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Just as I deepen the kiss, the chime of her phone penetrates the thick haze that has settled over me. When it happens for a second time, she breaks away and fishes the small device out of her purse with hands that tremble.
As soon as she glances at the cell, her muscles tense. She quickly withdraws, turning away so that I can’t see the screen. Jealousy licks through me, thinking that maybe some guy from tonight is already texting, trying to shoot his shot.
“Who is it?” I rasp.
“My parents. I didn’t text earlier, and they wanted to make sure I got home safely.”
Her tight-lipped response is like a bucket of cold water dumped over my head. I didn’t think anything could douse the flames licking like wildfire through my body.
I was wrong.
“We should probably get moving,” she says in a clipped tone as if my mouth wasn’t just roving hungrily over hers.
It doesn’t escape me that every step forward with this girl is accompanied by three giant steps back.
Chapter 22
Fallyn
I release an unsteady breath and try to settle the jangled nerves that scatter across my skin as I key the entry for the hotel suite. As soon as the light flashes green, my heart lurches to the middle of my throat as I open the door. The air inside remains still. Untouched. There’s a floral scent that fills the space.
Something familiar.
Like peonies.
It’s strangely comforting when nothing about this situation should bring me a moment of relief.
As that thought races through my head, I slip inside the entryway and close the thick wood before leaning against it and squeezing my eyes closed. After a second or two, I force myself to move further into the suite.
Even though it’s not the same one as before, it’s almost identical. There are little touches that give it a different vibe. The paintings on the wall, the curve of the sleek furniture, and the palate of colors used to give it life.
This time, I don’t bother to take in the view of the city or street below. I beeline for the sumptuous room with a king-sized bed that dominates the space. My feet grind to a halt when I find another robe folded on top of the comforter, along with a note and the satiny black blindfold.
After the way he’d caressed every inch of me last time, I wondered if he’d forgo the mask. As much as I want these encounters to remain anonymous, there’s a part of me that is desperate to see the only man who has touched my body so intimately, stroking me to orgasm.
As soon as that sly thought pops into my head, I shove it aside.
It’s better this way.
After the three encounters that he paid an exorbitant amount for, I don’t ever want to think about this sad chapter in my life again. I’m ashamed this is what I’ve been forced to stoop to.
Unwilling to dwell on those dangerous thoughts, I pick up the thick card stock and find the same instructions as before. The fact that this “date” will go exactly the same way as the first one settles something deep inside me. I know what to expect, and there’s a strange comfort to be found in that.
With the robe clutched in my hands, I head to the white and gray veined marble bathroom. It’s bright and airy with a high ceiling. There’s a massive picture window on the other side of the porcelain clawfoot tub that overlooks the town below. In a different life, one where I didn’t need to hustle for my tuition, I could almost imagine relaxing in hot, sudsy water and soaking all my worries away.
I strip off my jeans and sweater before folding them neatly on the marble counter. Last time, I dressed up and took great care with my appearance, wanting him to like what he saw. This time, I didn’t bother. Not even with the sexy underwear. There didn’t seem to be a point. I shaved, straightened my hair, and applied some light makeup.
That’s it.
Another wave of anxiety crashes over me as I tighten the thick sash around my waist and re-enter the room before crawling onto the bed and snagging the facemask. My hand trembles as I pick up my phone and text the number. Then I slip the mask over my eyes until blackness swallows me whole and settle against the pillows.
He doesn’t make me wait. A few minutes later, the outer door opens and footsteps pad across the wood floor into the main area of the suite before crossing over the threshold into the bedroom.
That’s all it takes for electricity to sizzle through the air until it feels like the tiny hairs on my arms are standing to attention. All of my senses sharpen to a fine point.
There’s just him.
And me.
