Chapter 6

The key to keeping Lamont interested in her, as far as Sharon was concerned, was in making him think that no matter how strongly she responded to sex, when her mind was clear she supposedly didn't want anything more to do with him. She would live in his house, wear the clothes he bought for her, let his chauffeur take her to and from the hospital, but each time they had a sexual encounter, she would arrange to make him think he was raping her. Having studied a certain amount of psychology, she was aware that Lamont still hadn't forgiven her for the cruel way she had spoken to him when he had proposed. As far as he was concerned, he was offering her the most valuable thing he had possessed, still possessed for that matter: his name. Not only had she refused, but she had been so indelicate about it as to be cruel.

But in the next week, Lamont made no demands on her, whatsoever. She would eventually learn that when he was in the middle of research for one of his books, he wasn't interested in anything else. She also discovered that he would make up for it, afterward.

In the next few days she finished her internship at the hospital, and was signed on as a resident doctor. Though she wouldn't make the kind of money she'd earn were she practicing privately, she would make enough for the moment. All her money was being banked, because every one of her expenses was being paid by Lamont.

At the end of her second week, he gave her credit cards to the various accounts he had. When she had gone on a spending spree, buying an entire new wardrobe, shoes, furs, and matching purse, Lamont didn't complain, though she knew he was aware of what she was doing. She rarely saw him, except at supper time. Then he would talk politely to her, more like she was a visiting guest than a mistress, asking about her work in the hospital. At first she thought he was merely trying to make polite conversation, but as the evenings passed, she realized he took a very avid interest in what she was doing.

Occasionally, he made reference to their relationship, almost in a taunting manner. This irritated Sharon. She knew why she was here, and by now was well aware she would have to perform for him if she was going to remain here. But she didn't like him lording it over her that she was less than human to him when she stepped out of the hospital. He would never let her forget how tauntingly cruel she had been to him.

"It isn't as if your refusal goaded me into changing my writing style," he told her one night, while they were relaxing in the large living room and listening to music. "That was something I would have done" anyway, so I can't even say that your refusal of my proposal was what had egged me on to bigger and better things."

"Why didn't you marry someone else?" Sharon asked.

"I looked," he admitted. "I looked a lot. Of one thing I was certain, and that was, I would never take a woman to bed unless she was a possible marriage prospect."

"But you said you were with whores," she reminded him.

"So?" he shrugged. "I've known plenty of prostitutes with the proverbial heart of gold. I didn't begrudge them the fact that they were earning a living with their bodies. Nor did it deter me of thinking of each one in turn as my possible wife. But there was always something missing. In one case the girl didn't like animals, and I love animals. Eventually I hope to have two or three dogs around the place."

"That sounds nice," Sharon admitted.

"Then you like animals," he nodded.

"Certainly," Sharon replied. "I even considered becoming a veterinarian, but that would entail knowing surgery. Funny, but it never bothered me to cut open a human cadaver and work on it, but it would break my heart to work on an animal."

"Another of the many women I've known was too possessive. Not that she was in love with me, but she felt if I was dating her, I had no right to see other woman, only because she regarded me as her personal property."

"Isn't that the way you regard me?" Sharon asked.

"There's a difference, Sharon," he insisted. "You're bought and paid for, for as long as we both wish. I won't let you play around with another man because you are my property for the moment."

That hurt! He had no right to dig into her that way. What he was saying was far more painful than anything she had said to him.

"I think I'm going to go up to bed," she said, standing, not wanting to hear more.

"By all means," he nodded. "I'll be working tonight, so you don't have to worry about me."

There it was, that implication that she was still frightened of him. If she dispelled it, she might lose him.

"Thank you," she nodded. "I think that very considerate of you."

"My consideration is for myself, not you," he said blandly. "All my energies are being applied to my writing for the moment."

"I understand," she sighed, and moved off, heading for the stairs.

But as she walked, she felt his eyes burning into her back, and she knew it wouldn't be long before he attacked her again. She would have to put on the act of a lifetime.