Sylas stares at me for a beat. “Can you help me?”
“Answer me,” I demand.
His jaw tics. “So you can slap me? Nah.”
“I told you I don’t solve my problems throwing hands.”
It’s really stupid that I want to know. But now my head is in the gutter and I’m thinking about the night at Salt and he’s here and we’re alone.
What is wrong with me? I shouldn’t want to know. I’m about to tell him to forget it, but then he answers.
“I did. I know it sounds wrong. I know it’s demeaning, but I’m not going to pretend like I haven’t thought about that night. You liked what I said and did. You got off on that, and I did too.” He wets his lips, chest expanding. “But I didn’t suggest it because I know how wrong it sounds.”
I drop down on the sofa, resting my elbows on my thighs, chin on my fists. He crouches in front of me, his hands on my knees. Despite the position, he still feels imposing.
“Anna—”
“I don’t see this working out.” I meet his eyes.
“How would you know if we haven’t given it a chance?” There’s a playfulness in his voice that makes me smile a little. “I’ll be the best pretend boyfriend ever.”
“We’ve never been in relationships. There’s no way they believe welikeeach other.”
“We faked it just fine the other night.” He grins. “And, well, Salt wasn’t fake for me. So…”
“Because it was an in-the-moment kind of thing. I wasn’t thinking. I was?—”
“Doing what felt right in the moment.” His eyes are full of heat and hunger, a reminder of both nights. “I did the same and I think we can make it work. We’re good together.”
I’m stuck. I don’t know what to make of this. “I don’t know. I have a lot going on. I can’t drop what I’m doing to be there every time you need me.”
“You don’t have to drop everything because I probably won’t need much from you. It’s dinner for now and then we’ll take it as it comes.” I swallow as he absently rubs his thumbs along my knees. “And I’m going to be upfront because, fuck it, if you want another night like Salt, if you want—noneeda distraction from the chaos of the world and our parents, I can do that, too. I can be your distraction, and you can be mine. No one has to know what we do except for us. And I’m all for going exclusive too.”
I sit up, eyes widening and mouth going dry. I didn’t expect him to be so direct, but it shouldn’t have been a surprise. The few days I’ve known him, he’s never seemed shy about what he wants.
“Think about it. Why play the back-and-forth game when we both know what we want, what we like, how we like it. If you don’t want to do it for me, do it for you. You need the money. Let me give it to you, and in return, you give me your time and body,” he presses, not appearing the least bit embarrassed.
“I hate how easily you say this.”And how, disturbingly, I also love it.
He smirks, and his usual pale green eyes are now a pair of dark, sharp emeralds. “I know, but hating it won’t change anything. Think about it.”
“You really think I’m going to let you use my body for money? You think I’m that desperate?” I wish I were mad, but I’m strangely turned on.
“It’s just you and me.” He pulls back a little. “I’m honest with you, so be honest with me. Tell me you’re not thinking about it.Tell me you don’t want me to have you however I want. Tell me, Anna,” he goads.
“I’ve never done this. I don’t know if I’ll like it again.”
His jaw hardens and his hooded eyes incinerate me from the inside out. “Do you want to find out?”
My thighs squeeze at the pressure that grows between them. I shouldn’t do this, but I desperately want to find out. “I do.”
15
SYLAS
Sunday, December 15
She looks curious,excited, and more than a little intimidated. Her whiskey eyes are dark and dilated, and her breaths are rapid, making her chest rise fast and drop even faster. Her face down to her neck is flushed in a rosy glow.
