Chapter Seven
~Xander~
I glower at her text for the tenth time. She sent it yesterday, just a few minutes after I left, and like the bastard I am, I haven’t responded. It’s a simple question. “Where did you go?” Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a simple answer.
The more time I spend with her, the deeper I can feel her digging into me. With her innocence, her beauty, her trust; all stirring something inside of me. My heart, which I thought had turned cold and dark long ago, seems to flicker to life whenever I’m around her. I had to leave before she opened her eyes because I knew, without a doubt, if she had asked me to stay, I would have. And that would not only be bad for her, it would be bad for me.
She has no idea what kind of appetite I have, the damage I could do to her, and I won’t do that to her. I sit for a long time pondering my next move, surprising even myself when I grab my phone and call her. She picks up on the second ring.
“Hello?”
“Hi.” I wait to see if she’s going to say anything, but when she doesn’t, I start. “I’m sorry about leaving.”
“Is that what I should expect from someone?” She whispers.
“No. Never.” I rake a hand through my unruly locks. “Generally, my customers, my clients, prefer it when I disappear after. Having me around is a reminder of whatever sin they’ve just committed.” I blow out a breath. “I forgot that you weren’t like my regular clients though. You’re in a box all your own.”
“Oh.” She’s quiet a moment, then speaks. “Now what?”
I wish I fucking knew. If I admit to myself what I want to come next, I’d probably scare the hell out of both of us. Instead, I tell her what I’ve decided. “We’re going on a date.”
“A date?” She echoes.
“Yep.” I confirm. “Our fourth lesson is supposed to be about intimacy. Being intimate means getting to know each other. Learning things about each other that either leads to attraction and takes you to that next level, or sends you running in the opposite direction.”
“Okay.” She states. “And then what?”
“And then, you’ll have the tools you need to decide. Is he worthy of you? Your time, your mind, your lips, and eventually, your body. I think by now, you know what to do from there.”
“Yes, I think you’ve covered that quite well.” She admits.
“Be ready at seven p.m. on Friday. I’ll pick you up.” I instruct. “Wear something nice. Something you would wear if it was a real date.”
“It’s not?”
I take pause at her question, then answer. “It will be our last lesson.”
“But you said five.” She reminds me.
“You’ll be fine. More than fine.” And a fifth lesson would take me to a place I’m not ready to go. I need to let her go sooner than later, before my feelings swallow me whole.
“If you say so.” She relents. “I’ll be in my new apartment then. My student housing was available early.”
“Do you have the address?”
“556 West 113 th Street. Room 3F.”
“You’re going to Columbia?” My interest piquing as I glance over at the pile of mail on my desk, my class schedules in the mix.
“Yes, how did you know?” Curiosity in her voice.
“That’s just several blocks from me. I’m familiar with the area.” I explain, hoping she doesn’t press any further. “I’ll see you Friday, then.”
“At seven.” She confirms.
I hang up without warning and can imagine her staring at the phone, marveling again at my callousness.
At exactly seven o’clock Friday, I step out of the car I hired and approach the entrance for the address she provided. I’d never actually been inside any of the student housing, even though I had lived in my current location for the last five years. I didn’t tend to mingle with any of the students at the college given my preference for paying customers at Temptations. I walk through the doors and locate an elevator, taking it up to the third floor. I find her room easily enough and knock.
A minute later the door swings open, a sharp inhale catching my breath when she steps into sight. “You look stunning.”
She’s wearing a silky black dress, with flowing ruffles on both sides of a V-neck keyhole that travels down until they meet in the middle, continuing until the hem. The waist is fitted but then loose once past the hips, flaring out just slightly mid-thigh, showcasing her long, lean legs. The strappy heels she’s wearing are a perfect match to the silver chain weaved into the collar tying the dress at the back of her neck. Her hair is loose, flowing over her shoulders in soft waves. Crisp, blue eyes stare back at me, her lips tinted a light pink, almost the same color as her flushed cheeks.
“Thank you.” She takes a step back. “Would you like to come in? It’s a little messy. I’m still trying to get organized.”
“I have a car waiting. We should probably leave now if we want to make our reservation. It’s for seven-thirty and there’s traffic.”
“Okay.” She twists around to snatch a set of keys and a small clutch off a bookcase, then turns back to me. “Let’s go.”
