Page 25 of Coal Hearts

Standing there, with her in my arms, her scent up my nose, and my heart pounding in an unfamiliar rhythm of recognition, want, and possession, I wished I’d never come to France. Wish I’d never stopped digging that blade into my leg. Wish I’d never met her.

But you did.

And now, you need her if you want to succeed.

Swallowing back so much fucking shame, I grunted, “I’ll give you one hundred thousand euros if you just agree to go with me.”

“Go with you where?”

“To a back room.” I winced. “That’s all.”

She stilled, probably sensing what I wouldn’t say.

She didn’t ask what would happen in that room and I didn’t want to think about it.

Her chin tipped up bravely. “I told you...not for all the money in the world.”

I pulled back just enough to meet her eyes.

I should release her.

I should shove her away and chase her screaming down the street.

But she was the price.

The key...

Nausea crawled up my throat. I felt fucking sick. “Name a number.”

“A number?”

“Two hundred? Three?”

Her eyes narrowed. “You’d pay that much? Just to get me naked?”

I shook my head, doing my best not to picture her bare. “I’d pay that much to do what I need to do.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means I’m doing this for a reason and—”

“The reason because you want to sleep with me?”

I clamped my lips together. I’d hidden who I truly was all my life. I’d never shared my deepest secrets or divulged my innermost longings—not until six months ago when I met my half-brother and couldn’t stop my confessions.

The same urge to be honest with her scratched at my soul.

I couldn’t seem to look away from her.

I wanted her.

I’d wanted her the moment I noticed her.

I couldn’t tell her the real reason why I needed her to come with me but a very vulnerable part wondered if she felt it too. Did she feel the raw connection? The stinging awareness? The unbearable lust that only grew stronger the longer we were together?

Or is it all in my godforsaken head?

Sighing heavily, I gave up trying to explain anything and just muttered, “Five hundred thousand.”