by Amy Brent
“I’m working. You have money, Claire. Claire, call for a cab or something.” I knew that I sounded annoyed and she gasped.
“I don’t want to go back to the apartment. He might be there.” I wish that she could see the smirk on my face.
“And if he is, then you’ll deal with it. It can’t be worse than getting divorced,” I told Claire as she started to cry harder. “Get your own fucking place and be independent.”
“I’m sorry for everything, Declan. I’m sorry that I hurt you,” I sighed. Here it was when she was fighting with her current boyfriend and more than likely drunk. “I wish I didn’t date someone at work, but it just happened. I didn’t realize how far that it would go or that…I’d have feelings for him. I miss you sometimes, you know.” There was remorse in her voice as she spoke and I hoped that she wasn’t trying to get back together in this awkward moment. “Do you ever miss us?”
“Fucking hell, Claire. I’m not doing this with you. We split up, and it’s over.” I snapped as she breathed deeply on the other end. “Get a cab or an Uber and go to a hotel for the night, if need be. I’m not going to solve your problems with…him, nor and I going to entertain the idea that you want me back.” I moved on, even if it wasn’t the best idea that I’d ever had. “This is what you chose for yourself, and you need to handle it.”
“I remember when you used to save me,” she said wistfully as I realized how much it was true. I also knew that I was trying to do it with Rayna, as far as her marriage and her situation. Was I repeating the same mistake all over again? “I’m going to let you go.” There was a long pause before she told me that she missed me before ending the call.
I got back to work, sending a message to Rayna to check that everything was okay. As messed up as it was how we met, as wrong as it was what we were doing now; I cared for her. Right or wrong, I cared for her.
CHAPTER 17
Rayna
I was in the middle of the shift and busy with bookings when I heard someone walk inside of the main office. It was locked at all times, so I knew it had to be Lana or one of the higher-ups, which was unusual. I finished an appointment and glanced to see Lana with Angela, who looked upset as they walked into my small room. “Hey, guys.” I looked at Lana, who gave me an imploring gaze before I looked at Angela. She looked broken and could barely meet my eyes before Lana led her forward.
“Rayna, I didn’t know. I’m so sorry,” Angela told me as she dropped weakly into the chair across from me. I was glad that I was the only one here, knowing what this was about. She lifted her eyes, and they were pleading with me to forgive her. “I heard him say your name and then caught a glimpse of a picture. I didn’t know that he was your husband.”
“Oh, Angela. I’m not upset with you.” She stared at me. “I’m mad at him, but not surprised. Does that make sense?” She shared a long look with Lana, who patted her hand.
“Her hubby is an asshole, Ang. I told you that she wouldn’t be mad.” She sat down on the edge of the desk and sighed.
“I knew that he booked you, but I was never mad at you. We’ve had a terrible relationship from the beginning.” I reached out and took her hand.
“I didn’t hear affection in his voice when he said your name, nor have I ever sensed it from him. He is an asshole,” she said glumly as I frowned. “He pays well…shit. I shouldn’t tell you that. I sound like a bitch.” Angela rested her face in her hands, and I noticed something on her pale skin, reaching out to touch the bruise. “Angela?” She jerked up with horror on her face. “Did James…do that?”
“I told him after that I was done with him,” she replied as she tilted her head at me. “He hurts you, doesn’t he? It wasn’t the first time with him, but I was just so tired of it.”
“What the fuck, Rayna? He hits you?” Lana asked, her voice rising as I heard a ding from the computer. I glanced down to see booking waiting as well as a message from Declan.
“Among other things,” I replied vaguely as her eyes flashed. “I didn’t want to tell you the details, Lana. It’s…complicated.”
“Complicated, my ass. You need to get out of there.” Lana looked at Angela. “Are you okay?”
“He just got rough a few times. I'm all right, but I am done. The money isn’t worth it.” Angela smiled weakly as she stared at me. “Are you okay?”
I glanced at Declan’s message and told him that I’d be there right after work before answering. “I am fine. I actually packed some stuff today. You know he’s gone for a while, but I’m considering not being home when he comes back.”
“If he’s not home, then why did you pack?” Lana asked, her brow raising as I blushed. “Rayna, what’s going on?”
“I…I have been seeing someone,” I confessed in a whisper as her mouth dropped open. I looked at them both with a scared look in my eyes. “You can’t say anything. If he finds out, I don’t know what James will do.”
“How? You work and go home? Right?” Lana asked as I nibbled on my lip. “Did you meet someone here?”
“In a manner of speaking,” I responded as I watched the wheels in her head turn through her expressive face. “You remember that one night?”
“Him? You’re seeing him?” Lana asked in shock as I nodded. She asked me with her eyes if we could clue the lost Angela in and I nodded slowly, realizing there was little to lose at this point. Lana told her about my one night in the escort life and that it was just the one time, turning to stare at me with accusing eyes. “He was looking for you. I remember now!! You responded?”