She locks the door, slipping the keys into the bag when she’s done, and we stroll to the elevator. The door opens immediately when I press the call button, so we step inside. As soon as we’re in the enclosed space I smell her. I’m not certain if it’s her perfume, her shampoo, or lotion, but it surrounds me in a light powdery, floral scent that has me taking an unconscious step closer as I drag a deep breath in.
She turns her head, her eyes widening when she notices. “Are you okay?”
The elevator dings, announcing our arrival to the lobby, her attention diverted long enough for me to avoid the question. I place my hand on the small of her back to urge her forward. “The car’s right out front.”
Once we’re seated, I give the driver the address of the restaurant and we’re off.
“Where are we going?” Her feet are crossed at the ankles, her legs tucked to the side, her hands folded in her lap.
“A place called RH Rooftop.” If I thought being in the elevator with her was difficult, this was torture. I clear my throat. “Have you been before?”
She shakes her head. “I really haven’t been anywhere in the city yet. A few places out at the Hamptons.”
“You’ll like it.” Without thought, I take her hand and slide it between mine, resting it on my thigh. Her eyes follow the movements, but she doesn’t say a thing. “It’s a beautiful night to eat outside under the stars.”
One side of her mouth tilts down. “Why are you being so nice? You’re never nice.”
A small chuff of laughter bubbles up. “It’s a date.”
“I thought it was a lesson.” She counters, angling her head.
“Touché.” I chuckle again.
“Is this how things work when you’re escorting? If the price is right, you paint on a smile, splash on some amazing smelling cologne, dress nicely and behave?”
“Someone’s a little angry this evening?” I purse my lips, one brow arching high.
“You said five lessons.” She shifts, facing me. “You combine two lessons into one, and then say I don’t need the fifth, so now we’re down to three. Three lessons for ten thousand dollars. I’m just not sure that’s fair. And I’m thinking that I should get a little more for my money.”
Her knee is bouncing up and down in time to the short breaths leaving her. I lift one of my hands off hers and place it over her bare leg, applying light pressure to stop her nervous movement. She glances at my hand before snapping her eyes to mine.
“You don’t think you’re getting your money’s worth?” I lean closer, lowering my voice as I drag my hand up between her legs, stopping when I reach the hem of her dress. “Do you want me to touch you right now? You’re probably already wet. I bet I could make you come in less than a minute.”
Her eyes dart to the front of the car toward the driver, then back to me.
“You think he hasn’t seen or heard worse in the back of this car?” I continue to taunt her.
“I’d rather you take me home and make love to me.” She whispers back, my cock jerking against my zipper at her suggestion.
“It’s called fucking, Summer.” I sit back, sliding my hand off her leg. “And that wasn’t part of the deal.”
“Neither was three lessons. It was five.” She crosses her arms over her chest. “That would be two thousand a lesson. So, I figure I have a four-thousand-dollar credit right now.” She tilts closer, hissing the next words. “I would think that would cover fucking me.”
“You don’t want me.” My jaw tightening as I clench my fingers into a tight ball. “Wait for someone that is special to you. Someone that will make you the center of his universe and treat you like the princess you deserve to be treated. You shouldn’t have to pay anyone to have sex with you. You’re better than a one-night stand and that’s all I can be to you.”
“You don’t know anything about what I want.” She murmurs under her breath, turning to look out the window.
“I would like for us to have a nice time tonight, even without the fucking.” I place a finger under her chin to turn her face to mine. “If you think you can stop pouting long enough.”
“I’m not pouting.” Her plump bottom lip jutting out. Unable to help myself, I tilt forward, swipe my tongue over the tender flesh and kiss her. Her breath is warm and tastes like apples. I don’t linger, just giving her enough to hopefully stop her overthinking us sleeping together.
I pull back, one corner of my mouth crooking up at how her eyes are still closed. “Open your eyes, Summer.” I skim my fingers down her cheek, her lids blinking open. “We’re here.”
Less than ten minutes later we’re seated in a beautiful corner booth, small lush trees on either side of us, a shimmering crystal chandelier centered above our round table. “This is so pretty.”
“I knew you would like it.” I smile across the table. “It’s simple elegance at its best. Very much like you.”
