Gray Iwonder what would happen if I use the candle in the center of the table to set it on fire. “I’ve spent a lot of time in Bali,” Sarah says, red wine staining her lips. “It’s one of the most gorgeous places to visit. When I graduated, Daddy took me there in his plane, and we had the best time swimmin’ with dolphins. Have you ever been to Bali?” Is this my third glass of wine or my fourth? I don’t even have to r eply; she just ke eps talking. Other than introducing myself and speaking to the waiter to make my order, I have said nothing since we’ve been here. Not a single, solitary word. My thumb moves rapidly over my phone screen under the table. I can’t tell if Jax has seen my messages. My plan is to go to the bathroom soon and call her to beg her to come and help. I never, ever want to see Sarah again. I was certain of it thirty seconds after meeting her. Not only is she self-centered and oblivious to everyone around her, but she has also said several things that are major red flags. Is it normal to mention you are ‘super fertile’ on a first date? I wouldn’t put it past my mother to have recruited this woman to force me into an elopement or something. Sarah’s attractive, with slicked-back blonde hair, pouting lips, and a lovely Southern drawl, but she’s disconnected from anything going on around her. I can’t believe my mom thought she was a good fit for me. What does she think my type is? I look up when there’s a long silence for the first time since the date began. I’m astounded to find Sarah looking at me as if she’s really interested in my answer to her question. Trouble is, I wasn’t listening to what the question was. “I’m sorry?” I say. “I was just wonderin’ what you thought of the food. Mine is great.” “Yes,” I concede. “It’s very good.” “I was disappointed you didn’t choose a seafood restaurant. I love calamari.” My thoughts turn to the little octopus, huddled in the base of the fish tank in my apartment, and I swallow around the bile that rises in my throat. “Hm, yeah, I don’t like seafood.” “What?” she asks, slamming her fork down far too loudly. “Oh my god, I’ll have to change your mind on that. You have to like seafood. That’s a non-negotiable for me.” My fingers tighten on my glass. “Sorry to disappoint. It may be hypocritical to like meat and refuse to eat fish. But that’s me.” “Fish is great, though,” she insists, oblivious to my rising irritation. Apparently, I’m not allowed to have differing opinions from this woman. “Could I get some hot sauce with this?” she asks, as the waiter passes by. I’ve noticed she’s also pretty rude to the wait staff. When we arrived, she asked to move tables and complained about the lighting
for twenty minutes straight. “Uh, do you have any siblings?” I ask, in a feeble attempt to change the topic of conversation. She shudders. “Lord no. I’m an only child.” I nod as I sip my wine, waiting for her to ask me the same question. Like a normal person would do on a date. “You don’t even like lobster?” she asks, laughing. “I mean, who doesn’t like lobster?” I clear my throat. “I don’t eat any shellfish or seafood at all.” “Don’t worry, I know a great restaurant that’ll change your mind. I’ll take you there, and you’ll never look back.” “No, thanks.” A little crease appears between her brows. “You won’t even try it, for me?” What in the actual fuck? “I don’t think—” “You piece of shit.” I freeze. All the blood in my body rushes south at the familiar voice from behind me, and my heart starts hammering as I twist slowly around in my chair. Carrying the same backpack she had in the office, her hair in that sexy ponytail running over her shoulder, and heels higher than I’ve ever seen her wear, is Jax. She looks absolutely stunning, like a goddess standing over us, her bright-red lipstick and nails stark against the charcoal of her dress. It has rips in it that show tiny slivers of flesh all the way down to her legs. And just like that, I’m hard as stone. “Uh... Jacqueline...” I say, playing along. “What—?” “Who the fuck is this?” she demands, pointing at Sarah. I fight hard not to burst out laughing. People are staring. She’s making a scene just like I asked, and I see some of the staff who have stopped what they were doing, staring at us like she’s completely insane. “Who is this?” Sarah asks as I twist back in my seat. “Nobody,” I say quickly. “My apologies.” “Nobody?” Jax demands, walking up to the table and staring down at me as if she’s going to kill me. “Who the fuck is this bimbo?” she snaps, as I rise from the table, putting a hand out to stop the waiter who is advancing on Jax as if he is about to kick her out. “Jacqueline, please, let’s not—” She picks up my wine and flings it at me. The liquid splashes across my chin and down onto my pristine white shirt, and there is an audible gasp from the onlookers. Sarah’s eyes are bugging out of her head as she sits, dumbfounded, staring at Jax as if she’s an alien. “Oh my god, for fuck’s sake,” I mutter, grabbing Jax’s arm, hoping my erection isn’t noticeable, and drag her away from the table. I deliberately pick up my jacket so I don’t have to come back to pick it up. I march her through the restaurant, every eye in the room staring at me as I try to hold it together. This is the most fun I’ve had in ages. We reach the rec eption desk, and I hand the man my credit card. “Please put the meal on my card. I have to deal with this,” I say, shoving Jax forward as we walk swiftly out of the restaurant. As the doors close behind us, I st ep onto the sidewalk and curse at the bitterly freezing air that whisks through me. It’s only then that I remember that my coat is inside in the cloakroom, until Jax unzips her bag and drags two coats out of it, including mine.
