Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76541 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Through my locked jaw, I grit out, “I never used that word, nor would I ever. But if it eases your conscience, you are free to tell me ‘no’ at any time we are inside that club. It will totally be your choice.”
Hannah crosses her arms under her breasts, which pushes them up against the low cut of her tank top. I refuse to let my gaze drop there.
“Let me get this straight,” she says with a hefty dose of suspicion. “You want me to go with you to a sex club in the evenings, for which you will pay me money. And if I don’t want to have sex with you, I don’t have to.”
“That’s the gist of it,” I mutter.
“You don’t think I have the power to say no to you, do you?” she accuses with her lower lip stuck out. It makes me want to bite it.
Even though that’s exactly what I think, I don’t admit it. Instead, I just stare at her.
Wait her out.
Finally, she sighs and drops her arms. “Doesn’t matter, anyway. I work nights at Joe’s, so I can’t be your companion.” She holds up air quotes to emphasize her offense at the word. “I can’t give this job up.”
In my mind, I thought it would be cool if I could have access to Hannah a few nights a week. I figured that would appease this insatiable need for her that I’ve developed somehow. But now a different sort of thought takes hold.
“I’ll pay you double whatever you make at all three of your jobs combined. If you quit them, then you’re available to me.”
Hannah’s mouth drops open into a perfect “O,” and I have a clear fantasy of what I’d like to see filling that space one evening.
As if she could read my lewd thoughts, she narrows her eyes. “You’d pay me double what I’m making at all three of my jobs, just to accompany you to the Wicked Horse on some evenings where I have the right to say ‘no’ to your advances?”
My lips curl up in an evil grin. “No. If I’m going to pay you double what you’re currently earning, I expect you to quit all three of those jobs and be at my beck and call, not on ‘some’ evenings, but ‘all’ evenings.”
Hannah worries at her lower lip, her gaze casting off to the side as she thinks.
I add gravy on top. “I’ll give you a fifteen-thousand-dollar signing bonus up front.”
Her gaze slams back into me, eyes wide with surprise. “Awful lot of money for a whore,” she murmurs.
Fuck… I just actually made her a whore if she accepts this. But I press on.
“Again, your word, not mine. Besides, you can—”
She beats me to the punch. “Say ‘no’. Yeah… I heard you. But if I say yes, then that makes me a whore.”
She sounds glum, and I wonder if it’s because I’ve basically given her a guilt-free way to accept this deal or maybe because she doesn’t have the willpower to say no to me.
“How about I hire you as my full-time house manager?” I add, hoping to add some legitimacy to the offer.
“What the hell is a house manager?” she gripes.
“You’d manage my home. Keep it clean, well-stocked, make meals, handle my dry cleaning. Stuff like that.”
“And go to the Wicked Horse with you.”
“We could stay in at my apartment some nights,” I say with a mischievous grin.
She doesn’t smile back.
Instead, she gives me an apologetic grimace. “As much as that sounds like an amazing deal for any woman, I’m afraid I’m going to have to say ‘no’.”
The emphasis she puts on the word ‘no’ isn’t lost on me. She’s showing me that she has resolve.
I step into her, causing her to back up against the dirty stucco exterior of the building. Putting my hands near her head, I dip my head so my face is near hers. “You’re being stubborn, Hannah. But I like it.”
Her mouth curves in amusement.
I bring my lips near her ear. “Besides… I’m quite confident you’ll change your mind.”
She snorts, and her hands go to my chest to push me away from her. Giving her a wink, I turn to leave.
I look left and right as I walk away, considering it safe to cross the road back to my car. Holding my hand up, I wave at her, knowing without even glancing back that she’s staring at me.
Raising my voice slightly, I say, “Call me. I’ll be waiting.”
“Don’t hold your breath,” she yells, and I chuckle.
Yeah… she’ll change her mind.
By the time I get in my car and start it, Hannah has already disappeared into the bar. A message notification comes up on my dashboard screen, which is synced to my phone through Bluetooth. I press a button on my steering wheel. After a soft tone, I say, “Play voicemail.”