“I meant to tell him to leave me alone and…caved. It wasn’t supposed to be anything, and I know it shouldn’t be. It’s so wrong, and he’s a good man, but I like it. I like being with him.” I shrugged and looked at them both for a moment.
Angela offered me a smile. “If James is anything like I think he is, then I can’t blame you. You deserve a lot better.”
“It’s just that there is my family, too. They love him, or at least what he does for them. It’s a business thing.” I looked across the desk at Angela. “James does not know that I work here. Nobody in my real life does. I made up something about a freelance job just to get out of the house. He’d be livid.”
“I won’t say anything. I want you away from him more than anyone else, I think. He’s a cruel man.” She took a deep breath. “This other man is good, though?”
“Very. He wants me to leave him, encourages it even. I don’t want to bring this negativity into his life, but I have money for my own place. I have been saving. I just know that James won’t let me go that easily, even though he doesn’t love me at all.”
“I live in a gated complex and have an extra room,” Lana offered as I smiled at her. “I’d be happy to have you there unless you have another place to stay.”
“We’re spending a lot of time together while James is gone. I mean, apart from working here.” I shrugged, and Lana giggled.
“Want some time off? You’ve earned it, working so much.” I looked at her curiously. “Maria is bored and wants to book from home while she recovers.”
“Are you serious?” I asked as Lana nodded. “I didn’t even plan on asking like he wants me to. He can work from anywhere.”
“What’s his name?” Lana asked as I blushed. “The guy from that day when we were walking in? He stalked you?”
“He calls it being persistent,” I said as she laughed. “I want to keep as much about him as I can a secret for now. It might not work out at all, you know.”
“Or it might be the best thing that ever happened to you!” Lana said as her phone rang. “Shit. I was hoping that Tom would forget to call me.”
“Customer?” I asked as she shook her head.
“A very open-minded guy that wants to date me. I think he’s fucking insane, but he’s wining and dining me well. It’s just weird.” I sat back in my chair, trying to picture Lana in a settled life, a relationship or marriage. I could. “I suppose if I find the one, I could give it up. I’ve b
een putting money away for the future and even invested some.”
“Me, too. This isn’t forever.” Angela nodded as I smiled.
“I’m going to call him, and I have a client in just a bit. How about you?” Lana asked Angela as she stretched.
“Half an hour,” she replied as she leaned forward and looked at me with a bright smile. “I just wanted to talk to you tonight as soon as I could. I am glad that you’re thinking about leaving him. You know that we’re behind you, right?”
“I do,” I assured her, feeling hope inside as we said our goodbyes. I had a very black and white view of the industry before working here, just as close-minded as my family was just about everything. Now, I knew that it was just a way for them to get ahead in their lives. They were kind women that all had a story to tell.
Sure, there were aspects of the job that were unpleasant. It was an ugly world, though, and we all had to make our way through it the best that we could. A lot of people thought that my life was perfect when it was so dark behind closed doors, so who was I to judge anyone else?
I just needed to stop judging myself so harshly.
I got back to work, booking everyone for the night as I chatted with Declan in between. He mentioned that his wife called him, making my heart jump into my throat until Declan mentioned that he told her that he wasn’t interested in getting back together. In fact, he sounded more annoyed than anything else just by the way that he was telling me about her.
I’d seen a photo on a shelf in the living room of them. She was beautiful with auburn hair and a gorgeous smile, though I noticed that Declan wasn’t smiling as brightly as she was. I knew better than anyone else that pictures meant nothing since there were several with James acting like the loving, attentive husband at various places. My parents had many displayed for their friend to see, making me shudder.
I finished my night, excited to tell Declan that I could get some time off. I was going to surprise him when I got back to his place and plan what to do together. Lana sent me a text a short while after she left, telling me that I could start vacation the following Monday, which was just three days away. I was going to be gone for two weeks. Lana encouraged me to see where this was going and I planned on it. Even if it ended up going nowhere, I felt good having friends that supported me. I was glad that I’d spoken to them about what was really going on at home.
Seeing Angela’s bruise made me hate my husband even more than I already did. I knew that I had to leave him and just deal with the reactions of my parents, his parents, and other people in that world. It was going to be hot gossip for a long time, and I’d end up being the one shunned, but I was starting to care no longer.
I had a life away from that now.
CHAPTER 18
Declan
I fixed some cheeseburgers on the grill for dinner outside on the grill, timing them to be done when she got back here. I grinned as I heard the garage open, plating the thick patties to bring inside. I’d cooked some bacon to add to them, and all the fixings were inside of the house. We walked in together, and I stared at the suitcase that she rolled in behind her for a long moment.
“I got some stuff today,” she murmured as I set the meat down and walked over to pull her close to me. “A lot of stuff.”
