The Arrangement Anthology 1(140)

“Not really.” More like not ever. I look at it. It’s kind of pretty, the way the light shines through the glass.

A crooked smile lines Sean’s lips. He lifts the glass and puts it in my hand. “Go on.”

I smile at him and lift the glass to my lips. I tip it back, allowing the liquid to slowly flood my mouth. Suddenly it feels like my tongue is on fire. I make a high-pitched whiney sound and swallow it as fast as I can. My tongue juts out of my mouth and I fan it, but it doesn’t stop the burning. Sean is watching me with an amused expression on his face. I finally try to scrape the liquor off and drag my tongue across the bottom of my front teeth. Ah! That made it worse. My eyes widen and tear.

Sean can’t stop smiling at me. He leans in and puts his hand on my shoulder. “Not really wasn’t the right answer, was it?” I shake my head and fan my tongue. I try to talk, but I can’t put my tongue back in my mouth without tearing up. Sean bursts out laughing. He pulls me to his chest and kisses my forehead before taking my face between his hands. “You surprise me. No one ever surprises me and somehow you manage. You’re adorable. Don’t ever change.”





CHAPTER 13





After Sean does a few more shots he takes me up to the room. When Sean opens the door, I understand why he stalled at the bar. The room is filled with roses and flickering candles. There’s a candelabra on the table, washing the room in golden light. Little tea candles are scattered everywhere. Red rose petals are all over the floor and bed. There’s an enormous bouquet of red roses in a vase on the dresser.

I turn and look at Sean, completely surprised. “What is this?”

He smiles softly, suddenly shy. “I thought you’d like it, that’s all.”

“I’m a call girl. I’ll put out without the flowers and candles.”

“I’m a romantic—or I used to be—and I wanted to see your face when you walked into the room. I wanted you to know that I’ll go through with this, with anything you want. In fact, I’ll trade you—anything I want for anything you want.” Sean’s eyes slip from my face to my dress. It has a low neckline. He presses a kiss to my cheek and lowers his lashes. My heart shudders.

What is he doing? The candles and roses throw me off. People say Sean’s cruel. Everyone says that, but I don’t see it. I wonder what I’m missing. I wonder if I already see the man they don’t realize exists. I glance up at him. “So it’s a trade? We’ll do exactly what I want for exactly what you want?” He nods. “What does your fetish entail exactly?”

Sean holds my gaze making my stomach flip. He watches me like I’ll fade away. He doesn’t blink. “Control. I want you, Avery. In every way possible. I want you to quit working for Black. I want you to be with me.”

Shock lines my face. “What did you say?”

“I mean it. I want to take care of you. I want you to be with me. I won’t share you.”

“Then why did you hire me? Why didn’t you just ask me this the other day?” I think he’s toying with me. I’m lost somewhere between being angry and hopeful.

Sean’s lips twitch before smiling softly. “Because you wouldn’t have come, you wouldn’t have believed me. I’ll give you anything I can if you really want to be with me.”

“What about Black? I can’t quit.”

His gaze narrows, becoming more intense. “I can’t share you. I won’t share you. As it is, I want break Thomas for touching you. I’ll pay for whatever you need.”

In a million years, I never expected him to say something like that. “Sean, I can’t—”

He presses a finger to my lips. “Don’t answer now. It’s possible that you won’t like what you see here this weekend. It’s possible you’ll never come back, but if you want to stay…” he takes a deep breath and leans in closer to me. Sean’s lips are so close to mine. My body tingles, anticipating his touch.

I’m shaken. There are two versions of this man and I can’t tell which one is real. Clearing my throat, I stammer, “Who goes first? I mean, do we do things your way or mine?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” I shake my head. Sean smiles like he completely adores me. “We’ll do things your way first, Avery. Anything you want.”





CHAPTER 14





I’m lost in his gaze. I can’t stop falling. Everyone thinks he’ll destroy me. They think he’s going down in flames. I’m not stupid enough to think I can save Sean, but I’m in the same spot in my life. Everything I ever wanted has been blasted to bits. He’s the only one who truly understands what it means to be alone and have everything ripped away.