I, Porn Star(100)

The raw anguish and tears in her eyes when she swore me to secrecy made me take the pledge seriously. I kept up my end of the bargain. But Ma, unbeknownst to me, kept a picture of Petra the day she was born, along with Petra’s hospital bracelet. Items that eventually fell into Clayton’s hands.

And now here I am…

I jump when the cell phone rings. Plucking it off the table, I check the screen.

Quinn. My epic mind-fuck impresario.

“Hello.”

“You were supposed to call. Early.”

I pull the phone from my ear and check the time. 2:10pm. “I was…” Getting myself off on camera for my faceless lover. “Asleep.”

“Dinner.” The command is tight.

“Yes,” I answer simply.

He exhales. “I’ll pick you up at seven.”

I open my mouth to suggest that we have dinner here. I can’t go out. I shouldn’t go out. But Q’s voice is in my head. You belong to me. I’ve put in place a more robust protection detail.

For some reason I trust the offer of protection. He and I are not done. And I believe him when he says he won’t let anything happen to me while I’m his. I may be being epically stupid, but I clutch the phone closer to my ear. And I say, “Yes.”

“Give me your address.”

I experience another twinge of uncertainty, then I tell him.

“Good,” is all Quinn says, before he hangs up.

I drop the phone on the bed and cover my face with my hands. The sensation of having fallen into the Twilight Zone builds. I calm myself and think things through rationally.

Before I quit working at Blackwood Tower, I was using public transport and exposing myself daily to street cameras that Clay could track. My disguise was good, but he has the might of a whole law enforcement precinct behind him.

Quinn’s picking me up and we’re going to dinner in a restaurant. Surely, that’s safer?

My mind bares its teeth in a cynical sneer.

I drag my hands down my face, then I pick up the phone and dial.#p#分页标题#e#

Fionnella answers on the first ring.

“I…uh, I’ve decided to go out after all. Dinner tonight. With my friend.”

“Good for you. As long as you’re back by eleven to get yourself ready, we’re good. I’ll have the stylist come early to help you out. Saves preparation time later.”

“Okay.” I hesitate for a second. “Umm, Q said something about protection?”

She doesn’t miss a beat, or ask questions. She’s already moved on from our exchange this morning. I love her for that. “Text me the details of where you’re going before you leave the loft. I’ll take care of it.”

“Fionnella?”

“Yes?”

“Thanks.

She exhales softly. “You’re welcome.”

I spend the rest of the afternoon lazing about. I watch TV, play a little music. And try not to be craptastically nervous about what is essentially my first ever date.

When the stylist arrives at six, I’m already showered. She checks out the smoky grey halter neck dress and black Blahniks I’ve laid out and applies matching make up. My green eyes look huge and mysterious when she’s finished, and my hair is blow-dried and styled in layered waves down my back.

The confidence boost of looking good helps with the nerves as I wait, cute clutch in hand, for Quinn to arrive.

The security buzzer goes five minutes early.

My lack of dating etiquette bites hard. Should I go down? Should he come up? I press the intercom to release the door and watch him enter.

I pick up my fur-lined black leather jacket and open the front door.

Quinn enters the hallway, sees me and freezes to a halt. I have very little idea how much I’ve missed seeing him until that moment. He’s dressed head to toe in custom-made black with his shirt open at the throat. His dark hair gleams under the hallway light, and broad shoulders fill my vision. When those almost inhuman silver blue eyes meet mine, everything inside me clenches tight.

“Elly.” His voice, like sandpaper on velvet, sets me alight.

“Hi.”

He stares at me for an age, drinks me in, returns for seconds, thirds. Then, still standing in the hallway, a good dozen feet from me, he holds out one hand.

For some reason I’m terrified to step over my threshold.

“You don’t want to come in?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because you look like that.” His gaze devours me from head to toe. Then he beckons me with his hand. “We need to leave, Elly. Now.”

I nod, retain enough brain matter to enter the alarm code before I shut the door behind me. He’s still holding out his hand. When I reach him, I take it.