AllFreeNovel
Share Us
That hits a little close to home, and I smirk to cover my nervousness. “Do you consider yourself easy to get to know?”
He regards me over the rim of his glass, looking like a grumpy bear. “What do you think?”
I lift an eyebrow. “I think our relationship is...weird. Our interactions, rather. I'm not sure I'm in a position to say.”
He stares at me—almost through me—for a second before bringing his glass back to his mouth. I get the feeling he wants to say something, but he doesn't. He just sits there, looking tense and tired, and I’m talking again.
"Did you play tonight? You're wearing black."
"I did," he says gruffly.
"Did you win?"
"No."
"You didn't win?"
He looks grave—but maybe he's just giving me his poker face. "Shocking, isn't it?"
I press my lips together. "I thought you hadn't lost in almost a year."
"I haven't."
"Oh. Well I'm sorry to hear that."
He snorts. "I don't give a shit."
He looks behind my head, in the direction of a clock I hear ticking, and stands, leaving his glass on one of the shelves. "Come with me. I'll show you to your room."
I follow him, feeling like I've somehow lost any hold I had on this situation, and I'm not even sure when or how. I watch him out of the corner of my eye as he leads me back down the elegant hallway, toward the foyer and its staircase.
"What will it be?" He asks gruffly, after a moment of silence, in which all I hear is the swishing of our clothes and the soft pad of our shoes. "Would you rather wait a week or get the deed done now?"
We round a corner to the entry hall, and I ball my hands into fists. Why did I ever think I could handle this? My heart is pounding and my knees feel weak. I'm so confused; I want to run. With a deep breath, I remind myself how many times I've played it cool around people who made me uncomfortable.
I manage to flash Hunter a nonchalant look. "You're the winning bidder. It's your choice," I say as we reach the stairs.
"Then we'll wait."
It takes a few seconds for the shock of that to sink in. Hunter doesn't want to have sex with me? Or maybe he wants me around longer. I swallow hard. "If you're doing this for my benefit, please don't. You get what you want. You paid enough."
"I'll keep that in mind."
I'm going to ask him more about his week-long plan when I notice how carefully he's moving up the stairs. I think about his back again, which reminds me of Priscilla and how wrong it is that I'm here, in his house, but still, I feel a swell of sympathy for him.
"How is your back? Are you feeling any better?"
“Are you always so solicitous, or is it my charm that brings that side of you out?"
I think he's teasing, but I don't realize that until after I've spoken honestly. "I'm not sure.” Then I add this little gem: “I've never had a boyfriend.”
It was relevant in my head; whatever this is with Hunter is the closest I’ve ever come to Romantic Relationship Land. But he didn’t need to know that.
He sounds strangled when he asks, "Never?", and I want to die. My hand actually comes to cover my mouth. I jerk it down, so frazzled I actually stop my ascent. I look into his surprised face, feeling like an idiot.
"I don't mean I've never done...anything ever. Never dated, I mean. I just mean, it was nothing serious." I clench and unclench my fists as we walk onto the second floor, done in vibrant navy blue, pale green, and gold.
I run a hand back through my hair, now sweaty, and Hunter looks at me like I've grown horns. "Are you a lesbian?"
