Better?

CAELLUM’S POV
I shut my eyes, trying to control the fire in my body.
“What are you talking about?” I asked, slowly opening my eyes.
Naledi stood a few metres from me, affected by the hot moment we shared and doing a poor job hiding it.
“I said we need to strike a deal.” She cleared her throat, and her tone was firm. “If I am to stay in this darned place, then we need to negotiate the terms.”
There goes my boner.
I put some space between us and found my way back to my seat. The table was a mess, with some of the meals poured as a result of our little action.
“I already told you,” My eyes found her own. “You do not have a choice in this matter.” I felt the burn of her gaze before I saw it. “However, since you brought it up, you might as well come out with it.”
Naledi returned to her seat. Clad in her black bra. My lips curved to a sweet smile when I noticed her discomfort, or perhaps, shyness?
“I just had your nipple in my mouth, sunshine.” My mouth was working overtime, “Surely, you are not shy about showing a little skin, are you?”
Naledi froze in her seat and swallowed hard. Just as hard as I’d bit her nipple. Nerves cracked between us as we shared an intense gaze, challenging each other to pick up from where we stopped.
My little man was excited at that prospect. I could tell by the hardness of it.
“I would appreciate it if I had a bit more clothing, Alpha Caellum.” She said with challenging eyes. “Except you prefer to negotiate in this manner?”
My eyes corked at her words. I couldn’t tell if she was having a hard time with her dress or it was an invitation. I saw the amusement in her eyes. She enjoyed my confusion. A fucking tease.
I stood on my feet, and unbuttoned my dress shirt, taking my precious time. Two could play this game. My strip tease left her mouth slightly open, she didn’t even hide the thirst in her eyes. And boy did it do wild things to me.
“You can have my shirt,” I said, handing over the cloth to her, while I stayed shirtless. “I don’t mind negotiating in this manner,” I added and didn’t miss the slight widening of her eyes.
“Thank you.” She said, placing my top by the side. “I don’t mind negotiating in this manner too.” Her eyes danced with challenge and I didn’t know what to do with her.
A part of me stung when she didn’t put it on. While another side rejoiced at the thought of having such a view of her body. I was a disturbed man. I agree.
“Then we are good to go,” I said, then raised a finger. “But first,” I brought out my phone and sent a quick text to Matteo. “We can proceed.”
Naledi gauged me with a confused expression. “What did you just do?” Her tone was accusatory, as well as her eyes.
I didn’t owe her an explanation. Hell, I could ignore the fuck out of her and demand she continues with her freaking negotiation but I told her anyways.
“I just sent a message to Matteo.”
She looked at me, expecting me to continue but I remained silent, wanting to hear her voice again.
“And?” She asked in an irritated tone, “What did you tell him?”
“I owe you no explanations, Sunshine.” My words only made her angrier.
“If it has to do with me, or around me, you sure as hell do. Don’t drag this out any longer and tell me what you said to him.”
“It has nothing to do with you.” I lied through my teeth, “Just a friendly reminder.”
“All I hear is words. And yet no answers.” She said through her teeth.
“I’ll say this once because I am in a good mood.” I relaxed on my chair. “Do not think you have the right to demand things from me. I am the Alpha.” My eyes met hers, “Not you.”
“Still haven’t told me what the darned text is about.” She said in a sing-song voice.
“I told him to lock the doors and ensure we have no interruptions.”
Her eyes narrowed at me. “And why is that? Are you trying to kill me?”
My eyes flared at the thought of her death. “Far from it.”
She stared pointedly at me and I continued with an eyeroll.
“I’d hate to pluck the eyes of another suspecting or unsuspecting male who sees you in this form.”
“In what form?”
It was my turn to give her the pointed look.
Naledi looks over herself and makes an oh sound. She picked up my shirt by her side and without a second thought, wore it over her body, and buttoned it to the last.
“Better?” She asked and I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Laugh at the fact she just wore my clothes or cry at the fact that I’ve been robbed of my oh-so-beautiful view. I’d say both. I laughed and cried within me.
“Great.”
She nodded, unaware of what she did to me. “We both know we don’t want each other.” She started, staring at me hard.
That was the understatement of the year. What the fuck?
Naledi must have read the look on my face because she quickly corrected her words. “We’ve made it clear we will not go through with the mating rites.”
A bile rose in my throat but I nodded, waiting to see where she was going with this.
“Since we cannot break the bond until the fool moon, we have to stay together to keep our wolves from going insane.”
I nodded, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“I will wait here until the fool moon when we can break the bond under three conditions.”
My eyes perked at that.
“I will not be imprisoned. If I am to stay here, I cannot be your prisoner.”
“Done.”
Naledi’s eyes perked when I agreed. I bet she was expecting resistance but she continued anyway.
“I will be getting a job, as a part of the Cosa Nostra pack.”
“A job?” I quizzed, unable to wrap my head around why she would need a job.
“Yes. A job.” Her tone was resolute. “I am no lazy woman, Alpha. I work and earn my keep. I have never been a charity case and I don’t plan to start now.”
I corked my head, sifting the idea. Originally, I would have accepted that condition, but a part of me hated the idea of making my mate work to cater for herself.
It felt like a slap to my face. I was more than capable of taking care of her.
“You don’t need to work. I can-”
“No.” She cut me off. “None of that shit. I will work under you in the meantime, and that’s a non-negotiable.”
Her tone told me she meant business, so I nodded.
“Would be revisited,” I said, despite the glare she sent my way. “And what’s the last one?”
“During the full moon, you will reject me, and let me go.”