The triumph in her eyes is palpable, and I can’t help but laugh as she hands it to me. “Good enough?” she asks. “Oh my god, you saved my fucking life,” I mutter, dragging on my coat as she snorts. “She was pretty.” “Trust me, she wasn’t.” There’s movement behind us, and Jax glances back, looking concerned. “Uh, I think your date is coming to find you.” “Fuck me, let’s go,” I say, and without hesitation, she starts sprinting away along the sidewalk. I would never have thought that she could move so fast, and the sight of her speeding off, her heels clicking as she balances expertly over the concrete, gives me a thrill I’ve never felt in my life. I pursue her through the streets, passing dozens of other pedestrians bundled up against the cold, but after a few seconds, I don’t feel the chill at all. I watch that impossibly long ponytail moving through the crowd, her lithe figure eating up the distance ahead of me as my lungs scream in protest at the pace I have to sustain, just to ke ep up with her. I’m marveling at how stable she is on those gigantic heels, but the sprint doesn’t last for long. Soon she’s slowing down, breathing heavily, her breath billowing in clouds around her as she bends over. “Well, that was fun,” she says. She has never looked more beautiful. Her cheeks are flushed, eyes shining in the dark, and just like that, I have to have her again. “My apartment is close by. Come back with me,” I say before I can overthink it. I wonder if she’s going to ask how much I’ll pay her for the privilege, but she just meets my gaze, her lips parting as if to protest. Then she gives a sharp nod. “Okay,” she says, and on impulse, I grab her hand and tug her through the streets. The little laugh she gives is music to my ears. As we approach my apartment, I feel a strange disappointment come over me. I wish I had been on a real date with Jax, instead of Sarah. But that’s never going to happen. We get to my apartment building, and I drag her across the lobby. I’m struggling to think about anything other than getting her into my bed. She laughs as I pull her into the elevator, and as soon as the doors close, I push her against the wall. “Whoa, someone’s handsy,” she mutters. “You do know you’re covered in wine, right?” I shove my hardening cock against her, but ke ep my hands on her hips. “Are you still pissed at me?” “Obviously.” “How can I make it up to you?” “What’s your plan here? To fuck me in the elevator?” “Would that help?” I ask, kissing her neck. She’s still stiff against me, that defiant attitude prevailing as her nails dig into my arms. “You were a dick earlier,” she says as she rubs against my hard- on. “Yeah, I know. Sorry. Thanks for rescuing me.” “You didn’t deserve to be rescued. You’re a big boy, man up and tell a woman you don’t like her.”
“My mother likes her, so it’s not that simple,” I say, my hands wandering now as I cup her butt and press her into the mirror. “You should learn to say no to your mother, too.” “I’m well aware.” The elevator doors open, and I lift her up, delighted when she wraps her long legs around my waist. I stagger into the hallway. “Ship?” I call, waiting for an answer. She’d be here super late if she’s still around, but it’s always good to check. “Do you have a dog or something?” Jax asks, suspended above me as she looks around in awe. “She’s my houseke eper.” “Your dog is your houseke eper?” I snort, carrying her to the ornate marble table that’s on the wall opposite the private elevator. “Ship is my houseke eper, but it doesn’t seem like she’s here.” I scooch her dress up and then pull at her panties, dragging them slowly down her thighs as she watches me, one eyebrow quirked. “You’re an arrogant fuck, you know that? You just abandoned that poor woman at a restaurant.” “That poor woman will be absolutely fine.” I pull off her shoes to remove her panties, and then Jax chuckles as I put her shoes back on. “What the hell?” “I like these,” I say, rubbing a hand over her slim ankle. “And I like this apartment,” she says, looking around. “How many rooms do you even have? It’s enormous.” “I’ll show you the main one, and then I’ll fuck you in all the others, so you can really get a feel for the place.” She opens her mouth to respond, when I push her legs apart and drop to my knees, shoving my tongue against her as she swears colorfully above me. “Jesus, give a girl some warning. Fuck.” I suck on her clit, my fingers digging into her ass as I pull her to the edge of the table. She’s half falling off, her long legs balanced on the tips of her heels as she arches against me, her arms set back to give her body some leverage. Once she’s writhing and moaning above me, I pull back, rising to my feet and bending double as I scoop her onto my shoulder and carry her into the living room. I’m not sure what’s come over me, but I love how compliant she’s being. “Gray, put me down,” she grumbles, but the use of my first name makes heat wash over my skin, and I go to the back of the couch, pulling her down off my shoulder and onto the floor. “Bend over the couch,” I instruct, and she frowns at me. “Fuck you. You haven’t even properly apologized to me for being a dick.” I shut her up, crushing my lips over hers and thrusting my tongue in her mouth. She melts against me, shivering as I rub my cock between her legs. But as I pull back, those gorgeous eyes are fixed on mine, her gaze so intense I can’t look away. “Why were you so pissed off?” she asks softly, crossing her arms over her chest. I groan, not wanting to admit the truth, but my cock is leaking against her leg, and I’m so desperate to be inside her again that I’ll say anything to make that happen.
