Page 28 of Thirst

“I know I don't have to, the same way you didn't have to offer yourself just for me to fulfill a kink. So, I think that makes us even. I’ll only agree to do it if you agree to the dollar amount. You do something for me. I do something for you.”

I'm not an idiot. I know how much twenty-five-hundred-dollars would mean to me. I'd be a fool to turn this down. It’s just that I didn't expect our relationship to become so much of a business transaction. I thought we’d go out on dates, or go to the movies, or watch Netflix before having sex all night. But I can't turn down money like this. Janae would kill me if I told her I shot this deal down. So … I'm doing it.

“Okay. I'm down,” I announce, my heart racing.

Amari nods. “Good. But not here.”

“What do you mean? Why not?”

“Because I'd rather do it somewhere where I don't have to worry about the money being taken by your boss.”

“Oh. Good point.”

“So we’ll do it at my place,” he says. “I live in the main penthouse on the top floor of my casino. I’ll have you picked up. We’ll both bring our paperwork showing a clean bill of health, and we'll do it in my bedroom after dinner and a few drinks.”

“You’ll have me picked up?”

“Yes. My driver, Shawn, will come get you from wherever you’d prefer.”

“Bet,” I say, already thinking about the money and how insane this all sounds.

“Okay, then that’s it. I’m sorry both lap dances got cut short tonight, but perhaps we’ll make up for it.”

I can't help but laugh at the way he talks sometimes. “Yeah, perhaps.”

“Let’s exchange numbers before we go … and don't be making fun of how I talk.”

I laugh out loud as I hand him my phone to put his number into my contacts. “I'm sorry, I couldn't help it. I know you said you're thirty, but sometimes you talk like somebody much older.”

“I told you, I'm actually a hundred-fifty-six,” he says with a playful smile as he types his number into my phone and moves to the texts to message himself so that he has my number.

“Oh, that’s right. Sorry, I forgot,” I say, giggling as I take my phone back.

Amari stands up, and I see new energy in him. He seems genuinely happy about our plans and walks to the door with a pep in his step. Before he opens it, he reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a gold money clip stuffed full of cash. I watch him count some out and hand it to me.

“Here,” he says. “They’ll expect you to have gotten paid.”

I quickly count out the money and my jaw drops. “Amari, this is a thousand dollars.”

“Yeah,” he says in all seriousness. “Don't let him take all of it. I’ll text you in a couple of days to line up our schedules. Cool?”

I smile like the Cheshire Cat. “Cool.”

He pops the door open. “Alright. I’ll see you soon.”

Then, he's walking down the hall like he owns the place. I stand in the doorway and watch him go, feeling like my jaw is on the floor because I barely know what just happened.

What was I thinking? Did I really just agree to let him play out his blood kink with me? I must be insane. Yet, I feel the thrill of unhinged excitement rattling my heart. I said I wanted sex, adventure, money, and danger, and now it looks like I'm about to get damn near all of them. I guess this is why they say to be careful what you wish for. Looking at Amari is the same as staring sex, adventure, and money straight in the face. And his kink might even cross us into the danger category. I don't know how it’ll all play out, but I know my money woes are fading, and the sexiest man I've ever met is about to invite me to his penthouse. That toast must've had voodoo in it.

As for having to cut myself? This is nothing like when I was a kid. I'm in a healthier place and ready to explore myself.

It's just a little blood. What’s the worst that could happen?

Eighteen

“You must be out of your mind, Aaliyah. You're lucky I had time off to come over and do this. You should be able to get your blood drawn on your own at your big age.”

“Nae, I'm a baby. Alright? Just be a bitch’s friend and wait with me. I'm already stressed enough with all of this going on. Now I have a needle this close to going in my arm.”