Chapter 14 #2
I laugh because there’s no way that came out of his mouth. “No, seriously, what’s the favor?”
He stares stoically. “No, seriously, I need you to be my girlfriend again.”
My mouth splits open, but I’m too stunned to speak. A part of me wants to believe he’s messing with me, but the grave expression on his face tells me he’s being serious.
“What? Why?”
He exhales a fatigued breath, fishes out his phone from his pocket, and shows me the screen. “Because of this.”
Dad: If Anna isn’t working, let’s have dinner tomorrow.
Dad: I’d like to get to know your girlfriend.
“Oh.” I finish reading the message and he drops his phone in his lap, puffing a frustrated breath.
What did I think was going to happen? Really should’ve seen this coming.
“Yeah…” He’s staring straight ahead like he’s contemplating his life’s purpose. “So, what do you say?”
I scratch the back of my head, feeling utterly perplexed. “I get they want to keep it in the circle, but why don’t you just tell your parents you don’t want to marry Flor—”
“I can’t. There’s a lot at stake. Too much I’ll lose,” he explains vaguely.
For a long moment, I say nothing. I get where he’s coming from—kind of. My parents, at least Mom, liked to control every aspect of my life until I decided to shut that down, but doing that caused me to lose them and their help. I can’t begin to imagine what’s at stake for him.
Still, I don’t have the time to play pretend. I’m past the we don’t know each other hiccup because we got matching tattoos and have opened up to each other. Despite that, I have to work and have my own things to figure out.
“I’m sorry but I have to work and—”
“I’ll pay you.”
“For fake dating you?” He nods. “No! That’s weird.”
“I’m going to sound like an ass, but weren’t you just freaking out about your rent?”
I’m taken aback. “How long were you outside?”
He stretches his long arm along the back of the sofa. “Long enough to know you need money.”
I stand, irritation clouding my thoughts. “No. I’m not going to be your fake girlfriend for a few dollars.”
He rises to his feet, removing his beanie to drag his fingers through his hair. “You didn’t even ask how much I’m going to give you. And just so you know, it’ll be enough so you won’t need to work next semester.”
“Get out of here.” I may be overreacting, but this has got to be some kind of prank. I step back, feeling nothing but annoyed.
“Why are you mad?” He wrinkles his brow, face twisted in bewilderment.
“Why am I mad?” I scoff. “You can’t be serious.”
He nods like that should be obvious.
“Is this another thing rich people do when they’re bored?” From the way he acted the night of the auction, I understood I needed to play along. His dad was intense. But this can’t be real. Enough I wouldn’t need to work? Yeah fucking right.
“I’m serious, Anna. You really think I’d come all the way over here just to fuck with you?
Yes, we rich people do weird shit,” he sardonically remarks.
“But we also don’t like to waste our time.
I really need your help and, yes, I’m going to compensate you, although it’ll probably never feel enough considering you have to put up with my parents. ”
I fold my arms against my chest. I don’t know why, but I know he’s not messing with me. Still, this feels so bizarre. “And what happens when they want to see me again? How long do we need to keep this up for?”
His lips quirk up. “You keep playing along until the end of next semester.”
“So, I’m supposed to drop everything for you?”
“No. Not everything.”
My teeth clench. “This isn’t funny.”
“Never said it was,” he reasons. “I’m paying you—shouldn’t that be enough?”
“God. Everything is so easy for you people, huh?” Maybe I’m being irrational, but what if he decides he doesn’t need me? Or what if he falls in love with Florence and all of this is for nothing? There are many more things I could list, but I’d give myself a headache over it.
“Some things are.” He shrugs unapologetically.
“I get all of this is hard to believe and maybe I’m coming off as an asshole.
I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to spring this on you, but I’m going to pay you.
And don’t act like it’s wrong that I am because it’s not.
It’s money for fake dating, not for sex.
” He’s not smiling, but there is a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. “Unless…”
That makes me feel hot…makes me feel… “What do I look like? What’s wrong with you?”
He places his beanie back on his head. “That’s why I didn’t include it in the proposal.”
I swallow hard. “So you thought about it?”
Sylas stares at me for a beat. “Can you help me?”
“Answer me,” I demand.
His jaw tics. “So you can slap me? Nah.”
“I told you I don’t solve my problems throwing hands.”
It’s really stupid that I want to know. But now my head is in the gutter and I’m thinking about the night at Salt and he’s here and we’re alone.
What is wrong with me? I shouldn’t want to know. I’m about to tell him to forget it, but then he answers.
“I did. I know it sounds wrong. I know it’s demeaning, but I’m not going to pretend like I haven’t thought about that night. You liked what I said and did. You got off on that, and I did too.” He wets his lips, chest expanding. “But I didn’t suggest it because I know how wrong it sounds.”
I drop down on the sofa, resting my elbows on my thighs, chin on my fists. He crouches in front of me, his hands on my knees. Despite the position, he still feels imposing.
“Anna—”
“I don’t see this working out.” I meet his eyes.
“How would you know if we haven’t given it a chance?” There’s a playfulness in his voice that makes me smile a little. “I’ll be the best pretend boyfriend ever.”
“We’ve never been in relationships. There’s no way they believe we like each other.”
“We faked it just fine the other night.” He grins. “And, well, Salt wasn’t fake for me. So…”
“Because it was an in-the-moment kind of thing. I wasn’t thinking. I was—”
“Doing what felt right in the moment.” His eyes are full of heat and hunger, a reminder of both nights. “I did the same and I think we can make it work. We’re good together.”
I’m stuck. I don’t know what to make of this. “I don’t know. I have a lot going on. I can’t drop what I’m doing to be there every time you need me.”
“You don’t have to drop everything because I probably won’t need much from you.
It’s dinner for now and then we’ll take it as it comes.
” I swallow as he absently rubs his thumbs along my knees.
“And I’m going to be upfront because, fuck it, if you want another night like Salt, if you want—no need a distraction from the chaos of the world and our parents, I can do that, too.
I can be your distraction, and you can be mine.
No one has to know what we do except for us. And I’m all for going exclusive too.”
I sit up, eyes widening and mouth going dry. I didn’t expect him to be so direct, but it shouldn’t have been a surprise. The few days I’ve known him, he’s never seemed shy about what he wants.
“Think about it. Why play the back-and-forth game when we both know what we want, what we like, how we like it. If you don’t want to do it for me, do it for you.
You need the money. Let me give it to you, and in return, you give me your time and body,” he presses, not appearing the least bit embarrassed.
“I hate how easily you say this.” And how, disturbingly, I also love it.
He smirks, and his usual pale green eyes are now a pair of dark, sharp emeralds. “I know, but hating it won’t change anything. Think about it.”
“You really think I’m going to let you use my body for money? You think I’m that desperate?” I wish I were mad, but I’m strangely turned on.
“It’s just you and me.” He pulls back a little. “I’m honest with you, so be honest with me. Tell me you’re not thinking about it. Tell me you don’t want me to have you however I want. Tell me, Anna,” he goads.
“I’ve never done this. I don’t know if I’ll like it again.”
His jaw hardens and his hooded eyes incinerate me from the inside out. “Do you want to find out?”
My thighs squeeze at the pressure that grows between them. I shouldn’t do this, but I desperately want to find out. “I do.”