Page 108 of Sweet Deception

"I started Sweet Connections about four years ago. I did it for several reasons, one being I knew it would be a profitable business."

Kylie rolls her eyes, but stays silent. I almost grin.

"I also wanted it for women in hopeless circumstances to have an alternative to earn money."

She frowns, her eyes trying to read my own.

"Growing up where I did, you could find a lot of women on the streets. They had pimps who treated them like trash, but those women had no choice. Consider why you became a sugar baby. While you never would've turned to the streets, your situation was desperate enough that you signed with Sweet Connections. Would you ever have imagined being desperate enough to do that a year ago?"

She looks away, but after a few seconds of silence, Kylie's face softens and the tension in her arms releases. She takes a deep breath before replying, "Yeah. I hated doing it, but …"

"You felt like you had no other choice." I finish for her.

She brings her gaze back to mine and swallows. "Yeah."

Hoping she's past the need to get away from me, I release her wrist and slide to her side, propping myself on my elbow and resting my head on my hand. She turns to face me again, tucking the sheet to her chest. I'm relieved she's open to hearing me out, so I keep my hands to myself for now.

"I've seen desperate people do desperate things over the years. When women pursued me after I started making money, it got me thinking. I didn't want to be with anyone because of my money and I knew other men who felt the same. This company not only helps women in desperate situations, it also gives wealthy men a place to go where everything is out in the open. It can be freeing for a man who's been manipulated by greed. Hell, it's been freeing for wealthy women as well. They have just as much trouble finding men who don't only want them for their money."

She tucks her hand under her pillow and looks at my chin. "That sounds cold. Purposely dating knowing they only want their money, not to pursue a real relationship."

"Yes, but it's a real issue. Anyone with money has to be careful who they let into their lives. Greed is sadly a powerful motivation for a lot of people." I gauge her expression and find the softness is still there. "What I told you at our first meeting is all true. I never thought myself capable of letting anyone in and it's tiresome trying to date a woman whose only goal is to marry arich man."

"But you said you never took a sugar baby before me." Her eyes narrow on my face.

"And I haven't. Even that was too much of a commitment for me. If I wanted to scratch an itch, I would seek someone for a night and never see them again. For me, that was what worked best."

"Then why me?"

I move my gaze to the ceiling and chuckle at her question. "Angel, I've been asking myself that question since the beginning." Bringing my gaze back to hers, I continue, "I never had the answer until recently." I scratch my chin as I think about my response. "Your kidnapping put it all into perspective. Hell, even before that … which I still need to explain." I bring my gaze back to hers and brush the hair off her cheek, glad that she's allowing me that small comfort. "The only thing that makes sense to me now is that you were meant to be mine. If you asked me if I believed in that kind of thing just a short month ago, I would've said you were crazy. But now? It's the only logical explanation for me." I shake my head. "The moment I laid eyes on you, I think I fell in love. I just didn't know that's what it was."

"Luca."

There's so much love in her eyes. I vow that I will spend my life making sure I never lose that from her.

Clearing the emotion from my throat, I continue, "I know now that's why when I saw you standing outside the Sweet Connections office, I had to have you and why I made it so no one else could. Rafael went to Margaret to keep her from putting you in the system. I was going to offer you a contract that you couldn't resist so I could keep you to myself. I told myself I was doing you a favor." Chuckling again, I shake my head at my brilliance and stupidity. "You were obviously in a desperate situation and needed money. I had that money and I could help you while keeping you to myself." I shrug a shoulder. "It made sense at the time."

Kylie huffs, but not in anger. "I can admit, you did me a favor. I never wanted to sign up and I'm happy to know I'm not in the system. Plus, if I were to beassigned to anyone, I am glad it was you. I felt it too, on that first day. I even hoped for it. When you arrived at the club, I wondered if you were a member of Sweet Connections. Margaret told me about the meet ups at the club and I thought maybe you were there for that reason." She laughs humorlessly. "I'm such an idiot, but thanks to you, it all worked out." She sighs. "I have no right to be mad at you. I understand why you wouldn't tell me any of that in the beginning. Hell, I was warned I had no right to any private information from you, so I know better." She brings her gaze back to mine with a glare. "It's a good thing you told me this now because the minute we stopped the contract, those rules were out the window."

Chuckling, I dip down for another kiss. "Yes, my Angel."

She dips her gaze to the mattress. Confused by her sudden shyness, I place a finger under her chin to bring her eyes back to mine. "What's wrong?"

She swallows, then bites her lip as she searches my eyes. I wait patiently, knowing she's afraid of whatever she's about to spring on me.

"As you know, sugar babies have strict rules. If you truly want a real relationship with me—"

"I do." I state firmly.

"—then you know that you haven't gotten all of me yet."

"Explain," I don't like where she's going with this.

"What if you don't like the real me?"

"Are you trying to tell me that the Kylie I've gotten the past month is not the real you?" I frown, even knowing that's not true.

"No. I've been myself, but I've also held back. Like I said, I had rules to follow. Now that we are truly together, I won't hold back anymore."

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