“I didn’t like it,” I mutter slowly. “The sight of you counting the money after.” I shrug. “I guess I’m a hypocrite, but I enjoyed what we had done before that, and I guess I didn’t like the reality. Sorry, that probably doesn’t make any sense to you, and I get that it’s completely unfair.” She doesn’t r eply for the longest time, and I stare at her, worried that she might start laughing at me. What kind of client resents an escort for needing to get paid, after all? But then her eyes move over my face, softening as she meets my gaze. “I need the money for something specific,” she whispers. “I just needed to know how much was there. That’s all.” Her hand runs gently over my forearm. “I enjoyed it too.” My chest loosens at those words, and a rush of happy warmth fills it up instead, as I press against her more tightly. “Fair enough. I’ll apologize later, right now I’m gonna fuck your brains out.” “Is there... is there anyone else here?” she asks, glancing around at the apartment uncertainly. “No. It’s just you, me and the fish.” She frowns, glancing behind her at the fish tank. “Holy shit, that’s enormous.” “Turn around, and you can see it properly,” I say, and she does before she realizes why I told her to. She grunts as I shove her forward, bent double over the couch, her fingers grabbing for the cushions. I shove her dress up over that taut little ass and slap it lightly. She groans, her thighs trembling, and if I weren’t so worked up, I’d spank her before we fuck. I saw how much she loved it last time, and I want her desperate for me, but I’m too far gone. I take hold of my dick, lining up and flirting with the entrance to her body. I push her dress further up her back, my cock throbbing as I find out she isn’t wearing a bra. “Take it off,” I say, and she yanks off the dress, leaving her naked and beautiful before me. I grip her ponytail at the base of her head, threading my fingers through it. “I’m gonna ke ep you where I want you while we fuck, is that understood?” “Oh Jesus...” her voice is breathless as I take a commanding hold of her hair, starting to push my cock inside her, inch by inch. She’s wet, but I go slow, knowing I haven’t taken long to pr ep her. She sucks me in, eager and desperate as her fingers clench against the couch cushions. I grip her hair tightly, my other hand going to her shoulder. “Okay?” I ask and feel her neck muscles flex as she nods. “This is your thank you for tonight,” I say, and then shove my cock inside her. She makes the most glorious sound I’ve ever heard, drunk with pleasure as I start to thrust. Her head strains against my hand as I ke ep her body still, shoving my dick into her as hard as I can until she’s crying out on every thrust. Her spine bends and lowers beneath me as I hammer into her, feeling her walls squeezing me. I don’t like not being able to see her face, and pull her up, spin her around, and tug her against me as I lower us to the floor.
She hisses at the cold chill of the marble as I lay her on her back, shoving back inside her, and her legs fall wide open. My thrusts are erratic and sharp now as her neck strains, her cries de ep and guttural as she comes hard, squeezing my cock as I pound into her for as long as I can. I want this to last forever. She’s the most stunning woman I’ve ever seen, lying naked against the pale floor of my apartment, coming apart for me in every way. I come, my cock emptying de ep inside her as I collapse down across her body, my back convulsing as the final pulse takes hold, and I feel the press of her body against mine. I wish I was naked, so I could truly enjoy it, lying my cheek against her shoulder. She runs her fingers through my hair absently, almost as if she’s unaware of what she’s doing. My heart clenches as we lie there together, the soft glow of the aquarium the only light in the room, our breathing heavy and broken as we come down from the high.