Page 27 of King of Players

“Well, if you claim to be so honest, then tell me this: When you came over the other night, was sleeping with me your intention?”

“It was,” I quickly said, my eyes unwavering.

“Why?”

“Because I wanted to.”

“And what if I hadn’t responded the way I did?”

“Are you insinuating that I would have… forced you?”

“How much longer would you have tried?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m confused. What did I do wrong?”

“I didn’t say you did something wrong.”

“Then, what’s this?” I gestured with my hand in the air. “What are we doing?”

“I’m trying to analyze what happened.”

“Why? And… isn’t it clear? Two consenting adults felt an attraction, and they enjoyed what it entailed.”

“But that’s the thing.” She raised her eyebrows. “I’m never attracted to men like you.”

Chuckling, I tried to conceal an offense that I felt and couldn’t quite measure or justify. What did she mean by ‘men like me’? Celebrities? Unaffiliated with churches and charities? Womanizers? I was used to being attacked by the public for my lifestyle, but I couldn’t remember an incident where it happened face-to-face. “Men like me,” I repeated.

When she extended her arm toward the tray, I realized that her slender, manicured fingers were reaching for a silver cigarette case that I hadn’t noticed earlier. She opened it and pulled one out—a slim—and lit it up. The manner with which her fingers held the cigarette told of how rarely it happened, and the way her lips met the filter confirmed it. “Chad, I’m trying to be honest with you—”

“Did you block me?” I challenged her. “After our night here?” When she wouldn’t answer, her eyes frozen on mine, I reminded her, “You are trying to be honest.”

“I did. I did block you, because I didn’t know what to expect from you or myself. You have to understand that I’m not in the habit of sleeping with men I don’t know.”

“Noted.”

“And you didn’t hold a gun to my head—I’m aware of that.”

My voice grew lower. “Alright.”

“The other night—as good as it was—opened some—something for me. Something I’m still trying to understand.” Taking a long drag, she paused before adding, “And no, I don’t mean the world of one-night stands.”

And I knew I wouldn’t have dared accuse her of such interests.

eleven

Doing The Dance

Kaira

“Of course.” Chad’s voice conveyed belief, while the look on his face carried plenty of curiosity. “So… care to share?”

I sucked the air through the cigarette, reveling in how that little stick added flavor to a tasteless element of nature. I also used those couple of seconds to contemplate his question. “Will it be an issue if I don’t?”

He smiled, leaning forward and shaking his head, hanging it low. “Nope. Like you said, you don’t really know me. But you do like me enough to take the time to talk to me.” Raising his gaze to meet mine, he maintained his smile. “And I know it’s late. And I know you’ve had a long day. But you don’t seem sleepy yet.”

Tilting my head, I narrowed my eyes. “Meaning?”

“We can easily mitigate the issue of you not knowing me. How about I take you to a really late dinner?”

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