“Nothing. We just talked,” I lied.
He sat upright in his chair and fixed his eyes on mine. There was no doubt in my mind he could smell my bullshit. “And?”
I shrugged. “Nothing.”
“He didn't want to do anything else, huh?” Jack smirked, then sipped his wine. “I might have guessed he didn't have it in him.”
I set my fork down. Hearing Jack talk this way upset me for some reason. I wasn't ready to admit that I had feelings of a certain nature toward Drake. I was undeniably attracted to him. He was handsome, smart, funny, sexy, and even a little awkward, something I never thought I'd be attracted to. Above all else, he was warm. After I factored all that in, I supposed it wasn't that odd that Jack's disparagement upset me.
“We thought about it.” Fuck. I'd meant to come to his defense, but this would likely just anger Jack.
Though he looked tense, he swept his tongue over his teeth and flashed me a smile. “Well, as long as you had fun, that's all that matters.” He untucked his napkin and tossed it on his half-eaten dinner. “We're going again tonight. Be ready in an hour.”
“A—again?” I asked as he headed for the door. “You want to go back?”
He stopped and turned, his smile holding fast. “I think it's a fun place. Don't you want to go back? Maybe if you enjoy yourself with other people, you won't look so gloomy all the time.”
“I look gloomy?” For some reason, I touched my cheek, as if lack of social interaction might cause one's skin to droop or wrinkle.
“Gloomy was the wrong word,” he said, striding toward me. He set his hands on my shoulders. “All I mean is that sometimes you look a little pale and bored.” His lips brushed my cheek. “After hanging out at this club a few times, I think it'll brighten you up.” He patted me in a genial way, then left me sitting at the dining room table by myself.
I'll get to see him again, I thought. What can I say to him after last time? Maybe I should hang out with somebody else and avoid him altogether.
Thoughts of my almost-lover bled into my dressing time. After my shower, I passed in front of the full-length mirror. My imagination went wild, imagining him standing behind my naked reflection.
A shuddered breath escaped my lips as I pictured his arms encircling me, his hands on my curves.
I squeezed my eyes shut. If I wasn't careful, I was going to break a sweat.
To get my mind off of that tantalizing fantasy, I went to my closet and picked through my wardrobe. A dark plum dress that I hadn't worn in months fell under my fingertips, and I was sorely tempted to wear it.
Of course, my first thought was whether he would like it. I had a feeling he would.
No, Emily. No. Avoidance is the name of the game tonight. Remember: avoid Drake Savage at all costs.
Or it might become too real.
Hold back your feelings.
If you don't, you could lose Katherine.
Nothing is worth that.
(Drake)
“Have you seen these numbers?” Margot waved a stack of papers at me.
“Hm?”
“What is wrong with you?” She hiked a meaty fist up on her hip. “I feel like I'm talking to a freakin' wall here.”
“I'm sorry. My mind was somewhere else.” I scratched the back of my head.
“I was saying that this business event the store is doing is going to make you a mint, but you'll have to expedite the supply orders to get everything here on time.” She dropped the stack in front of me. “Have you sent the recipe for the salted caramel cookies to the catering kitchen?”
“No. I haven't.” I slapped my own forehead. “I meant to email that to Gabe, earlier, but I had to replace a propane tank.” I pulled out my laptop. “Thanks for reminding me.”
“Someone's got to remind you,” she bit out. “Where's your head lately?”
There were times her nagging really got to me. This was one of those times. It hardly mattered what I said. Nothing seemed to satisfy her. “I'm thinking of someone,” I said, hoping that angle would work.
She narrowed her eyes. “A girl?”
I nodded. “Yup.”
“Chastity?”
I couldn't hold back my smile. “No.”
She grinned. “Good. It's about time you shifted your focus. When do I get to meet her?”
“It's … complicated.” I finished the email and clicked 'send'.
“Complicated? How?”
I leaned back in my office chair. “She's married.”
