Page 11 of Sold to the Highest Bidder
Well, this is it; Nazalie thought, taking in a deep breath as stepped into the hotel, her arm in the crook of Joshua's.
Joshua
At seven-thirty, Joshua arrived at the restaurant. The meeting was supposed to be by eight, but Joshua was nothing if not punctual. He ordered himself a glass of bourbon as he waited.
The whole idea of buying someone's virginity was starting to seem strange to him. What made him think this was a good idea anyway? Was it too late for him to back out of the bid?
Maybe it was the bourbon speaking, but the whole thing felt like a bad idea.
The idea seemed more and more foreign as the minutes flew by.
Joshua downed the rest of his drink. He was going to leave. They didn't need to meet. He’ll disappear like he was never here. Joshua was prepared to stand when he spotted her. She was even more beautiful in person. She took off her coat and handed it to the waiter as she stepped in.
She was wearing a strapless knee-length black dress and green shoes that matched her eyes. Her hair was in a tight bun at the nape of her neck. Some stray curls framed the side of her face. She seemed to be looking around the restaurant. Looking for Joshua. Joshua resisted the urge to wave and waited patiently for her to find him. When her eyes landed on him, he could see the shock in them. She obviously hadn't expected someone as young as him. She had been expected the worst when she walked in. Joshua didn't know whether to feel flattered or insulted.
She started walking towards him, and it was like the world around them did not exist. It already faded as their eyes met. She looked like she was floating above the ground. She walked with such grace, the kind that baffled Joshua. She had incredibly long legs, the sort a man thought about wrapping around his waist. Did she even belong in this world? She must be an angel. That's the only explanation.
If Joshua thought she was beautiful, she was even more stunning up close. Joshua quickly schooled his expression before she got closer. Joshua was sure he looked like a hungry dog, leering at her.
He was definitely attracted to her. The uncertainty he felt previously seemed to disappear the moment he set his eyes on her.
"Hi," she whispered. Her voice was a bit cracked, but that was understandable. She must be nervous.
"I'm Joshua."
Joshua wasn't sure if he should shake her hand. He decided against it and settled for leading her to her seat. Joshua was developing a hard-on imagining those soft lips pouting for his benefit. He wanted to touch her so badly, but he had to restrain himself. He would wait till she was more comfortable around him.
They sat staring at each other before they finally spoke. Nazalie was feisty; he liked that. He saw it as a challenge that he would overcome.
He asked her about the things he was curious about, she answered politely. Whenever she was uncomfortable, she changed the subject. He admired how skillfully she shifted the topic away from the things she wasn't comfortable with. She asked him some questions too, and he answered as politely as he could without revealing too much. By the time dessert was served, he had already found out enough about her.
After they ate their dessert, Joshua decided it was time to go. When he told her, he noticed that she visibly stiffened. He understood why she would suddenly be uncomfortable. It couldn't be helped.
Joshua felt like they were going to have an excellent time together.
As they got to the entrance, he helped her put on her coat. His fingers deliberately brushed her shoulder for a second. He held himself back while he was at the table, but he wanted to know what it felt like to touch her. A shiver snuck up his spine the moment they touched.
To make her feel more comfortable, he helped her with the door. She appeared to be lost in thought when they settled in the car, so he helped with her seat belt.
Joshua could see the look of awe on her face when she saw the hotel. He made sure he spared no expense. She looked so innocent at that moment; he almost didn't want to go through with it. Then she stepped forward and placed her arm in the crook of his own.Joshua smiled; it was going to be a fun night.
Five
Nazalie
It was a suite, like Nazalie expected. From everything she had seen tonight, he didn't seem like the type to rent a small room in a dingy hotel. Nazalie was certain that the smallest room in the hotel cost more than her monthly rent.
Joshua was on a call. He thrust a hand through his still-damp hair, slicking it back. He seemed to be ordering drinks from the reception. That gave Nazalie some time to gather her thoughts.
Nazalie had no idea how these things worked. She decided to wait for him to make the first move. She sat on the edge of the bed in her coat, waiting patiently. Minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Joshua rushed out of the bathroom in a robe, drying his wet hair with a matching towel.
Nazalie sat on the bed, playing with the ends of her coat.
"You should take off your coat," Joshua said, wheeling in a trolley filled with fruits and drinks.
Nazalie's heart rate spiked. He wanted her to take off her coat; it was too soon. She wasn't ready yet.
"Aren't you hot? The heater is on, so you must be boiling in that coat."
