by Amy Brent
She actually found herself considering it, but she shook her head. “No. No, I'm sorry. I couldn't.”
He shrugged, a confident smile still on his lips. “Well, if you change your mind, the offer stands. And it wouldn't just have to be a one time deal.” His eyes roamed her body once more, and Jillian felt exposed, even with her white coat on. “I'm sure that once I had a taste of you, I couldn't be able to give you up.”
He left the room. Jillian leaned against the table, taking a few deep breaths to steady herself. She'd never had such an encounter with a man before. Sure, she'd had plenty of men proposition her. But none had ever been so...aggressive. Confident.
She looked at the number he'd written down, thinking about how much she could do with so much money. It was more than she earned in a month. Though she couldn't seriously let herself consider such a thing. It was wrong.
Kate let her next patient in, and Jillian got to work helping the young man work through exercising his leg to recover from a hamstring injury. Though the entire time, her mind kept drifting to Thomas, and thinking about their next appointment together.
* * *
* * *
* * *
A few days later, Jillian finally got tired of all the phone calls to her bank, and she took a personal day from work to deal with her financial issues. She sat waiting at the bank for more than an hour while a credit specialist looked over her credit report. When he finally called her into his office to discuss what he'd found, the news wasn't good.
“I'm really sorry, Miss Miller, but there's no way we can approve you for a consolidation loan at this time.”
“But you don't understand,” Jillian said, clutching her purse. “I'm drowning here. If you'll just give me a chance...”
“I wish I could help,” he said. “I really do. But it's out of my control.” He spread his hands apologetically.”
“I don't see what the problem is,” she said. “I've got a job. I can make the payments.”
He sighed and flipped through the pages of her credit report. “First off, you've missed a few payments, and that hurt your credit score.”
“That was over a year ago,” Jillian said. “I haven't missed a payment since. And besides, if you help me consolidate, that'll lower my monthly payments. So you see, I'll be more likely to keep up with them.”
“It's not that simple,” he said. “Plus, there are other factors. You have such a high volume of debt, and you've had too many credit inquiries lately.”
“So you won't give me a loan just because I've been asking for loans?”
He frowned at her and set the report down. “Miss Miller, I'm sorry. But the decision is final.”
She scowled at him, wishing there was something else she could say. But there didn't seem to be any point. “Fine. Thanks for nothing.”
She got up and left, stalking out to her car. When she got into the car she started to cry. Her debt was more than she could handle. She'd been forced recently to take cash advances on one of her credit cards just to keep up with payments on the others. And she was quickly approaching the point that she wouldn't be able to do that anymore.
She thought about Thomas's offer. Part of her was disgusted at the idea of considering such a thing. She didn't want to lower herself to selling her body. But on the other hand, she was desperate. And, she knew, there wasn't necessarily anything to be ashamed of. Her body was hers to do with as she pleased. What right did anyone else have to tell her whether or not she was allowed to earn her living by bringing someone pleasure? It wasn't as if she would be standing on a street corner, offering herself to random strangers and risking disease or worse. She would just do it once, and it would be with a fit, healthy, attractive man.
She drummed her fingers on the steering wheel, considering it. She couldn't quite make up her mind. But it was starting to seem like her best hope of improving her life.
* * *
* * *
* * *
When it came time for Thomas's next appointment, Jillian walked into the room feeling a cold stabbing in her gut. She could still remember the things he'd said, the way he'd propositioned her. She hadn't stopped thinking about it. And now she was going to try to find a way to bring the subject up again.
“Good afternoon,” she said as she entered the room, trying to keep her voice calm and level. “How's your back been feeling?”
“I've been getting a lot of stiffness, especially in the morning.” He stretched, moving his right arm in small circles to loosen up some muscles. “And I can't move as well as I used to on this side.”
“Give it time,” Jillian said. “It takes a while to recover after an accident like this. I'm sure we'll have you out mountain biking again in no time.”
“God, I hope so. Sitting around all day is getting really boring.”
“Don't you have a day job?” she asked as she consulted Thomas's chart. She knew he must have a lot of money, if he could make her the kind of offer he had. But she didn't really know how much money. She worked at a high-end clinic, so a lot of her patients were wealthy. Some were high-salaried sports stars, while others were simply rich men who liked to do extreme sports, like Thomas here.
“Well, I have board meetings,” Thomas said. “But half the time I'd rather skip out on those and go do something more interesting.”
“Must be nice to be able to shirk your responsibilities and go out to have fun.” Jillian sighed, wishing she didn't have so many financial troubles. She couldn't even afford to take a simple vacation, let alone skip out on work whenever she felt like.
They started working through some exercises to loosen up Thomas's back. His muscles were especially stiff today, and Jillian kept having to help him work through the exercises. When she touched her hands against his bare back and arms, all she could think about was the firm muscles beneath her fingers. She tried again and again to think of a way to bring up his proposition, but she couldn't think of a way to do it without sounding like a fool.
