Page 52 of Destined To Fall

Jeremy steps aside, opening the door wider, and I brush past him, making sure my hip grazes the front of his jeans, taking great satisfaction at his sharp intake of breath as I enter the room.

“Drink?” he asks, closing the door behind me but making no move to follow me in further.

“Yes.” I run my fingers along the edge of the bed, my thoughts a chaotic mess.“Make it a double.”

It’s a nice room, consisting mostly of the white king-size bed. It has a subtle masculine feel to it. There’s a dark wooden headboard, matching desk, bedside tables, and television cabinet, with gray walls, carpet, linen accents, and a silver armchair in the far corner opposite the en suite door. The room’s a decent size, yet it feels small with only the two of us in it. The two of us and a big-ass bed.

I turn in time to catch Jeremy’s lip curve, fighting a grin as he moves to the minibar to fix us both a drink.

“Why am I here, Jeremy? And how am I here? Or should I call you Jay now?”J for Jeremy?That was a clever touch.

“I couldn’t risk you not turning up.” He shrugs, unapologetic.

I raise a brow in response, and he sighs, handing me my drink.“Sit, and we can talk.”

“Thank you, but I’ll stand.”

“Suit yourself.”

He sits on the edge of the bed, his attention focused on the drink in his hand. After a few moments he takes a sip, returning his gaze to me.“I confronted my father after you walked out on me.”

“I heard.”

Jeremy’s forehead furrows, and his eyes narrow.“Yes, well, he refused to say a word. Not one single word.”Not surprising.“I waited till he left for a meeting and riffled through his office.”

I raise an eyebrow.

“I found your card in his wallet.”

I still and say nothing. Jeremy doesn’t continue. Instead, he looks at me expectantly, but I have nothing to add.

“You seemed to be avoiding me, or unavailable for social calls, so I thought I’d arrange a business one, seeing as it seems to be the only way to get your attention.”

“What was this morning, and how did you know where to find me?”

“You mentioned how you run every Sunday morning.” He shrugs.“It was an educated guess. I didn’t know you’d be there, but I hoped I’d bump into you somewhere along the way.Not reallysure why. I guess I was deciding whether to go through with tonight or not.”

“To go through with tonight?” I shake my head, unwilling to make sense of what he’s saying.“How long have you known, what I am, what I do?”

“From almost the beginning, I think I had suspicions. Little things you’d say or do. You weren’t exactly subtle.” His mouth curls up at the ends, but seeming to think better of it, he tones down his grin.

From the beginning?I turn away, hiding my face as I work through what he’s telling me, and down my drink. I know I was never subtle. It’s not in my nature. I’d hoped at one point he’d put it together and disappear, but he didn’t. When did that change, and I became the one being played?

“So, it’s all been an act? Everything was a lie? You just wanted a free ride? Something to tell the boys at the bar?”

“No,” he says quietly.

I put down my empty glass and stand straighter. After all, I am on the clock. Slowly, I undo the belt around my waist, letting the ties fall to the side. Jeremy’s eyes go wide, and his mouth opens and closes before he can look me in the eye. I can’t make out the thoughts playing on his face. Is it disappointment? Resignation? Hurt? Some mix of all three? The blaze of desire is definitely among them.

“Vivienne. What…what are you doing?”

“My job.” The words have never tasted so vile in all the years I’ve done this.

“Stop.” It lacks the demand he clearly intends. My coat slowly falls to the floor at my feet, revealing the violet and black corset, panties, and bra set with thigh-high lace-top nylons attached to a garter belt. I went all out.“Vivienne.”

“This is what you wanted, right? What you paid for. Me at your disposal, at your every whim.”

“You’re right. I do want you at my disposal.”

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