“You’re wrong.”
“You’re wasting your breath, Jessica. Save your delusions about love and happily ever after for a sucker because I am far from fooled.”
I wanted to argue that he was wrong. I had seen love—real love—between a man and a woman. My parents had loved each other completely and without reservation. I knew it existed and I fully planned on finding the same kind of love one day.
“I’m very different, Sebastian.” I whispered, looking up to meet his frown. “I need the money right now, but I refuse to live a life without love and happiness. I won’t come back when it’s all said and done.”
I didn’t know if I had stunned him or angered him, maybe a bit of both, but he didn’t respond right away. When he did, it was a complete change of topic.
“I certainly don’t know a lot of virgins. How old are you?”
“Twenty-two,” I said proudly, daring him to make fun of me.
“How is it that a twenty-two-year-old, with your looks, managed to stay a virgin?”
“If I have to explain the logistics to you, you’re obviously not the sex god you claim to be.”
I thought I’d gotten him with my witty remark, but he sat forward in his chair and showed me exactly what it felt like to have the breath knocked from you.
“I could fuck you senseless right here, right now, and give the women watching orgasms. That, sweetheart, is how good I am.”
Thankfully, the waiter made a sudden appearance with our food. I looked at my plate and kept my head down for the remainder of the meal. I could feel Sebastian’s hard gaze and it made me squirm.
I didn’t know what to say and I was already worried I had said too much as it was. I couldn’t afford for him to take back everything he had already offered… again. I was doing an awful job proving myself after my declaration.
After dinner, the car was out front, waiting for us. I climbed in and we rode in silence back to my hotel. He got out and held the door open for me. When I turned around to thank him for dinner, I found him standing there, with the car gone. He was coming to my room.
“Are you going to stand there all night, or are we going to go up?”
I twisted my fingers together. “Kyle…”
“Doesn’t Kyle have his own room?”
“Well, yes, but…”
“But what? Have you given up? Are you no longer willing to prove yourself to me?”
“I think by now you’ve already made up your decision about me.”
“Are you sure?”
I was until he said that. Why was I being such a prude? I could seduce Sebastian Black. I could.
My nerves went crazy and my legs started to shake as I turned and made my way to the elevator. I pressed the button for my floor and waited. My knees felt like Jell-O, and I silently hoped I didn’t fall and face plant on the expensive tile floor.
He stood still beside me. He was too quiet, making my anxiety even worse. My hands shook when I pulled out my door key and tried to stick the card in the slot. Covering my hand with his, he took the card from my fingers.
“Allow me,” he said as he opened the door.
And then, there I was, standing in a hotel room with a stranger who may or may not purchase me. Thankfully, Kyle was fast asleep in his room, I didn’t want him asking questions I didn’t know how to answer.
My back was to Sebastian, but I could see our reflection in the expansive glass view. I watched as he approached with the stride of a hungry tiger. A strut that relayed his confidence and security. Meanwhile, tension built inside me and threatened to break.
He ran warm fingers across the back of my neck as he moved my hair to the side. I jerked when he pressed his soft lips to the back of my neck.
“Exactly how far have you gone with a man, Jessica?”
I swallowed hard making my throat hurt. “Far enough.”
My voice didn’t sound like my own. It was deeper, darker... seductive. The girl who answered him wasn’t me. Whatever he was doing, was affecting me.
I could feel his breath in my hair. “Has a man ever touched you? Have you touched a man before?”
“No,” I whispered.
“Christ,” he cursed. His hands moved from my shoulders and worked down my back, until his hands circled around my waist. He was hard and pressing into my back, which did nothing to help with my insecurities.
“You smell delicious,” he said as he nibbled on my earlobe. “I shouldn’t want you this much, but I can’t seem to keep my hands off of you.”