He slides to the edge of his seat and leans forward. “How about an apartment? I could rent one for you in Annecy, for a few months, until you find your bearings and save some money. Isn’t that a good idea?”
“No.”
He startles at my curt reply.
I take a gulp of my cocktail and set the glass down. “There is something you could do for me, though, if you really want to be of help.”
“Absolutely!” He reaches over the table and grabs my hand. “You saved my life, Stella.”
Is this a good time to remind him that it’s my own parents I saved him from, and how long I’d hesitated before doing so?Probably not.
He’s holding my hand with both of his now. “Go ahead, ask me anything! You’ll do me a service by allowing me to repay you.”
Very well, then.
“It’s the same request I made of you back in my parents’ basement,” I say.
The expression in his magnetic eyes shifts slightly. I’m quite sure I can read it. He doesn’t think he got it right. He didn’t expect me to ask this of him. Then, his face settles into a new countenance.Yep, she did ask it.
Ha-ha!I just monitored in real time Darrel catching my drift.
“Why me?” he asks.
I bristle. “You make it sound like a punishment.”
“Not at all! It’s a beautiful gift. I just…” He lets go of my hand and sits back. “I don’t think I’m the right man for the honor of being your first.”
“I disagree.”
He narrows his eyes. “Looking as hot as you do, please don’t tell me there’s a shortage of worthy young men who’d be delighted to oblige!”
I shrug, refusing to confirm or disaffirm his statement.
He carries on, “You could snap your fingers, and every single man within earshot who has functioning eyes will scramble for the privilege.”
“I’m snapping my fingers now,” I say. “At you.”
He swallows hard.
I cross my legs, channelingBasic Instinct. “Are you not single anymore?”
“Um… No, I still am.”
Why did he hesitate before answering? For the same reasons as before.
“I get your objections, truly,” I say. “Our age gap, my mental illness, your job… whatever it is that you do.”
He watches me intently, like he’s keen to hear what I’ll say next.
Hopefully, this will reassure him.“I’m not asking for forever, Darrel. Not even for a short while. Just one night.” I zoom in on the bulge in his pants. “Something tells me you’d like that, too.”
He stares at his glass before lifting his eyes to me. “All right.”
My mouth falls open. I yearned for this, fantasized about this, but I didn’t think I’d get a chance, or work up the courage, to ask. And I certainly didn’t expect he would agree.
He clears his throat. “It reallyisgoing to be one night. Do you understand? We won’t date afterward, won’t become fuck buddies, not even friends. Are those terms acceptable to you?”
There are no words to express how much I hate your terms!