Margot made a face. “Ugh.”
“Yeah. To a real asshole, too. He's the fucking worst person I've ever met.” I huffed and ran my fingers through my hair. “He's also the guy that got us the gig for the business event.”
“Oh really?” She crossed her arms, rubbing her chin in her hand.
I quirked a brow. “I know that look. Please, don't hatch any plans.”
“Oh, I'm not. But … I was thinking how if this asshole is having you cater, you'll have to stay up there.”
Blinking at her remark, I prodded her further. “Yeah? So?”
“Well, won't his wife be there with him?” she suggested.
I pursed my lips. “I did not think about that.”
“That's a nice way for you to see her.”
“I'll be there working, not socializing. Chastity will be there with me, too, you know.”
“Pft. Chastity. You think she gives a crap who you see?” She shook her head.
I rolled my eyes. “Can we not talk about this? I'm getting uncomfortable.”
“Alright. Alright.” She smiled. “Just remember this: if you're thinking of her, she's probably thinking of you, too.” She winked and left my office.
I sat back and thought about what she said, and before I knew it, I was grinning.
“You look happy.” Chastity wandered in with her apron strung over her arm.
“Guess I'm just in a good mood.” I stood and began packing my stuff up. “Do you need to go home for anything?”
“Not really,” she replied.
“We can go down early if you want. The cleaners are probably just finishing up.” I checked my watch. “Rock and Oscar will probably be here in the next hour or so, but I can make you a drink until then.”
“Sounds good.”
We took the stairs down to the club. As I'd guessed, the cleaners were completing their usual rounds.
A maid appeared at the mouth of the side corridor with two canvas sacks of soiled linens. Cleaning implements and sprays hung from her belt. Tucked into her apron were dusting cloths and gloves. Three women came out after her, all dressed the same.
The house lights were up and another woman in uniform vacuumed the floors. Rock took care of glasses and dishes every night, so they were spared that at least.
“We're all finished,” Lucy said as she came up to me.
“Thank you so much. Your efforts are much appreciated.”
“We'll be out of your hair after we finish the last of the polishing,” she assured me.
I don't think I could have trusted anybody except my cousin Lucy and her cleaning business to handle an intimate job like this. Each room had to be properly reset. Not only was this always done perfectly, but Lucy herself cleaned and sanitized the toys. Anyone else might have glossed over details like that but not her. Cleaning was her passion, and it showed in how thorough she was.
As they packed up, I slid behind the bar and pulled down two glasses. “Pick your poison,” I told Chastity.
“I'd like a Peggy, please.”
I turned to the shelf of liquor. “Shit. I don't remember how to make that.”
She leaned on the counter and smiled. “Shot of gin. Vermouth. Anis Liqueur.”
I took out a chilled glass. “That's a Martini.”
“It's a Peggy,” she argued. “Cause of the Anis.”
“I guess.” I took out the vermouth and gin and began pouring. “Anis Liquer,” I mused, searching the mixer shelf. “We don't have
any.”
“Fine. Just make it a regular martini. Not too dry.”
I put it in the mixer, then poured it into the glass. She picked it up and took a sip. “That's good.”
“Thanks.” I began making my own drink as her phone went off. “Who is it?”
“Him.”
I scowled. “Must he come back?”
“Of course he has to.” She smiled over the brim of her glass.
“I wish you'd tell me what you see in that guy.” I tossed my ingredients in the shaker and began mixing. “It just doesn't make sense. He's kind of a douche and he made you sick. I don't get it. Is he really that good at fucking? What's his super power?” I poured the contents of the shaker into my high-ball glass.
She stared thoughtfully into her martini. “Want to know a secret?”
“Well now you have to tell me.” I drained half my glass.
“A guy came to the club a few weeks ago, and he got pretty drunk. In between our rather vanilla sessions, he told me the story of man who sent his wife to sleep with him in exchange for some kind of service. He didn't say what.” She pulled out a pack of cigarettes and fished one out.
