Page 31 of Devil In A Suit

"Lara," I say firmly, "if you’re not in my bed tonight, with your legs spread wide, giving me everything I want, this offer is dead. I want what I want when I want it, and I do not tolerate delays."

"Understood," she says tightly.

Chapter Twenty

LARA

Finally, I understand. I am going to have to sleep with him.

Not just because my father is probably out there contemplating suicide, or everybody at the agency including me will be out of a job by the morning if I don’t say yes, but because I really, really want to. I can pretend to him and everyone else that I’m doing it for altruistic reasons, but I can’t cheat myself. I know I’m doing it because I desperately want to.

The kiss was good.

In fact, good is a wild understatement. The kiss blew my freaking socks off. It’s the way I’d imagined how two bald eagles locking talons and performing their death spiral courtship must feel as the dare devils cartwheel at full speed towards the ground.

My head is still spinning.

I wanted him from the first moment I looked up and met his emerald eyes, but as Leila said, the only thing holding me back was my pride. His approach had been supercilious, callous, and arrogant. No wine, no flowers, no chocolates… That is not theway I prefer to transact with a man, but all that was beforethatkiss.

I have something he wants, he has something I want and if he is also willing to get my father out of the terrible mess he has got himself into, why not? This is a solution to all of our problems.

Thankfully, I believe this fire in my gut will burn out fast and since the basis of our relationship is purely physical it will then fizzle out without too much fuss. On his part he has so many women to choose from I am pretty certain this is a thing that will probably not even last a full month.

“So…” I say, “I have to make my decision within the hour.”

“Yes,” he replies. “Let me know your address and someone will come to pick you up.”

My heart nearly stops at his haughty tone, but it’s impossible to argue with him further because he turns and shuts the door behind him. It must have been pure adrenaline that kept me standing, but now that it’s just me in this filthy room, all my bravado and strength vanishes. All the strength completely leaves my legs and I stumble towards a chair and sit down.

Am I really going to do this? I ask myself, somewhat in shock. At that moment it all seemed reasonable, but now, in the silence of my own thoughts, it sounds insane. He is insane. We are both insane. I know my dad will be coming in like a rampaging bull soon, so I compose myself as best as I can.

There is a knock on the door. My heart jumps and I press my hand against my chest and watch as the door is pushed open, and my dad lurches in. He looks huge and blurry. There is a pitiful sadness in his eyes. Not at all like a bull. And just like that, what I had agreed to do, makes sense again. It will all be worth it if I can save my dad and get him back on the right path.

He takes his seat beside me and mutters, “I just saw that bastard leave.”

I nod in response.

“Are you okay?” he asks, his gaze piercing through me.

“I am,” I reply, trying my best to work up a smile, even though I know it will be nearly impossible to convince my father that it’s genuine.

“I don’t even know where to start apologizing,” he mumbles. “I am so sorry for putting you in this position. To see me like this…to…”

“Dad.” I reach out, catching his hand, “Don’t. Don’t think that way. Please sit down, let’s talk.”

He does so, and for a moment, both of our gazes land on the check on the table.

“Is that valid?” he asks.

I stare at it as well. “I don’t know.”

“Maybe we could just cash it tomorrow and disappear forever.”

I smile dryly at him before looking away. I need time to properly map out my next steps. I have to be especially careful with my father because I know he would rather die than allow me to sell myself to the highest bidder, even if it would solve all our problems.

He places his hand on top of mine and rubs it gently. “I didn’t know you dated someone like that. When was it? In college? Why didn’t you tell me? We had a pact when you were a teenager that you would always let me meet any guy you dated, and until now, I thought you upheld that.”

“I did keep our agreement, Dad,” I try my best to assure him. “I just… I didn’t introduce him to you back then because there was no point. I knew it wasn’t going to last. It never does when a mentally ill person is part of the equation.”

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