Her cheeks blush as she looks down at the menu. “What do you recommend?”
“The salmon is really good, or if you’re a steak person, the rib eye is amazing.”
“Let’s get each of those and we can share?” She suggests, biting her lip, looking across at me.
“That’s a great idea.” I slide the menu from her fingers. “Trust me with the wine?”
She nods, her lips curving into a smile. “I think it’s safe to say I trust you, considering what I’ve let you do to me.”
Before I can respond, our server appears. I order a bottle of Silver Oak Cabernet, Gem lettuce salads to start, and the salmon and steak, medium, in case she doesn’t like it too rare. Once he’s gone, I direct my attention back to her. “So, you’re going to Columbia?”
“Yes.” She takes a sip of water. “For the next few years anyway. I just finished my Bachelor’s in Business at the University of Vermont, but I think I want to get my Master’s in Environmental Sciences.”
“You think you want to get your Master’s?” I press for more information.
She purses her lips a moment before answering. “Can I be honest?”
“Please.” I nod my head indicating she should continue.
“I just wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with myself yet.” She frowns as she continues. “I think I want to go work for my family’s company, but not yet. I feel like I haven’t even lived yet, and I’m not ready to box myself into a career I’ll probably be at forever.” She shrugs. “I figured, come to New York, see what it’s like. See what I like.”
“I think that’s smart.” The waiter appears with our wine, opens it, pouring us each a glass after I give my approval.
“I mean, Columbia will be good for me. It’s important for me to understand how I might be able to improve how my family’s business can provide energy in a way that’s better for our environment. There’s too much at stake for future generations if we continue to consume energy the way we do now.”
I’m impressed. She didn’t just want to live off her family’s money. She wanted to learn and work and make a difference in the world. It was a rare thing to find among the many rich women I’d encountered.
“What about you Xander? Are you just going to be a giga-I mean, an escort for the rest of your life?” She takes a large sip of wine. “How does one even get into that line of work?”
“Oh, Summer, you don’t ever hold back what you’re thinking, do you?” Sipping from my glass, I look over the rim debating if I want to share what I do with her.
I could tell her that I’m a professor at the very college she’ll be attending in a few weeks, but I don’t know if I want to open that door. Columbia is a big campus with many buildings and classrooms. The chances are slim that we would even encounter each other, but still.
“I’m sorry. I know that was rude.” She fidgets with the silverware next to her plate. “I guess I’m trying to rationalize why you have sex for a living.”
“Maybe because I love fucking. And it’s less complicating then dating and all the expectations that go with it.” The waiter appears as I’m speaking, his face turning crimson as he places our salads in front of us and quickly disappears.
She remains silent so I continue. “I started working for Temptations during my last year of school. A friend told me about them and I applied. I was good looking and I knew how to use my manners. It was an easy job that paid exceptionally well.”
“And you just never stopped?” She takes a bite of her salad.
“At first, I never slept with my clients. I initially did it for the company. I liked being around women, but loved that there were no strings attached even more. And then one time, when a date I was attracted to asked, I said yes. She paid me two grand to spend a few hours with her. Needless to say, after that, I rarely said no.”
“It sounds dirty.” She judges, her nose scrunching.
“You have to understand, these women, and sometimes men, are beautiful and intriguing. Not dirty, although sometimes the sex was. And I always wear a condom. Always.”
“And you like it?”
“Most of the time.” I drag a hand down my face, then meet her in the eye, revealing more than I probably should. “I don’t have to say yes. I can say no. And I do, more often than not these days. As priorities in my life have changed, so have my reasons for doing this.”
“Like you’re saying no to me.” Her voice, firm but soft.
Timing could not be better when the server shows up with our entrees, allowing me to escape responding. We split our meals, sharing with each other, the conversation turning to safer topics about the food and the restaurant.
We finish the bottle of wine, her cheeks rosier for it, and her overall demeanor much more relaxed. I pay the bill and call for the driver. We board the elevator, my hand staying on her lower back after I guide her in.
She leans into me, her body warm, my hand wrapping around her waist to hold her closer. She peers up at me, her irises so blue in contrast to her long, dark lashes.
“What is it?” I ask, curious what she’s thinking.
“Didn’t you say there would be kissing?”