by Hart, Alexa
The first time he had followed through with this plan, it had been a bit awkward, it felt dirty in some way. At least in the beginning. He didn’t have to ask her to sleep with him, most women would volunteer to go to bed with him in a heartbeat. Still, he didn’t want it to seem like a demand, like he had purchased her body. To his pleasant surprise, she had been more than eager to show her appreciation physically. They slipped into an easy companionship that, at the end of the month, was almost hard to terminate. It was the right thing to do. He couldn’t provide a woman with the kind of attention she deserved. A stable home life. Children. He couldn’t stay in one place, both because of his work and because of his personality. Inevitably, if he married, his wife would be left alone with the children for weeks, even months on end. It wasn’t right. There was no point.
So, after a month, each new companion was given a generous stipend, and set free. Free of him. It was better that way.
It worked perfectly.
He was lonely and unsettled on the night he had taken a chance on a three-star restaurant and found Bella in the parking lot outside. She was leaning against her car, her bright, innocent face a picture of concern. He didn't mean to eavesdrop, but he’d been so drawn to her. She was gorgeous. The golden streaks in her hair glowing in the light of the streetlamps. She was too beautiful to be so sad. He didn't hear much, but it was enough to learn that a family member desperately needed a surgery that her family could not afford.
His mind went first to taking Bella as his next companion, but she was far too young for him. He wanted to solve her problems, yes, but he also was having to fight to push images from his head of her sweet, pouty lips wrapped around his cock. He didn’t know what had gotten into him, he normally didn’t feel such an intense sexual attraction to women who were complete strangers. Most of his previous companions he had known, at least as casual acquaintances, prior to starting a one month arrangement with them. She was a total stranger to him. He had no way of knowing whether or not she would even entertain the idea of taking him up on his offer, especially given their age difference.
He put that thought to the side. She was far too innocent for him. She deserved better. Someone her own age, someone who could devote the kind of time to her that she was worthy of, someone who could worship her perfect body for longer than one month. She deserved a lifetime of devotion, that was clear just from looking at her. He settled instead on giving her a hundred-dollar tip. It was the very least he could do. A hundred dollars was nothing to him, but it might be enough give her hope.
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About the Author
Alexa Hart is an author, wife, mommy to two adorable fur babies and big-time hopeless romantic. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her amazing husband (her very own real-life bad boy), growing gorgeous flowers in her garden and finding inspiration for her next book literally everywhere she looks. Love is all around us and it brings her so much joy to bring that love to life in each story she writes.
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Also by Alexa Hart
Faking it with a Prince… How hard could that be? I was born to be a reporter. Digging up the dirty details and writing a killer piece is the one thing I’m truly good at. But I’ve been chained to my desk fluffing up ‘real’ reporter’s articles for longer than I care to think about. Now I’m finally getting my big break. My first real chance to actually make a name for myself. All I have to do is play fake girlfriend to a billionaire, playboy prince and get the inside scoop on all his sordid royal affairs. Piece of cake. He may be the object of every girl’s desires, but I couldn’t care less about his title, his money or his Adonis-like physique. Get in. Get the story. Get out. That’s my mission. May be easier said than done. It seems there is at least one, very BIG reason he’s so popular with the ladies. And soon I find myself caught in the middle of a royal scandal bigger than anything I ever anticipated. New mission: Whatever you do, don’t fall for the bad boy prince. HEA guaranteed.
My first love. Total alpha. Troublemaking bad boy turned… billionaire marketing mogul?? Well, he can save his chiseled good looks and womanizing ways for someone else. If he thinks he can just walk back into my life after all these years, he’s got another thing coming. Drew 10 years ago I made the biggest mistake of my life. I left the only girl I had ever loved. The only girl I would ever love. Now I’m back for another shot with her and this time I won’t screw it up. Lily is mine. She always has been. I had my reasons for walking away. I had to protect her. I had to keep her safe from me, from a side of me she never could have accepted. Now I’m back for good and I will never abandon her again. I just hope she’ll give me a chance to prove it. Because true love, that one in a billion kind of love - deserves a second chance. I never should have let him get under my skin. His sweet kisses and the bulge in his pants are driving me over the edge of insanity. Suddenly, all I can think about is how it felt all those years ago. How it felt to be in love. But I’ll have to be strong. I won’t allow Drew to break my heart again. With him, there’s no such thing as happily ever after. I know that now. So why did I just wake up with a giant rock on my finger and Drew in my bed?
