by Frost, H. Q.
“Dammit. I told you, Lily. Listen, just end the date. I’ll send Tony in.”
“No! I’m fine. I just wanted to talk to you. I have to go. I’m fine, I feel better.” It was the truth.
“Lily,” he said very quietly. “I love you, baby.” He was happy she called him and he assumed didn’t cut, but he worried about the condition she was in.
“I love you too. I’ll see you tonight?”
“Come to my apartment when you’re done. People are coming here, and yes, Karen will be here, but I want you here.”
“Ian,” she huffed.
“Lily, please. She’ll be passed out in a few hours. She’s been drinking since five.”
Rolling her eyes, she groaned, “Goodbye,” annunciating her annoyance.
Justin waited in the middle of the room, looking over a magazine. He smiled at her when she came from the bathroom.
“Movie?”
“If that’s what you want.” She smiled politely and followed him to yet another room.
This room had a giant television, two couches, and several reclining chairs. She was relieved to see he had some sort of furniture besides a kitchen table with four chairs.
“I kept the DVDs though.” He smiled at her.
She crossed her legs when she sat, in hopes it’d clamp some of the arousing pressure tingling the nerves in her clit.
“How long have you been divorced?”
“Two years this December.”
“How long were you married?”
As he was putting the DVD into the player he paused, turning to look at her.
“We don’t have to talk about this.” She realized she was prying too much and he was the one paying.
“Married seven years. Got married right out of high school because she got pregnant. She gave the baby up for adoption.”
She really wished she hadn’t asked.
“Oh.” Shifting uncomfortably, she put her hands on her knee.
Grabbing a remote, he smiled saying, “We all make mistakes. Mine just lasted seven years.”
“So you’ve been here two years with nothing in the house?” She chuckled.
“She was living here up until this past January. She left and took all the shit.” He was blasé about her leaving him with an empty house, but when he referred to ‘she’ or ‘her’ there was disdain in his tone.
Lilith began to wonder how long Ian knew Justin because he’d mentioned he had never known Justin to have a girlfriend. The man had a wife.
“So you’re one of those.” She sarcastically said, shifting over so he could sit.
“One of those.” He chuckled. “I’m gonna ignore that.”
“Didn’t mean offense.” She looked over at him and he smiled lightheartedly. “Are you lonely?” After she said it she realized she was continuously deriding him.
“What?” He laughed. “Do you hate me or somethin’, El?”
“Not at all.” She chuckled, putting her hands over her face with embarrassment. “I’m sorry.” She grinned with prolonged amusement. “I meant why are you paying ten thousand dollars to watch a movie with me?”
The gate bell rang.
“Because the pizza was cheap,” he said, walking away.
After paying the delivery boy, Justin noticed Tony sitting in the car, playing a game on his cellphone.
Approaching the car, he opened the pizza box. “Hungry, man?”
“Nice, yeah.” Tony enthusiastically took a piece. “Thanks.”
“So how long do I have to keep her here until you won’t wait around any longer?” Justin grinned.
“Can’t do that.” Tony smirked. “I’m not losing my job and she said eleven, so at eleven fifteen I’ll be knocking at your door. Don’t forget she’s paid for, this isn’t real, man.”
“She in a relationship?” Justin asked, leaning on the car while eating a slice of pizza.
“I think so. No one I’ve met.”
“You guys close?”
“Kinda.” He shrugged. “She’s my friend. She’s close with Ian so she’s close with me, capish?”
“Yeah.” Justin nodded contemplatively. “Midnight?” He looked at Tony.
“Can’t. We’re headed to a party after this. Per her boss’s request.”
“What party?” Justin asked, seeing an opportunity.
“Just a small thing at Ian’s place.”
“Well shit, I think I’ll go to that. I’ve crashed Jacks’ parties before.” A contented smirk pulled his lips.
“Eh, man, I’m sure it’s no problem, just know at eleven she’s no longer paid for so it won’t be a continuation of your date.”
