Little Black Book(24)
“You don’t talk much.”
He shrugged. “I’m not good with idle conversation.”
“I thought you didn’t… date?”
“I don’t.”
“Then what is this?”
“I told you what this is. You’re proving you’re worth the risk.”
“And how am I supposed to do that?”
He stared at me for the longest time, then raised his eyebrows.
What the hell was that supposed to mean?
It was then the waiter came back to our table to take our order. When the waiter left, I continued with my questions. With every answer, I became even more curious about Sebastian Black.
“The others… they don’t have any problems with your rules?”
“If they did, they wouldn’t be one of my girls.” He was so matter of fact. “You were ready to accept my offer, did you have a problem with my rules?”
My head snapped up. I didn’t like having the situation thrown in my face. “I needed it.”
“So you’re saying you’re different?”
“Yes.”
“Because you need the money?”
“Yes,” I insisted.
“And what makes you think any of the others didn’t also need the money?”
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. The truth was I didn’t know, but I wanted badly to believe I was different, that under different circumstances, I wouldn’t have sold myself to Sebastian Black for everything he could offer.
“The truth is, the money comes and goes, but they don’t. They just keep coming, over and over again.” He shrugged. “So maybe you are different.”
I dropped my head to the side. “Has anyone left you before you could leave them?”
Jumping at the sound of his laughter, I looked around and saw that everyone was watching at us.
“What’s so funny?” I demanded. “You’re telling me no one has ever gotten tired of you before you could get tired of them?”
“Nobody.” He was dead serious now.
“How do you know?”
“Because I have a cock that won’t stop and enough money to buy all the company in the world.”
“Don’t you think someday you’ll want more than an easy lay and women who only want your money?”
“Isn’t that what a relationship is based around anyway? Sex and money. In my case, I get to have sex with a different girl every night and not have to worry about a jealous wife.”
Suddenly I felt very sad for Sebastian. “Don’t you want love?”
“Love doesn’t exist, sweetheart. It’s a pretty lie. Something women invented to tie a man down and destroy his manhood.”
“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.