Page 192 of Merciless Desires

I looked away and tried to find something distracting to focus on.

“They could. They just choose not to. Besides, I need to get myself another place to live, after my stepfather hit me…”

The clatter of a fork dropping onto a china plate made me jump, but the look on his face made me fearful. “He… what?”

I spoke slowly. “His best friend’s daughter was a bully. I fought back, Jeff didn’t like it, he hit me.”

“So, you don’t have anywhere to live?”

I shook my head. “No. But it’s fine. I’ll stay with friends until I get a university place.” I picked up my own fork hoping to draw a line under the topic.

“Which friends?”

I almost spat out the fondant but swallowed it instead, feeling a large chocolatey lump ease it’s way too slowly down my throat. I took another few mouthfuls of wine. It really was delicious. “College friends,” I replied, eventually. “Why do you want to know?”

“Are they trustworthy?”

“Yes…” My voice had risen an octave. “Of course they are.”

He didn’t seem satisfied with my answer as he placed his cutlery down and pushed away his plate, eyeing me the whole time.

“I’ll pay for you to stay in a hotel until you find a place to live.”

I gasped. “What? But that’s ridiculous. You don’t even know me, and after, you know, we do the thing I came here to do, I’ll be out of your life forever. You’ll never see me again.”

For a second, he looked as though I’d slapped him, but the mirage was quickly replaced by a scowl. “That’s irrelevant.”

“I don’t need a sugar daddy.”

He half-laughed. “I’m not old enough to be your sugar daddy.”

“Age is irrelevant,” I said, throwing his own words back at him. “I don’t need a man to take care of me.”

“Maybe not. But I won’t take your virginity then send you back to the mainland homeless.”

“It won’t be your problem. I’m nobody’s problem.” I heaved out a breath and looked away. “It’s pointless talking about it anyway. We should be discussing what I came here for.”

“What is there to discuss?”

She flicked her head back in my direction. “When are we going to do it?”

“When you’re ready.”

“I’m ready now.” My voice was low but didn’t conceal the tremble in my words.

He shook his head. “No, you’re not. You said you wanted to get to know me. So, here I am. Get to know me.”

I felt hot blood rush into my cheeks. “Fine. What happened to your face?”

His jaw ticked to one side. “Too soon.”

My heart sank. “When will it not be too soon? You’re planning on keeping me here until you feel it’s the right time to tell me what happened?”

“You’re the one who thinks you need to know, in order to get to know me.”

“When will you tell me?”

“When I’m ready.” His eyes blackened and even his clear one filled with shadow.

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