“Unless she wants it to be.” Justin grinned and offered Tony another piece of pizza.
He’d never had a problem with Justin before, but he didn’t know what the tattooed lawyer was up to with Lilith.
TONY: You okay in there?
LILY T: Fine. Are you supposed to be checking up on me like this?
TONY: It’s my job. 11
When Justin walked in, he’d finished his pizza and opened the box in front of Lilith.
“You want to sit at a table?” She looked up at him, then back at the missing slices.
“No. Is that rude? Do you need silverware for pizza?” He smiled at her and she grabbed a piece.
“If I get it on your couch, I’m not sorry.”
“Me either.” He set the box on the table in front of them.
“Were you hungry?” She looked at the missing pieces, then at him with a teasing suspicion.
“I fed Tony.”
“I’m sorry if this is rude, but can I have a napkin? Please.”
He laughed. “I’m such a dick. I’m sorry, El, you want to eat at a table?” He grabbed the pizza box.
“No. Just a napkin. If you’d like I’ll get it myself, but I’m kind of lost.” She looked around the room, not sure which door they even entered through.
He smiled at her for a few seconds.
“I’ll get you one.” While he walked to the kitchen, he pushed at his sore cheeks, then laughed at himself.
He knew it was pathetic that his face hurt because he hadn’t smiled and laughed like that in a while, but he also thought it was pathetic that a woman was making him do it.
Returning, he handed her a napkin, plate, and beer.
“I don’t want to dirty your dishes,” she teased, setting the plate on the table.
Their playful banter was fun, but she kept reminding herself it wasn’t a real date and she needed to act more like he wanted her to.
Sinking into the couch, he got comfortable and looked over at her.
“So I got this party I’m goin’ to.”
“You need a date?” She pushed the last bite of pizza into her mouth.
“No. Not that kind of party. It’s tonight actually.”
“Oh.” Not understanding why he was informing her, she started overanalyzing it.
Did he just want to talk casually? Was that his thing? To maybe act like they were friends? Did he want her to ask details?
It all pointlessly rolled through her head until he said, “Yeah, at Ian Jacks.”
She narrowed her eyes with a tiny smirk. “Oh?”
Even though she didn’t know him well she already had his smiles down. He had a flirty smile that he perfected, a charming smile that was a little forced, and a genuine, fun smile that happened inadvertently. His genuine, fun smile seemed to be the most predominant. He wore it like a badge all night. Every time she looked at him and saw it, she wanted him a little more.
With his fun smile plastered to his face, he said, “Yep. You gonna be there? I didn’t even think of that.”
“You didn’t, huh? I just so happen to be going to the same party. Just a little question, does Ian Jacks know you’re going? And to be honest, I didn’t realize this was a big party.”
“Oh, I don’t think it is. His apartment’s small. I’ve crashed a few of his parties.” Directing his attention
toward the TV, he pushed play on the remote.
It elated her that he’d be there; it’d be a good distraction from Ian and Karen, but at the same time she knew he was dangerous. She was too attracted to him and it scared her because she didn’t think anyone would ever get remotely close to the status she held Ian at.
“Hey.” She glanced at him. “You realize this is just my job, right?” Defense tactic against herself: remind him she wouldn’t be there if she weren’t being paid.
He looked at her and nodded coolly, then looked back at the television. She took a gulp of beer.
“I mean if this wasn’t paid for, I wouldn’t be here.” She stared at his profile.
He was so attractive it was hard to even remember Ian in that moment. His black, curly, wavy mess of hair was tempting to touch, and his blue eyes were easy to stare into and study in a way she’d only studied Ian’s eyes.
Looking over nonchalantly, he said, “But you’d want to be.”
“No,” she retorted quickly. “I’m in a relationship.”
His eyes narrowed on her stare and his full lips parted.
“Not even a little?”
Lilith slowly shook her head no; it was a horrible lie and he knew it. The urge and arousal she had growing in her again gave her a cramp, but she ignored it, not wanting to look away from him.
