by Terry Towers
Grabbing a beer for Mitchell and a water for myself I made my way over to the table and sat across from him. “So what’s the deal with you and the author?”
Accepting the bottle of beer, Mitchell twisted the top off a Heineken and tossed it onto the table, taking a long swig.
I waited for his response.
Placing the bottle on the table, Mitchell shrugged. “Nothing. We hung out earlier today, had a good time. End of story.”
“You into her?”
“She’s cool to hang out with. Not like anything can become of it. Friends, that’s all.”
“Uh-huh.” I wasn’t sure if I believed him, but I wasn’t going to second-guess it. Quite frankly, I was into her. Sexually, yes. Very into her sexually, but I was also feeling a different type of attraction, one I rarely felt and I wanted to explore it further. I just didn’t want to step on Mitchell’s toes in the process.
The phrase was bros before hoes, but to classify her as anything but a sweet, curious, beautiful woman would be unfair to her.
“So, just friends?”
Mitchell shrugged. “She goes back to the US eventually and then what?”
“It’s not like we’re stuck in this life forever.”
It seemed like Mitchell was getting more and more pessimistic over our entire situation. He was the realist while I was the optimist. I suppose that’s why we worked so well as friends.
“Yeah.” Mitchell took another swig of his beer.
I sighed. He needed out of this life. It was taking too much out of him. I’d been seeing it more and more over the past few months.
“This job is killing me, man. There was a point in my life where sex was more than an activity, I’m not sure when it changed.”
“When it became a profession.”
“Yeah.” He took another swig of his beer. “I’d like to feel more than a physical connection with someone I fuck for a change.”
Oh fuck, here we go. “Just because we fuck for a living doesn’t mean sex can’t still be more than an activity. There’s a difference between fucking and making love.”
“The lines have gotten so blurred. It’s been so long since I’ve made love I don’t even remember what it’s like to have a deep, meaningful connection with someone.”
I got it. I really did. Just because we fucked for money didn’t mean we didn’t crave the same thing everyone else in the world does – to find the person. To find that special someone who you don’t just fuck, but give yourself to wholly-- mind, body and soul. It’s why I was interested in finding out more about Monica. Maybe it wouldn’t be forever. Maybe it wouldn’t work, but I wanted to spend some time with her outside of the club and see if my suspicions about her were correct – that she was special.
“But you don’t want to pursue that with Monica?”
“Don’t see a point. She’s a friend. I have to be satisfied with that.”
“So would you be against me spending some time with her?”
Mitchell visibly tensed. He minded, I could tell. His jaw clenched and I was about to say to hell with it, I wasn’t about to risk our friendship for a chick, no matter how interesting I found her. I’d nearly had myself convinced to back off when his body relaxed and he waved his hand at me. “Do what you want. She’s an interesting and fun woman.”
That’s all I needed. I wasn’t about to try and talk him out of it. If things did happen to progress or he changed his mind about her then I’d bow out, maybe, but until that time…
“Then maybe I’ll give her a call.”
“Be my guest.” He stood and jerked his chin towards his empty bottle of beer. “Grabbing another beer. You want to switch out that water for a real drink?”
I looked down at the bottle of water. Fuck, yeah. I was done for the night, might as well enjoy a few drinks myself. If management had an issue they could find a new guy. I almost had enough money banked that I could get out of here and start the next phase of my life, anyway. We both did.
~*~ TT ~*~
Monica
Wow, wow, wow. Despite it being summertime there was a cool breeze that lashed at my locks, causing my hair to whip into my face as I wandered my way through the Red Light District. I brushed my hair out of my face for what felt like the hundredth time since I left the club. What the hell was I thinking? Was I so sex-deprived?
A voice in the back of my mind screamed YES!
I laughed softly to myself. Yeah. Maybe.
I’d spent so long writing sex, daydreaming of all the ways I could be pleasured. The so-so sex I’d been getting from my ex just hadn’t cut it. Admittedly, I’d always had a high sex drive, which only made things worse. Maybe this could be compared to someone who was attempting to diet – you can only spend so much time craving before you binge. Maybe Mitchell and Xander were my guilty pleasures. They were my binge.
So now what?
I didn’t know, but this had a chance of getting dangerous quickly. And by dangerous I meant I could see myself falling for one or even both of those extraordinary men. And then what? I’d go back to the US with a broken heart, attempting to find what I’d found here.
I huffed at how naive I could get. Really? I must be out of my mind.
But that brought me back to the original question. Now what? Do we part ways or do I just have fun for fun’s sake with them?
Shit, who was I kidding? I didn’t have sex for sport. I needed that emotional connection. It had been good with Mitchell and Xander, but that was research purposes only. It wasn’t real. I’d bought a fantasy and gotten what I paid for, end of story.
“Monica. Hey Monica!”
I turned to see Xander running up behind me. I stopped and waited for him to catch up. “Hey.” So, do you hug the man you’d had a threesome with for money – twice? Technically, I had only paid once, tonight was on the house – so to speak.
