Page 6 of Paid With Innocence

He reaches out to touch her, and that’s when I snap.

In a flash, I’m on my feet. All conversation in the room halts as I slide between them and get right up in his face. “Back off. Now.”

Chuck’s lips twist, and his eyes narrow. He goes tense, and for a second, I actually think he’s going to take a swing at me.

You’ll regret it, pal.

Thankfully, he knows this and takes a step back. “Hey, relax, buddy! I was just trying to be friendly.”

“Sure you were.” I nod. “Now get lost before I have you removed.”

Glancing past me, Chuck licks his lower lip at Megan, and I nearly break his nose. But I don’t want to make any more of a scene than I already have. Not tonight. Not in front of Megan. Sure, she came here on a lie—maybe she was just looking for a payout—but I’m going to make tonight special for her.

Chuck slowly walks away, and once he’s back at his own table, I sit down again. “I apologize.”

“You know that guy?” Megan asks softly.

“Unfortunately.” I take a sip of my scotch, trying to calm my rage. “He’s a scumbag wannabe businessman who’s pissed that I wouldn’t finance one of his many failed companies. Now he just likes to annoy me.”

Megan nods. “It must be hard being rich. Always having people come to you for money.”

I raise an eyebrow. “You mean people like you?”

She opens her mouth to respond but stops when she realizes she’s got nothing to say.

I chuckle. She’s cute when she’s caught.

“It’s all right.” I smile, taking her hand again. “Tell me about you, Megan. What do you do? What do you want to do?”

Her cheeks are red. Her palm’s gone clammy.

Brushing her hair back, she takes a deep breath. I steal a glance at her tits as they rise in her dress, her line of cleavage making my mouth water. My cock would fit perfectly between them.

“Well, right now I’m a waitress. But it’s my dream to be an artist.”

“What kind of art?” I ask. “Drawing? Sculpting? Painting?”

“Painting.” She nods. “But art supplies are not cheap. Neither is art school—”

“Ah, so that’s why you’re here tonight.”

The façade she’s been trying to keep up finally falls. Her expression changes, and I find myself staring at the real her.

She shakes her head, looking like a criminal who’s just gotten busted by the police. “No, I’m here because I’m two months behind on rent, and my friend Trish double-booked two dates tonight.”

“Two dates?” I laugh. “This friend of yours is a busy bee.”

Megan lets out a tiny chirp of a laugh and takes a sip from her glass. “I don’t know how she does it. I didn’t even think I could do this. And I was right.”

Our waitress arrives with our appetizers. I pluck a lobster ravioli from her plate and raise it to Megan’s succulent lips. She looks at me, hesitates, then slowly opens her mouth. My balls ache as I feed it to her. The urge to take her swells within me. Who knew watching a girl eat could be so goddamn sexy?

“Well, Megan, every artist needs a patron,” I say. “I have an unused wing of my manor. I’ll set you up in there. You’ll have a bedroom, a bathroom, access to my own private chef, a studio, and all the supplies you need.”

Her eyes go instantly wide, and she quickly swallows, shaking her head. “Oh, no. I couldn’t possibly—”

Pulling her closer, I stare deeply into her eyes.

I could lose myself in these. Forever.