Roman-2(Lane Brothers, Book 5)(158)

Thomas approached her and slid his hand up the inside of her dress. Her body responded by quivering.

“What happened to delaying gratification?” she whispered a little wryly.

He pulled his hand away. “I just love the feel of you.” He turned away. “I’m sorry.”

The absence of him created a physical yearning inside of her. Did she really care about just being a notch in his bedpost? She’d already concluded that casual sex was something she wanted to explore. She didn’t think that there was anything shameful about it at all. She just had to make sure she didn’t get sucked into anything emotional. Thomas was a professional actor and a master manipulator, with a devastating ability to make her believe whatever he wanted her to believe. She reminded herself not to get attached. She was here for sex. For another one of those mind blowing orgasms she’d had that morning. Nothing more.

“I wasn’t telling you to stop,” she said in a sultry manner. “I was just teasing.”

He shook his head. “No, you’re right. I was being an arse.”

Sasha frowned and decided against making the arse-ass joke again. Was this a part of Thomas’s kinky needs? Did he put himself down so women like her would be compelled build up his ego again? Or did he play vulnerable in order to persuade her into bed with him? The latter was certainly unnecessary since she was already more than willing. That meant it was the former. Well, she could certainly see the appeal of a little role play.

“Come back here,” she said. “I want you, Thomas.”

He looked over his shoulder at her. His expression wasn’t playful or mischievous. It was downcast.

“Why? You were pointing out a home truth. A painful home truth. I turn every meaningful experience into sex. I rush straight to it. I….”

Sasha walked up to him and reached for his hand. She maneuvered it to her left breast. “And what’s wrong with that?”

She kissed him, and he yielded to her advances. But something wasn’t right. He pulled away.

“I shouldn’t have bought you here. You don’t belong in this world.”

“I came here of my own free will,” Sasah replied. “I know what I’m getting myself into. I can do casual sex. I already told you I can handle the media. Hell, I am the media. I don’t need you protecting me from my own industry.”

Thomas looked at her with that same hurt expression. “That’s all this is to you? Casual sex?”

Sasha was taken aback by his statement. She’d been under no illusions that there was anything going on here beyond sex. Thomas knew how to get a naïve woman like her into bed, and he’d used every tool in his arsenal. Yet, something about what he said now seemed so genuine. It was like she was glimpsing the real Thomas, the one behind the façade, the vulnerable part of him that the rest of the world never got to see.

“It isn’t for you?”

“I was hoping it could be more….” He swirled the wine in his glass.

“We barely know each other,” she contested.

“I was trying to change that back in the restaurant. I want to get to know you, Sasha.”

There it was again, her name. The most intimate thing that Thomas Lloyd could say to her.

“Thomas, what are you asking me?”

“I’m asking you to give me a chance to show you who I really am. I want to tell you about me in my own words, have you make your own impression of me. I want to see you again. Over and over again.”

“Like…date? But how am I supposed to trust you? I know all about Alicia.”

“Alicia sold me out,” he said bitterly. “She went to the press to cash in on me.”

Sasha frowned. “But you still would have slept with her if she’d gone to that interview instead of me.”

Thomas’s gaze darted up with shock. “What gave you that impression?”

“You said you were looking forward to seeing her.”

“To give her a piece of my mind!” he cried incredulously. “Look,” his voice softened, “I know I’ve given you no reason to trust me, but can you just take a leap of faith? Can you just take a chance on me?”

Sasha turned away. She could hardly believe this was happening. If she saw Thomas—if they dated, whatever that meant—she’d open herself up to heartache. She’d make herself vulnerable. She’d inevitably end up in a situation where she had to choose between her job and her heart.

“It’s not just that,” Sasha said, thinking of the scathing article she’d written at work. “Why should you trust me? I’m a journalist, too. I’m just like Alicia.”