Towards the end of the session, they were pressed close together as she helped him stretch his right arm through an exercise. He winced as the motion pulled some painful muscles, but she pressed him on, forcing him to slowly work through the pain. When she glanced at his face, he was looking right at her. His gaze dug into her, making her mouth go dry.
“So, Jillian,” he said, leaning a bit closer under the pretense of stretching out his side muscles more. “Have you given any thought to my 'business proposal'?”
“If that's what you want to call it,” she said, pulling her gaze away from his.
“That's exactly what it is,” he said. “An exchange of money for a simple service.”
“Simple?” She smirked and shook her head. “Honey, if you think it's 'simple,' then you're underestimating me.”
“Oh really?” A grin slowly spread on his lips. “So what you're saying is, you're a real pro.”
“Let's just say I know a thing or two about how a man's body works.” She demonstrated by pressing her hand against a sensitive spot in his side, eliciting a small yelp and sending goosebumps across his skin.
He grabbed her hand by reflex, then held it gently in his. Their eyes met. Jillian swallowed a lump in her throat.
“I can't help but notice,” he said, “that you haven't actually said no this time.”
“I guess I haven't,” she said.
He stepped closer. She turned away, her face heating up. He kept hold of her hand and pulled it against his chest. She could feel his heart beating beneath her palm.
“So what do you say?” Thomas whispered.
“This is the kind of thing that could get me in a lot of trouble. I could lose my job.”
“I promise to be discreet,” Thomas said. “Not a soul will know.”
She swallowed, then glanced up at him. He held her gaze and reached out to caress her cheek.
Jillian closed her eyes for a moment, steeling her resolve. The truth was, she was attracted to Thomas. He wa
s a handsome, well-built man, and the way he looked at her sent chills up her spine. Under different circumstances, she might have been willing to date him. Instead, she was considering crossing a line she'd never in her life thought she would cross.
“About that...price you offered,” she whispered.
He slid his hand through her hair, letting the delicate strands run across his fingers. “I'll double it.”
Jillian's eyes widened. It had already been an offer of more money than she could have hoped to earn for a single, simple, carnal act. Doubling it made it an offer she just couldn't refuse.
“All right,” she whispered.
Thomas grinned. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a card. “Give me a call this weekend,” he said. “I have an apartment in the city we can use. It's discreet. Most of my business associates don't even know about it.”
She took the card and studied it. Taking it felt like signing a contract. She nodded, without looking up at him. “All right.”
He touched his fingers under her chin to tilt her face up towards him. “Trust me,” he said. “I'm going to make sure this is the time of your life.”
He leaned in close and pressed his lips against hers. She stiffened, and almost pulled away, but his kiss tasted so sweet she couldn't resist. She let her tongue brush lightly against his lips, a soft whimper escaping her.
There was a knock at the door and they immediately pulled apart. Kate stuck her head in the door and said, “Jillian? Your next appointment is here.”
Jillian cleared her throat and ran her hands down over her white coat, smoothing it out. “Yes. Okay. Thank you. I'll be right there.”
Kate looked between Jillian and Thomas, a curious expression on her face. Thomas simply smiled at her, showing no shame. Jillian did everything she could to avoid eye contact with either one of them. If Kate suspected anything, she didn't say so. She left them there and closed the door behind her without saying another word.
Jillian stepped away from Thomas. “So,” she said, clearing her throat. “This weekend, then.”
He took her hand and raised it to his lips, planting a soft kiss on the back of her fingers. “I can't wait.”
He left, and Jillian watched him go, trying to fight the butterflies that had suddenly taken up residence in her gut.
* * *
* * *
* * *
Saturday afternoon, Jillian sat in her kitchen, holding her phone in one hand and Thomas's card in the other. She had typed the number into the phone, but she froze every time she was about to tap “Send.” She had never been good with difficult phone calls, and this was the most unusual one she had ever made in her life. It would be one thing if she was calling Thomas to ask him on a date. She would have been scared out of her mind to do that, but at least it would have been something she'd done before. This was more like calling to schedule an appointment. It felt too impersonal. It was missing the romance.
She set down the phone and ran her fingers through her hair. She didn't really want romance. Romance was messy. Complicated. You had to worry about commitment and attachments and how a relationship could work its way into your entire life. What she was going to do with Thomas would be...simpler. It was just an intimate encounter. A liaison.
She picked up the phone and held her finger over the screen, taking a deep breath. She closed her eyes, hit the button, then held the phone to her ear with a trembling hand.
“Jillian,” Thomas said as soon as he answered the phone.
She froze. How had he known it would be her? He was a busy businessman. Surely he got a lot of other calls throughout the day. Though she realized this must have been a private line. One he reserved only for the more intimate aspects of his life.
“Thomas,” she said, her voice shaking. “I...”
“Nervous?” He chuckled. “Don't be. We're going to have a wonderful evening together.”
Jillian took a few slow breaths, trying to settle her nerves. “I'm looking forward to it.”
She wasn't sure if that was true or not. Part of her was excited. Part of her was terrified.