“Good, Rayna. I don’t want you there anymore,” I told her, holding her tightly for a few minutes. We pulled apart, and I kissed her before she took the suitcase to the bedroom. “Cheeseburgers sound good?” I asked as she walked back into the kitchen barefoot.
“That sounds amazing.” She watched as I pulled the sweet potato fries out of the oven, fixing her plate first at my insistence. Rayna was smiling as she walked to the table where a glass of wine was waiting for her, and I felt her eyes on me as I made my plate. “You’re going to make me fat eating so late.”
“I know this great workout I’ll show you,” I told her as she blushed. “The machine is in my bedroom, and it’s a versatile exercise.”
“Is it now?” She teased me as I walked over and sat across from her.
“You’re not fat, Rayna. It shows that you’ve been going to the gym and even if you weren’t doing that, you’d be beautiful the way you are.” My voice was faintly stern as I spoke and she closed her eyes with a frown on her face.
“Geez. I haven’t been to the gym for a while. You are turning me into mush, sir.” Her eyes twinkled as she smiled at me before biting into the loaded burger. “Mmmm.”
“We can go together, can’t we?” I asked as she chewed. Her eyes were thoughtful, and she shrugged.
“I suppose. We can just be next to each other talking, like anyone else in there. Besides, nobody is here to worry about anyway.” She took another bite, and I followed suit, enjoying the perfectly grilled meat as we lost ourselves in the food. I felt at peace now that she was here and the day seemed to fade away, making me forget completely about Claire.
There was something about Rayna tonight as well. She seemed happy, and it was nice to see her smile as she ate.
After dinner, we cleaned up, and she dragged me to the couch to watch some late-night show. “I have more news.” Her voice was giddy, and I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her closer to me.
“What’s that?” I asked as I kissed her nose gently.
“I talked to Lana tonight. That’s the woman that I was with at work that day. I suppose she’s my boss of sorts, and the one that hired me.” Her face went serious for a moment, and I moved to kiss her lips softly. “She told me to take some time off. Ironically enough, the woman that you were supposed to see that night wants to work from home while she recovers from surgery.”
“I am so glad that it was you that night,” I told her as she nodded. “When does this start and for how long?”
“Monday and I have two full weeks off.” Her smile was big, and I felt my mind race. I could always get some help, but I was also able to work from anywhere.
“That’s fantastic,” I replied, staring into her beautiful face. “Is there anywhere particular that you’d like to go?”
“I haven’t traveled too much, but I like the ocean.” Her eyes sparkled at the thought, and I shook my head.
“How have you not traveled? Your family has money.” I asked in surprise. Most of my friends went all over the globe for vacations.
“They went alone and paid the nanny to watch me.” Her eyes looked sad, and I kissed her softly.
“There are so many gorgeous beaches out there to see. We can go to Hawaii, the Bahamas, anywhere you want,” I told her, trying to think of the most romantic place I could take her.
“Where do you have hotels?” Rayna asked against my lips as I chuckled.
“That has nothing to do with where we go,” I promised her as I kissed her slowly.
“You said that we could stay at one of them. I want it to be easy for you,” Rayna’s voice was so soft and sweet, and I stroked her cheek with one hand as I stared at her.
“I am a millionaire. Rayna. I can go anywhere, and it will be easy,” I reminded her as her face flushed to a deep pink. “You feel guilty about my taking you somewhere, don’t you?”
“It’s just how I am. I’m sorry. I don’t mind helping financially…I have money saved.” She offered as she moved into my lap slowly, her eyes dark with lust. “Or we could work out a little deal?”
“So many orgasms a day?” I had teased her before she kissed me hard, her body firm against mine. “I can think of a lot of private beaches that we can christen.” Her laughter came through her next kiss as I slipped my arms around her back and hugged her close.
“Don’t you get sand everywhere that way?”
I honeymooned in Belize with Claire, and that’s exactly what happened a few times. I’d never share that with Rayna though, pushing the thought out of my mind. “We’ll find ways to avoid that,” I whispered before our mouths were locked together, tongues moving together. We made love on the couch the first time, with Rayna bent over the cushions naked as I took he
r from behind. I loved watching her ass as I drove myself inside of her.
I couldn’t help but think of the large suitcase in the bedroom. Rayna was packed for vacation and then some, judging from what I knew about women. Was she going to stay here with me past the month? I knew that I could happily wake up with her every morning and feel her wrapped around my cock every night.
We moved together smoothly, our bodies slapping together as she came seconds before me. I drove into her hard and slow before I filled her, gripping her hips tightly with my hands. “Declan!” She screamed as I stilled, buried all the way inside of her, breathing deeply. I held myself there, memorizing her warmth as she pulsed around me, inhaling the scent of us in the room.
I pulled away as she rolled onto her back on the couch as she closed her eyes. I rested beside her, drawing her legs over my body as she sighed. “I have never felt like this with anyone before.”