“And? Don't keep me in suspense.”
She lit up the cigarette and took a drag. “Well, I worked him a little bit and found out who this guy was.”
“Duncan?”
She nodded slowly. “Duncan.”
My mind whirred with the possibilities. He'd made Emily sleep with someone else so he could get something out of it? Maybe it didn't surprise me all that much. After all, he traded Emily to me for Chastity. “I didn't think I could hate him worse.” I began fixing myself a second drink to try and put out the fury burning in my chest. “I'm having a little trouble connecting you to him, though.”
“Well, I suggest that he bring his interesting friend here. He says he knows a girl the guy messes around with, a girl you know as Julia.” She chased a lung full of smoke with the rest of her cocktail.
“So he plants the seed with Julia and she brings Duncan.” I shook my head. “But why?”
“I got to thinking, 'This guy's a piece of shit, right? A real classic asshole who uses women.'”
“That's what I've been trying to tell you!” I exclaimed.
“Yes. Let me finish.” She slid her empty glass toward me and I began refilling it. “A guy like that seems interesting, right?”
I cleared my throat. “That's not the word I'd use to describe him, but sure.”
“Hearing a story like that got me thinking. How could someone do something so incredibly heartless? How could a man like that even exist?” She looked thoughtful, her gaze sweeping the counter. “It's like he doesn't understand the value of love or promises.”
“So, you wondered if he was like you.”
She looked into my eyes and I knew I'd figured out the riddle. “I think he might be.”
“You're a rare case, Chastity. Most people aren't like you,” I pointed out.
“Medically, yes. But what if someone chose that path? Does it make him different than me?”
I scoffed. “Who would choose not to be able to feel love?”
She twirled the stem of her glass between her fingertips. “It's not such a bad way to be.”
“Yeah, but you can't help it.”
“True. It's all I've ever known.” She took a long sip and crushed the butt of her cigarette in a nearby ashtray. “Still, I wanted to know if it was possible.”
“And that's it? Nothing else?”
She considered what I'd said for a moment. “I think we're similar. I think I'd be a little sad if he ever showed signs of having a heart.”
“Why?”
“Because … then I'd have to break it.”
(Jack)
At the bottom of the dark stairs, the club awaited, all bright lights and music. On the stage, a dancer was stripping, but I didn't bother looking at her. My eyes were busy scanning the room for Chastity.
Emily looked unsettled. She had during the drive over, too.
I set my hand on her back. “Everything alright, honey?”
“Hm? Oh. Yeah. Everything's fine.” She stared straight ahead, like a deer caught in headlights.
Finally, I came across Chastity talking to another woman. They looked awfully chummy. I'd never asked her what her sexual preferences were. Until now, I'd thought she was exclusively straight. Of course, with a woman like Chastity, one could never tell right off what she liked or didn't like.
“This way, my little one.” I guided my wife across the room. She went willingly and obediently. “Here you are, Chastity,” I said as we stepped up behind the couple.
“Oh, Mr. Doe!” She gave me a soft kiss on the cheek. “How good to see you. Lily and I were just talking about going into the back.”
“I see.” Whether she meant to include me or not was the question. If she told me no, she'd better have a convincing explanation.
“Would you like to come back with us?”
That was exactly what I was looking for. “I'd love to,” I replied.
Drake was paying us no mind but sat reading a book at the far side of the lounge section.
“Emily, honey, why don't you go keep Master Drake some company?”
“I … I'd rather not, Master.” Emily mumbled from behind her mask. “Is there some other way I could please you? Could I come back with you and the other ladies?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Are you refusing a direct order?”
She chewed the inside of her lip, “No, Sir.”
“Don't make me humiliate you in front of all these people,” I threatened.
“I just … ” she began.
“You just?” I questioned her with a raised brow.
“N—nothing, Sir.” She wrung her hands. “Have a good time.”