“As am I. I'll have a car sent for you. We can take things slow. Dinner. A bottle of wine. Soft music. I promise you this will be a night to remember.”
Jillian swallowed a lump in her throat. She wasn't sure whether she wanted the romantic evening. On the one hand, it sounded rather nice. It had been a long time since she'd gone out and had a nice dinner with a handsome man. But on the other hand, this wasn't a date. She almost would have preferred to skip the romance and cut straight to the evening's business.
“All right,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady. “I can't wait.”
She gave Thomas her address, then went into her bedroom to search for something to wear. She was still trying on outfits an hour later when her doorbell rang. She settled on a low-cut black dress and high heels. The doorbell rang again as she was adjusting the skirt over the curves of her hips, trying to see if the dress gave the right impression. She wanted to be attractive, but not seductive. She needed to keep herself detached. Not let herself get swept up too much in the moment.
She went to the door and found a man there wearing a black suit and a chauffeur's cap. He tipped his hat to her and said, “Ma'am. Your car awaits.”
He led her out to a shiny black sedan. He held open the door for her and she climbed in. The seat was made of the most comfortable leather she'd ever touched. She couldn't help running her hands across it to feel the smooth texture beneath her fingertips.
There was a bottle of wine waiting for her. She poured herself a glass, drank it down fast to soothe her nerves, then poured another. She sipped the second glass slowly while the driver drove her over the bridge into Philadelphia, then to a high rise building that looked rather well-to-do. They drove into the parking garage beneath the building, then the driver let her out in front of the elevator. She was grateful for the privacy that offered; if she'd had to walk in through the main lobby, considering what she was here for, she would have been devastated.
She rode the elevator up to the penthouse, the butterflies in her stomach riding with her the whole way. The doors opened into a small foyer, where Thomas waited for her holding a single red rose. He was dressed in black pants and a white shirt with a few buttons undone at the top. It somehow made him simultaneously look both casual and romantic.
She took the rose, forcing a smile. It felt like such a mixed message to her. You gave a rose to a girl on a date, but this definitely wasn't a date. At least, not as far as she was concerned.
“Jillian,” he said. “You look lovely.” He touched a hand to the small of her back and led her inside. The apartment was spacious and decorated with accents of silver and black, with expensive but subdued artwork on the walls and black marble floor tiles. The dining room table was set with a pair of candles and a single, slender vase. She stuck the stem of the rose into the vase, then sat when Thomas held her chair out for her.
“I hope you brought your appetite,” Thomas said. “I consider myself something of a decent chef.”
“You...you cooked?” She looked up at him, incredulous. She'd expected that someone so wealthy would have a professional cook working for him.
“There's something much more satisfying about a meal I've prepared myself,” he said. He brought a silver tray in from the kitchen and opened the lid. Delightful scents filled the air. He set a plate before her, with a delectable chicken and vegetable medley topped with some kind of sweet sauce that set off a delightful explosion in her mouth. They ate and shared a bottle of wine, and by the time Jillian finished what was her third glass, counting the two she'd had in the car, she was starting to feel pleasantly relaxed.
“How is everything?” Thomas asked.
“Oh, it's just wonderful.” She looked around the apartment, wondering what it was like to live in a place like this. Everything was spotless, and the furniture looked like it had never been sat on. She wondered if he kept things s
o neat all on his own, or if he had a cleaning staff to thank for it.
“I'm glad,” he said. “I want everything to be perfect tonight. You deserve to have a wonderful time.”
He raised his glass to her, and she raised hers as well, though she couldn't help but wonder if this was all just pointless window dressing. They both already knew what tonight was all about. The deal was sealed. Was he just trying to pretend? To put on a show and make this seem like a romantic evening, when it was really just about sex?
She decided to play along. It made things easier, and truth be told, she really was having a nice time. If this had been a normal date, she would be quite happy right now.
After they finished eating, Thomas put on some music. He offered her his hand, and when she took it, he led her to a clear space in the middle of the living room. He placed his hands on her waist, she wrapped hers around his shoulders, and they started to slowly dance.
Swaying together in time with the music made Jillian feel even more relaxed. She laid her head against Thomas's shoulder and let out a content sigh. His fingers strayed along her waistline, sending little shivers through her. He held her close enough that she could feel his warmth. She whimpered softly against his neck. She let herself completely forget about the real reason she was here, the fact that this was a business arrangement. She set all of that aside and simply let herself be swept up in the moment.
His cheek brushed against hers, followed by his lips. He kissed her cheek softly, then kissed the corner of her mouth. Then his lips were pressed against hers. His hands slid lower, gripping her ass through her skirt. She gasped, but let it happen. Not because she had to, but because it felt so nice to be touched.
They stopped dancing and stood there, kissing, while Thomas's hands continued to roam. He hitched up her skirt and reached underneath so he could touch her skin. She clung to him, whimpering and breathless. His fingers followed the curves of her cheeks, then slid between her legs, bringing forth a soft moan.