He took the decision out of my hands, pulling me into his arms and giving me a tight, friendly hug. The type of hug you give someone you hadn’t seen for a while, but really had minimal attraction for. I was slightly disappointed. I shouldn’t have been, but I was.
Stepping back out of his embrace, I raked my fingers through my hair, pushing it out of my face yet again. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be working right now?”
“I was, but decided to quit for the night. It was slow and I just wasn’t into it.”
I smiled, cocking a brow up at him. “Isn’t that what the Viagra is for?”
“It is – usually. It was refreshing to not have to pump myself full drugs to get it up tonight.” Stuffing his hands into his pockets, Xander began walking with me. “You really shouldn’t be wandering the streets by yourself at this hour.”
“It’s not that bad.” I didn’t see much difference between here and the streets of New York at this hour, which I wandered frequently. Amsterdam had a different sort of beauty and tranquility than New York.
“It can be,” he countered.
“I can handle myself.”
He looked down at me a smile spreading across his lips, but not breaking stride. “Humor me and let me play the knight in shining armor role.”
“Maybe I’m just not used to someone jumping into that role for me.”
“No boyfriend back home giving you the princess treatment?”
I laughed so hard I snorted. Embarrassing, though I wasn’t sure what was more embarrassing, the snort or the fact that I was admitting I didn’t have someone like that at home waiting for me. Men who gave women the princess treatment were few and far between, sadly enough. But then again, had I had someone like that then I certainly wouldn’t be walking through the streets of Amsterdam with him.
“Tell me, what’s so funny?”
“The fact that you think chivalry is alive and well.”
He grinned. “Are you saying it’s not?”
“It’s not common back home.”
“Then maybe you need to look elsewhere.”
“Ye
s. Like in a brothel?”
Shrugging, Xander placed his arm over my shoulders, pulling me tight to him. “I’ll admit, it isn’t the first place someone would think to look, but there are stranger places.”
“Mmm. Yes. Well, sell me on it.”
“On?”
“You’re making a claim that love and chivalry can be found where you work, at a brothel. Prove it.”
“Now how am I supposed to do that?”
“Examples. Give me some examples of people who have found true love.”
“I never claimed true love.” He laughed. “What I claimed was that the men who work there know how to make their women feel special and cherished. Love could develop if given the opportunity.”
“That’s as much a fantasy as the characters in my books.”
“Not always.”
“Have you ever had a real relationship with a client?” I’d admit, I was fascinated with this man and he didn’t seem shy when it came to talking about relationships and clients. The writer in me wanted – no, needed - to know more.
“Not really.”
“What do you mean?”
“I went out on a few dates with a client once.”
“That’s not a relationship, though.”
“I suppose not.”
“Then how do you know you could make it work with a client?”
His grin widened and he gave me a wink. “Maybe I’m a hopeless romantic.”
I couldn’t help it, I gave him a skeptical look. That was a hard sell for me. If you treated sex like a business then one part of the romantic bond was basically a non-issue. There’s a difference between having sex and making love, Mitchell had said earlier that day.
He laughed. “What? Is that so hard to believe?”
“I just… I’m not sure.” My face flushed as I became slightly uncomfortable. Anything I said at this point would be insulting.
“You think I don’t value sex?”
“I never said that.”
“You think that I can’t differentiate between sex and love.” It wasn’t a question, but a simple statement of fact. “You think that sex can’t be both a physical release in some instances, but in another be a physical, emotional and mental bond.”
Hmmm, that argument sounded familiar.
“Have you ever had sex with someone you didn’t love?” he asked.
“Of course I haven’t.” I was such a liar. My mind flashed through the short list of men I’d slept with in my lifetime; Brian, Conrad, Andy, Michael, Dave and then, of course, Joseph. Had I really been in love with them all? Honestly. I chewed at my lip a moment in consideration. None had been one night stands. All I’d had relationships with, but had I really loved them all?
He tightened his grip on my shoulders, pulling me a little closer. “Come on, now. Be honest. You’re in Amsterdam, the city where everything goes and no one judges.”
With another moment of hesitation, I finally conceded. “I suppose there may have been a couple I’d been in relationships with, but if I were to be really honest I hadn’t actually loved.”
Giving me a curt nod, his grin turning smug, he didn’t have to reply. His point had been proven.
“But I had been in relationships with them,” I attempted to defend.
“Of course you were. That wasn’t the question though, was it?” His vibrant blue eyes peered into mine. The smug look on his face never faltered.
With a sigh, I conceded. He could read me like a book, so what was the point in even trying to deny it? Besides, if there was anyone I could shamelessly admit it to it was Xander.
“Fine. You’re right.” I snuggled into him, the warmth of his body luring me in. “I hadn’t loved all of them.” I gave it a little more thought. “Maybe half of them.” I shrugged. “Maybe.”
“Ahh, isn’t that refreshing?”
“What is?”
“Admitting it.”
“I’m not sure if I’d go as far as to say it’s refreshing.”
He smiled. “Then I guess I still have some work to do.”
Crinkling my nose up at him, I waited for him to explain further.
“You take life too seriously,” he finally said.
