Page 40 of The Arrangement

“Shh, oh my god Sarah!” I laughed, looking around like Hank could be found hiding behind a bookcase. Sarah rolled her eyes, taking a bite of her own lunch.

“Don’t sweat it, we all do it. There’s literally no reason for us to throw out perfectly good food.” We chewed in silence, both of us enjoying the peace from the mid-morning rush. “So how’s money stuff going?”

I nearly choked on my ham and cheese croissant as I observed my friend; I’d always told her everything. I hadn’t grown up with too many friends, so when Sarah had started working at The Grind a year back, we’d stuck together like glue. But I couldn’t tell her; even if I skipped the part where I was fucking my neighbor, I really wanted thatpart of my life separate. That was just for me and Quinn…and the entire internet, but that’s beside the point.

“I found a few side hustles,” I replied, swallowing the hot coffee a little too quickly as it scalded my throat. “I’m hoping to get my car fixed soon.”

“I’m really trying to talk Hank into more hours, but you know how it is.”

I did know. Everyone was struggling recently; even the florist across the street changed their closing time to two hours earlier just to save on payroll and utilities. When the older historic homes were bought out and bulldozed, it brought up the prices for everyone—including those of the buildings we all poured our hopes and livelihoods into.

“So,” she whispered conspiratorially, “Did you ever hear back from Jason?”

I groaned in disgust, immediately remembering the less-than-stellar kiss and disgusting attempt at a hook-up text. “Absolutely not.”

Sarah shook her head. “I was just wondering. You have this…I don’t know,” she said as she inspected me, chewing on her check like she was trying to put the right words together and doing an all-encompassing motion around my body. “Glowor something.”

I tried so hard not to allow my tell-tale flush to creep up my neck and into my cheeks as I took a longer-than-necessary sip of my hot latte.

Sarah pushed my shoulder lightly with a click of her tongue. “Okay, well, when you’re ready to tell me who this mystery person is who has you all aglow…I’ll be readyyyyy.” She sighed, “No, seriously, like I will want all the details. I am having the dry spell of dry spells.”

A laugh nearly escaped me when a thought burst into my head that wanted to desperately announce,“Oh, I don’t even have to tell you, I can show you for a small payment of $9.99 a month.”

I had barely walkedin the door when I heard a knock; I looked down at my phone to see no new notifications, and I wasn't expecting any packages. Maybe Quinn was bringing me more food? That might have been hopeful thinking as I realized I hadn't gone shopping. My suspicions were immediately confirmed as I peeked through the open door to see an apprehensive Quinn rocking back and forth on his heels.

"More takeout?" I quipped, opening the door and setting my hand on my hip as I regarded the tall man. A shadow of a beard ghosted over his face; he looked a little more rugged, and I didn'tnotlike it.

"No takeout, but a proposition?" He closed his mouth quickly as one of our upstairs neighbors sauntered down the stairs. I waved him inside, smiling warmly at the older man, who gave us an odd look as he left. I shut and locked the door quickly before wrapping my arms around myself, a shiver running up my back as he brushed by me. He hadn’t even touched me, but my body reacted nonetheless.

"So?" I prompted, immediately looking around my messy apartment and hoping he wouldn’t look too closely at the pile of laundry sitting on my dining room table or the garbage bag full of clothes I had been meaning to drop off to the donation bin. For three months. Maybe four.

Quinn cleared his throat, looking a bit vulnerable as he scrubbed a hand down his face. "I got a request from a particular…very wealthy subscriber." He paused, looking everywhere but my face. "I know we talked about livestreams, but I wasn't sure if I talked to you about requests. And I got one…tonight."

I uncrossed my arms to pick up Hannah as she trotted by. "What was the request?" This was when Quinn blushed, which was unusual for him, so my interest immediately peaked. "Oh, this has to be good; what is it?"

Quinn sighed. "She's really into edging." He paused as if to make sure I knew what that was, at which I immediately made a face. Jesus Christ, I had been deep in the online writing community since I was eighteen; I knew what edging was. "But not for you. She's really into borderline dom/sub, but with the woman taking the lead."

I was intrigued, and I couldn't lie. I had always seen Wolfe in very dominant roles, and he seemed to thrive in them; I had never been a very dominant person in the bedroom, but of course, I’d never really had a chance to try it.

"So," I dragged out as I set the cat down, "she wants me to edge you on camera?"

Quinn nodded, rubbing the back of his neck."If it's not your thing, I completely understand. Seriously, I do," he said quickly, raising his hands as he took my contemplation for hesitation. "She just pays very well. I could do fifty-fifty like usual. No more than ten minutes."

"Stop rambling, Quinn, I'll do it." I grinned, my stomach fluttering as I considered the request. "I'm intrigued. I can meet you in fifteen minutes?"

Quinn made a surprised face before nodding, and I locked the door behind him as he left. Quickly, I brushed my teeth and washed my face, hastily applying the same red lipstick I had worn before. The mask would cover my eyes, so I wasn't going to worry about anything else.

Before I knew it I was knocking at Unit 2's door, my lace mask clutched in my hand as I looked around in case anyone saw me standing at his door like an idiot. As soon as the dark wood door opened a crack, I slipped inside to find Quinn standing in the red light that flooded out of his bedroom into the hallway.

I set my bag down on his spotless dining room table with comfortable ease at this point. I no longer felt as nervous entering his apartment; I was now excited at the prospect. When I’d given Quinn a blowjob last session, I was more than thrilled with his reaction and the fact thatIwas dragging that reaction from him. It was more than just a little bit of a confidence boost.

"Okay, want to give me a rundown?" I asked, shrugging out of my cardigan and stuffing it into my bag. Quinn nodded and handed me his work phone; he was close enough that I could smell his college and that bergamot body wash. I didn't mind the scent.

Quinn left me with the phone while he went to grab two waterbottles from his fridge and made his way to the bedroom, holding his mask from the dryer.

"You wash your mask?" I asked incredulously because, for some reason, it didn't cross my mind, and it just looked so domestic.

Quinn pulled a face, "Do you know how much I sweat in this thing? I refuse to get a breakout, even in the name of entrepreneurship."

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