Page 9 of Addison

I need to figure out exactly what I'm going to say to her, what questions I'm going to ask. When I came up with this plan this morning to strong-arm her into talking to me, I didn't plan out the actual talk.

On top of that, I need to rein in my attraction to her as well.

Every time she challenges me or questions me, it feels like she's throwing another log on an already roaring inferno. She's exactly the kind of woman I want. I already know she can be submissive. When I had her, she was coy and soft. She follows instructions in the bedroom, and when she comes, it's glorious. The fact that she also has this disobedient wild side only makes me want her that much more.

Shoving my hands in my pockets, I lean forward slightly, trying to decide between what kind of pastries and other baked goods I should get. I by no means think of this as a date or anything like that, but if she's sitting with me, I can at least make sure she has something to eat.

Ordering two large blueberry muffins, a tea, coffee, and a soda, I walk back over to the table with a tray full of food.

I sit in the chair opposite her and push the tray of food to the side. "Take whatever you want." I motion with my head, but she doesn't even glance at the food I'm offering her.

"What I want is to be able to get out of this coffee shop in the next three minutes. You should try to make that happen."

Her attitude is fierce. I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. I'm always up for a good challenge.

"I'll do my best. So, do you want to start, or do you want me to just jump in?"

"You're the one who is following me around. You obviously have something you want to say to me." She shrugs her shoulders and leans back in her chair with her hands folded in her lap.

"I do... I have so many things I want to say to you. Just be honest with me, okay?" Of course, the first thing on my mind is finding out if the little boy is mine, but I don't want to scare her off by making her think this is some kind of attack or something. "Are you okay?"

It's a genuine question, but the way her face drops, I can tell she's not expecting it.

"Am I okay? Why do you care?"

"I do. I know we met under some really messed up circumstances--"

"You paid to sleep with me," she blurts out just loud enough that if anyone were walking by, they'd hear. I do a quick scan of the room and breathe a sigh of relief when I don't notice anyone looking in our direction.

"First, I didn't pay. My partner did. Second, I asked if you were a working girl and you told me no." I make sure to keep my tone low, hoping that she will follow suit.

She stares at me, but the anger is quickly draining from her eyes. "Hollister... He made me tell you no. It's supposed to be part of the girlfriend package. I was just supposed to be some girl who thought you were attractive. Someone who couldn't keep her hands off you. You know, the way two people would meet out in the real world."

"The real world?" I scoff and shake my head. "I've never had a woman meet me like that. Not even close." I fold my hands on the table and lean back in towards her. "Seriously Addison, I didn't know at the time. It was only after, when my shitty partner began holding it over my head, that I found out what you were doing. I'd have never forced myself on you. Never. It's not my way." I do my best to keep her gaze, but she's finding it hard to look me in the eyes for more than a few microseconds at a time.

"You didn't force yourself on me. I mean, after it was all said and done, I had a good time."

Internally, I beat a hand against my chest. I was right; she did have fun with me. I always thought there was a connection between her and me, but when Riggs told me she was a paid professional, I thought it could have been all part of the game.

"Now that we've got that out of the way, when did you get away?"

"Get away?" Her head pops up, and she stares at me with those expressive dark eyes. If I tried really hard, I'm sure I could read her like a book.

"Yeah, from Hollister? When did you get out of the life?"

"Oh, almost three years now."

"And that's when you signed up with the Eve's Fury Club?" Too soon. I shouldn't have let her know I know about her MC so soon.

"No, I didn't sign up with them. They rescued me. One of the members used to be a working girl for Hollister back in the day. He kidnapped her and tried to get her back in the game as well. She got me out of there. I've been with them ever since."

Shock is the smallest emotion I feel right now. I knew the girls in that club were all for community service, but I'd never think they were so intent on helping out the community that they'd take in a virtual stranger. It's exceptional. Not only am I feeling a little uneasy about my perception of the club, but I'm also feeling incredibly grateful. Who knows where Addison and the baby would be right now if she'd had to find her way on her own after all that.

Moving right along just so she doesn't know she's affected me, I ask, "What about Hollister? Has he given you any grief?"

That gets a small chuckle out of Addison, though I'm not sure why. "No. Let's just say Eve's Fury MC has him by the balls."

I didn't like the sound of that, but if she was telling me that she didn't have to worry about Hollister anymore, I was going to accept it.

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