Shifting so he could face her comfortably, he told her, “You’re the first date I’ve taken anywhere other than an event.” He reached out and pulled her hair from her lip, tucking it behind her ear. “I know this is all paid for and I’m fine with that, but don’t lie and tell me you don’t want to be here.” He spoke in a low, no nonsense tone that vibrated through her. “I’ll keep paying as long as you make me.”
Her soft inhale was audible and divulged what she was feeling, but she spoke firmly. “That’s going to be forever, Justin. You’re a good client of Luxe and I want my job.”
“So I’ll keep paying.” He directed his attention to the TV again.
Lilith cleared her throat and looked toward the television. Her moral judgement was telling her to leave because it felt so wrong making him pay, but being there with him felt so right.
“I’ll never pay you to sleep with me though.” He glanced at her.
Her attention stayed on the TV. “I’ll never sleep with you.”
“Guess that’s settled then.” He chuckled. “So how long you been in your relationship?”
“We don’t need to talk about my personal relationship.”
“I’m just wondering if they’ll be there tonight? At Ian’s?”
“Justin.” She looked at him; her annoyance made him chuckle.
“What? I want to know you.” He feigned innocence.
“You’re paying two grand an hour to get to know me? Shouldn’t I be pretending to be interested in you?”
With an offended laugh, he said, “You don’t have to pretend.”
The realization that she couldn’t handle the date any longer hit her suddenly. Her urges for him were almost unbearable. She’d never felt it with any other person except Ian.
Taking a deep breath, she politely asked him, “What would you like to talk about? Please inform me of what exactly you’d like me to be doing right now.”
“I want you to act like you want to be here. I’m paying you to act like I’m not paying for this.”
After a firm nod, she slipped her shoes off, lifting her feet under her butt and leaned into him a little. That wouldn’t be hard to do because she wanted to be there, but what would be hard would be not falling for him like it were a real date. He pushed her hair over her shoulder and looked at her earring.
Softly, she slid her hand up his right arm. “I like these.”
“They get a lot of attention. I usually keep them covered. My dad fuckin’ hates me for them. You got any?”
“No.” She stared at the intricate black and gray swirls of lilies, humming birds, and musical notes that seemed to be engulfing a woman. “Does it go up to your shoulder?”
“Yeah.” He studied her studying his arm.
“Both of them?” she looked into his eyes.
“Both, and carry onto my chest to my back. My legs are done, an—”
Interrupting him with an intrigued grin, she asked, “Are you serious?” She couldn’t imagine what he looked like naked, she wanted to though.
He stared at his arm. “I like art,” he said, advocating his choices.
Tattoos being art never crossed her mind, but when he said it, she completely agreed, and he wore art well. They were never an interest, but at the same time she’d never seen anyone with tattoos like Justin’s. Uncle Rick had a botched up eagle on his upper arm, and Tony had unimpressive tribal on one of his upper arms. What she was looking at on Justin was different, the attention to detail and shading almost made the work appear 3-D.
Grabbing his left wrist, she blurted, “What’s the other arm?” She pulled his wrist toward her. “If I knew we’d be sitting on your couch looking over your tattoo’s I would have worn something else.” With a chuckle, she adjusted the neck of her dress before her breasts spilled out.
“I have something you can put on.”
“No. Thank you.” She smiled at him then brought her attention back to his arm.
Similar to his right, his left arm held flowers, birds, and music notes with splashes of color.
“These are lilies.” Her gaze went to his royal blue eyes.
“Red calla lilies, my mom’s favorite.” His attention was on his arm while he pointed to the woman tattooed on his other bicep, not noticing her staring intently at his eyes.
“Pretty,” she quietly said and swiped her finger over one of the colored lilies. “What was your first tattoo?”
He looked at her and smiled; she eagerly waited for the answer, but he laughed.