“What a good girl she is,” Lily cooed, stroking Emily's cheek. “She might be fun to bring along.”
“I'll have my hands full as it is,” I interjected. “Maybe next time.”
Emily smiled nervously, her cheeks flushing as she scooted away from us.
“Shy thing, isn't she?” Lily remarked.
I nodded. “She is.” I gestured toward the side-hall door. “Shall we?”
(Emily)
There I was, doing exactly what I said I wasn't going to do. He had glasses on, presumably the same ones I'd seen him wearing on the day we met. He wore the same type of outfit he had last time. Black t-shirt and black pants.
God, he's so hot, I thought as I paced toward him, completely uncertain of whether he'd even be happy to see me.
Then he looked up, and light caught his eyes. He smiled at me, as I stood in my stupid plum dress, the one I was sure he liked.
“You're back.” He'd said it as if he was only half surprised.
“I was hoping I wouldn't have to bother you tonight, but Jack went back with Chastity.” I shifted uncomfortably. “I think I'm just going to sit at the bar until he's done.”
I about-faced and only got two steps before Drake grabbed me by the wrist. “Obviously, your Master hasn't explained the rules.”
I swallowed hard as the heat from his skin sunk into mine. “Rules?”
“If he takes my date, I get his. That's the rule.” He stood and came up beside me. Just feeling him next to me was enough to disorient me.
Apparently, he wouldn't brook refusal. He swept me off to the bar and we sat exactly where we had last time. He ordered my drink for me, the same one I'd had last time, and refrained from drinking anything but water himself.
“No tequila tonight?” I asked.
He shook his head. “I think we had enough last time. I'd rather things stay relaxed between us this time.”
“Do we … should we go … ?”
“Into the back room like last time?” He finished my question.
I stared at him, trying to read the expression on his face. He looked so serious, and it occurred to me that he might have thought what I'd said was too forward. �
�I'm sorry.”
His head ticked to the side. “Sorry? For what?”
Our drinks arrived and I took a big sip of mine.
“I shouldn't have suggested it.”
Drake glanced around the room. “Why not? I think it'd be nice to get away from the maddening crowd.”
“You … want to—”
“We won't be doing anything you don't want to do. I'd like to finish my chapter. We could just sit together and talk if you want.”
I couldn't lie. Knowing that the pressure was off was comforting. “That'd be nice.”
He stood and offered me his arm. “I've even got a crossword puzzle book you can fill out if you want.”
I laughed as we walked arm-in-arm to the room we'd been in before. This time it seemed far less threatening and suspicious. Its trappings were no longer alien. Even though I'd only been there once, I was much more at ease there this time.
He sat at the dressing-table and watched as I reclined in the bed. I smiled, though there was no particular reason why I should. He snickered, opened a drawer, and took out a book of crossword puzzles.
I was laughing all over again.
“You thought I was kidding?” he asked. “I have all kinds of strange crap in this drawer.”
I opened to the first empty page and steadied my pencil to begin killing time.
We sat in silence for a few minutes. Once in a while, my eyes drifted to the cover of his book. His fingers were curled around the cover. The light glinted off the frames of his glasses and sat like a halo in his blond hair.
Suddenly his eyes darted up from the page. “You're staring.”
“Oh. Sorry.” I looked back down at my crossword. I hadn't written down a single word.
(Drake)
That dress could make a priest renounce his vows.
No, don't look at her. Keep your eye on your book.
I wonder if she's thinking about it, too—about the fact that we're alone. I can't seem to stop thinking about it. I'll be damned if this woman hasn't been on my mind ever since the last time we were together. I can't understand how this woman, one who's so quiet and unassuming, can affect me so heavily. I think it was in her kiss. Yeah … That was the moment I realized she'd shone light on a dark spot in my heart. I've never been kissed like that. I've never been needed like that.
“You haven't turned a page in fifteen minutes,” she said from across the room.
Traded for Love Page 23
