know that as well as I do. It’s why you haven’t texted me to ask where I am. You’ve been happy to come and go as you please without having to put out.”
I’m being a tremendous ass, and I know it. I didn’t mean to launch into the conversation and be acabrón—asshole—but something in me just doesn’t have any patience for her anymore. It’s the way she looked at me. Sized me up as though she was guessing how much more she could get out of me.
“Just like that, you’re going to kick me out and end our relationship?”
“Contract, and no, I’m not kicking you out. I gave you a choice. You can pay rent like any tenant would, or you can find somewhere else.”
“You think I’d want you as a landlord after this?”
“Not particularly, but this a rent-controlled building, so you won’t find a better deal.”
“It’s fucking Staten Island!”
“That hasn’t bothered you yet.”
It hasn’t bothered her because free on Staten Island is better than any amount in another borough.La conchuda—a moocher. That’s what she is. She’ll take what she can for free. What’s worse is she believes the world owes it to her because she’s beautiful.
“Why’re you doing this, Javier? Why did you wait so long if you have a problem with me staying here?”
“I told you, I didn’t want to kick you out, but I also told you this was a temporary solution.”
“Do you want to move someone else in?”
I would never make that kind of arrangement with Maddy, even though I know she needs a place. I wouldn’t bring her to a place I used to fuck my former sub. I wouldn’t give her a temporary place without helping her find something more permanent. And I wouldn’t want to set her up as a mistress. I definitely don’t want her to be my sub.
“Yes. There’s a couple that’s been looking for an apartment in this neighborhood. An agent approached me, and I’m ready to rent it to them.”
That’s true. I just hadn’t said yes yet. I will on my way home since I know Anna Maria won’t agree to pay rent. I can already tell.
“You’re unbelievable, Javier. You’re going to screw me, and not the way we agreed.”
“Then sign the lease I have with me and put down the first and last month’s rent.” I reach into my suit coat pocket and retrieve papers I folded lengthwise to fit.
“You really intend to charge me rent.”
She’s flabbergasted I’m following through with what I said. Why wouldn’t I? I gave her orgasms when I promised them, and I punished her when I promised to. It sorely tempts me now to spank her and leave without pleasuring her. But the temptation doesn’t outweigh my aversion to touching her. I won’t touch any woman but Maddy.
“Yes.”
“If I sign and agree to pay rent, will we go back to how things were? Will we be good again?”
“Anna, that’s run its course. We haven’t been together in nearly three months. We both know either of us could have suggested we see each other. Neither of us has.”