“I really don’t remember,” he admitted. “I should, but I don’t. Apparently whichever one it was doesn’t hold much meaning.”
She blinked, telling herself to look away from his eyes, but her defiant body didn’t listen.
“So your arms hold a lot of meaning?”
“Most of my tattoos hold meaning. There’s a few shit ones, but I have good reasoning behind the rest.”
He enamored her and she realized she was still holding onto his arm; quickly letting go, she muttered, “Sorry.”
“Here.” He moved closer to her and adjusted so he could slightly pull her toward him and put his arm around her stomach. “You can look that way if you want.”
“I want to see all of it.” She said it and couldn’t take it back because he was already to his feet, pulling his t-shirt off.
When he revealed his hidden secrets, she inhaled sharply. Tattoos covered from his collarbone past the waist of his jeans, and as an added touch he was ridiculously fit. Through clothes it was obvious he was in shape, his arms bulged in his t-shirt showing his dedication, but seeing his washboard abs showed his obsessive dedication. The realization that she probably had an inappropriate expression of lust and surprise on her face set in and she quickly closed her lips, pulling her eyes away.
He sucked his bottom lip into his mouth stifling a laugh.
“Can I get dressed now?” he asked with a small chuckle.
“Please,” she breathed, staring at the TV.
With a grin, he pulled his shirt on, then handed her the beer. When he sat back down he could see how uncomfortable she was by her stiff body language.
“What can you show me?” It took everything not to laugh after saying it, but he managed.
“Excuse me?” She cocked an eyebrow. “I don’t think that’s paid for.”
“It’s not, but you can show me whatever you want.”
“I want to show you a lot,” she breathed, not meaning to divulge it with words.
She had an idea her face gave her away, but she didn’t mean to verbally confirm her desire for him.
“I know you do.” He leaned into her, waiting for her
to kiss him.
“I’m in a relationship and you’re a client.”
“Are you rejecting me or convincing yourself?”
“Both.” She pulled away. “I don’t do sexual favors, Mr. Borg.”
“Oh!” A loud laugh was released from his lips as he looked to the ceiling. “I’m Mr. Borg now, huh?”
“You can be Justin when we’re in public, but alone, you’re only a client.” She quietly exhaled a shaky breath.
“I’m more than that. I can be a few things if you want.”
“Like what?” She knew she was taunting him, egging him on, but she couldn’t stop.
“Well a client first and foremost. A friend? Boyfriend? Sexual desire?”
“Sexual desire?” She laughed. “I’d have to desire you sexually for that to be true.”
“Yeah you would.” He moved away from her. “Shh.” He pointed to the TV. “I’m missing the movie.”
With a smirk, she rolled her eyes. They silently stared at the TV, but not watching the movie. They were more focused on subtle flirtatious touching. She’d adjust slightly and touch him, or he’d push hair from her face while she pretended to ignore him. At one point when she shifted, her dress rode up her thigh, high, but she didn’t shift it. His eyes were fixated on the enticing skin and she could practically feel his gaze caressing her. When she looked over at him, he lifted his eyes to hers. The intensity in that stare reached an intimacy level that she only had with Ian.
Her ringing phone cut through the silent room like a fire alarm and pulled her out of her trance with a jump. They were so enthralled with their flirting game that they hadn’t realized the second movie in the DVD player started and it was already quarter after eleven.
Lilith jumped to her feet and pulled her phone from her purse. “Hello,” she quickly answered Tony’s call.
“It’s quarter after.”
“I’m coming out right now.” She glanced at Justin who stretched.
His shirt rose up, exposing his cut, tattooed hipbones. She pictured being on her knees licking that tattoo that dipped into the front of his pants. Snapping out of it, she slipped on her shoes quickly and looked at him, unsure what she should say. They hadn’t spoken for a while and not a second of it was awkward.
“I’ll walk you to the door.”
Sexually frustrated and uncomfortably wet between her legs, she walked behind him. She wasn’t ready to have sex, but her libido was in full effect.