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I'll be glad to get rid of my V-card. And holy belly bats, am I grateful for the money.
As for everything else…I don't know why Hunter bid on me, and I don't care. I don't have to. All I have to do is screw him.
I stand up, my black robe whirling around my ankles. I run my fingers through my long, loose hair and slide a tube of lipstick from the robe's pocket. I can do this.
And I believe that—right until the moment the door swings open and Hunter strides inside.
He looks rough, his smooth skin pale, his mouth pinched tight. And God—that body. His massive shoulders draw my eyes, and my gaze falls down his flawless abs, visible through the tight, black t-shirt that is his trademark poker outfit. Poker outfit? I look down at his pants, and yep. They're the black jeans he always wears, along with big, black boots. He’s Stetson-less, though, and his pretty golden hair is messy. His eyes, now fixed on me, are slightly red. I wonder if he's doing cocaine. I've heard he used to. My stomach twists. He looks me over, same as I did him, and I realize with a jolt that he looks genuinely angry.
His mouth pinches a little more, and he nods briskly at the door. "I've got my ride at the side entrance. Marchant says you’re ready."
I lick my lips, looking into his face and searching for any hint of what he’s thinking. But he’s got a hell of a poker face. "That's it?"
"What do you mean, that's it? Are you expecting something more? A corsage?" he asks dryly.
I flinch. "No, of course not. I just mean...you look upset or something."
He stuffs his hands into his pockets. "Not so much upset as pissed."
"At me?"
"Just pissed," he says, folding his arms like he's daring me to challenge him. I couldn't if I wanted to. I have no idea what he's talking about. But I have a strong gut feeling that it's directed at me.
"I don't want go off with someone who's angry at me."
His face goes from stony to downright hard. Those gorgeous green eyes are like nails. "Then reject my offer."
"No way," I say. "I mean...I can't. It's done already."
"Then go get into my car. You don't have to like it." His lips press flat. "I'm paying you, remember?"
I feel my face heat up. "I'd be a lot happier if you weren't. Seems we both have a better time when we hook up in bathrooms."
"I was thinking the same thing," he says. He sounds like he's being dry again, and I'm confused. He rubs his hand roughly over his forehead and turns toward the door. "Never mind about getting into my car. Wait here for me. I'll be right back."
I’m standing, frozen on the spot. I didn’t know what I expected, but this
He’s back so fast I jump. He doesn’t notice, and I take another moment to examine his tried eyes. He looked exhausted—dead on his feet—the other night at the Joseph, but tonight it's something more.
I bite the inside of my cheek as I eye the suede, fur-lined coat that will probably cover everything but my feet. He holds it out, and I just stare at him. He's got this haunted look to him, like he's seen something he doesn't want to see, or heard something he doesn't want to hear. He looks...worried. Worried and desperately unhappy.
He steps over to me, holding out the coat, and my traitorous heart aches for him.
"Stick in your arms," he says, a little gruff.
I do, and he turns me to face him. That heaviness is still there. His eyes look desperate; they make me feel itchy.
"Let’s go.”
His voice is still rough, and I think about saying something sarcastic. I would have, if we were doing this at a party, or dare I dream it a date, or any other social function that didn’t involve him paying me $10 million to have sex with him. As it is, I’m not sure how to act.
Eventually, I decide to salute him. I’m reaching all the way back to middle school for this one. "Yessir," I say smartly, snapping my feet together.
"Damn right," he mutters as he opens the door for me.
I step into the hall to find my girl posse waiting with hugs for both Hunter and me. The only Hunter hug I see, as I'm pulled into embrace after embrace, is the one between him and Loveless. She pulls him close, cradling his nape with her long fingers, and my heart bursts into jealous flames. The flames are quickly extinguished as I see her hug him tightly around the back. Hunter flinches. It's a barely there motion, subtle enough that I'm probably the only one who notices it. His arm, wrapped loosely around her waist, stiffens, falling down beside his leg.
She hugs him once more, and I see him push his face into her shoulder. Then I'm swept up by Juniper, who gives me a crushing hug. Loveless joins after a minute.