“You don’t even know me! How can you make such a statement?”
“Then by all means,” he began, a look of triumph overtaking his features, “let’s spend some more time together. Prove me wrong.”
I paused. This could be dangerous – for me.
Chapter 10
Xander
“And we are here,” I announced as we approached the front entrance of her hotel. Normally, I would have expected to be invited inside at this point. But this was different – whatever this was. Mitchell had given me full go, but I had my suspicions that he wasn’t quite as supportive of me pursuing Monica as he would have led me to believe.
But Monica took the decision out of my hands. She jerked her thumb to the doors behind her. “Do you want to come upstairs for a bit, if you don’t have to get back? I have a mini bar and pay-per-view. I think the latest Matt Damon movie is playing.”
I looked past her into the lobby of the hotel, attempting to look nonchalant, when in fact my mind was racing. Do I? Don’t I? Should I? Shouldn’t I?
Her face fell and I saw a hint of disappointment in her beautiful dark eyes.
Stepping up to her, I cupped her chin in my hand and tilted her lips up. My head lowered and my lips covered hers. The kiss was tender at first, but it quickly increased in intensity until I was backing her against the wall of the hotel and devouring her with my lips and tongue. This fucking woman was driving me insane. My cock immediately began to thicken.
When I pulled away, I was tempted to decline her offer. I needed to talk to Mitchell again. I needed to make sure he was indeed fine with this. But then she looked up at me with lust in her eyes and her lips thick and puffy from our kiss. I couldn’t say no.
“I’d love to.” I ran the back of my hand down the side of her cheek. “If you’re certain.”
“I am.” She chewed at her lip again. Damn, that was driving me mad. I wanted her lips around my cock. That didn’t happen to me often; my job was to give, not to take.
“Then lead the way, hon.” Taking another step back, I took her hand in mine and we entered the hotel. At this hour the lobby was deserted with the exception of two front desk clerks who were busy chattering among themselves, not even acknowledging our arrival.
I allowed her to lead the way to the elevators and oddly enough I felt slightly unsure of myself as we stood there. I may have been lacking in many areas, but my confidence with women was certainly not one of them. Maybe it was the whole Mitchell thing, as the last thing I wanted to do was step on his toes, but then again, it felt like there was more to my uneasiness.
“You alright?” She looked up at me, concern in her expression, after we entered the elevator and she pressed the button for her floor.
Fuck, man, get a hold of yourself. You spent two nights double-teaming her and now you’re getting nervous?
Forcing the tension from my body, I gave her a smile that usually made women blush and giggle – if you can’t make it, fake it, right? Monica did neither. It made me more nervous. Was I losing my touch or something?
The elevator dinged and we stepped out onto the floor. Again, I let her lead the way.
“I think I’m just getting a little tired. That’s all.”
“Oh. ‘Kay. If you need to leave…” she pulled her card key from her handbag and slid it across the scanner. The door made a soft double beep sound and she opened the door, entering first with me trailing behind.
“No. No.” I gave my head a shake as I slipped out of my jacket and draped it over the back of a chair by the door. “No place I’d rather be then hanging with you and watching Matt Damon.”
She giggled as she grabbed the remote, turned on the television and began scrolling through the pay-per-view movie listings. “Liar.”
“Come on now
, don’t be harsh. Maybe I was overstating with the Matt Damon part, but spending time with you was the complete truth.” I crossed my fingers over my heart. “Cross my heart.”
Her smile lit up her entire face and made me want to see her smile more often. But more than that I wanted to be the one to make her smile. And I wanted to be the man she smiled at – me and only me.
As she fiddled with the television looking for the movie, I kicked off my shoes and slipped onto the bed waiting for her.
“Finally, I think I have it.” She set the remote on the oak dresser that doubled as a television stand and spun to face me, a lock of her hair falling into her face. She paused a moment, her eyes wandering up and down my body. Her face flushed and she lowered her gaze. She was damn cute when she got embarrassed.
“Come on over.” I patted the empty spot on the bed next to me. “Relax. You must be tired, I was told you spent the day sightseeing.”
She yawned, confirming my suspicions. This wasn’t the first yawn I’d seen from her since we began walking.
“If you want to go to sleep, I can leave.”
“No. Stay. Please.” Monica removed her shoes and crawled onto the bed next to me, leaving a solid foot worth of distance between us. She hesitated a moment and then looked up into my eyes. She stared at me for a moment and then scooted over the remainder of the distance.
Putting my arm around her shoulders, I pulled her into me. She didn’t hesitate this time as she melted into me, wrapping her arms around my waist and placing her head on my shoulder.
“This is supposed to be a good movie,” she murmured as her eyes closed.
“Uh-huh.”
“Been wanting to…” she yawned, “watch it…” I didn’t get to hear the rest of her thoughts. Her body went limp against me and she began to snore.
I chuckled softly, not wanting to wake her as I shifted slightly on the bed, inch by inch until I was in a laying position on my back. She stirred and I feared I’d awoken her, but that wasn’t the case, as a second later she was back to snoring, clinging tight to me.