Page 22 of Forget Me Not

“Such a romantic.” His eyes roam over my body and I push my tits out a little more than normal when I take a deep breath.

“A realist,” I correct him.

For a sliver of a second, I thought maybe he was different. He’s certainly more subdued than most men, but his lack of willpower sits right there along with the rest of the population’s.It seems my date for the night is just another statistical male with a boner. Can’t say I’m disappointed. It’ll make my job much easier. But there is a small part of me that held out hope for him when I didn’t grab his attention earlier.

“So, are we gonna do this?” I ask, confidence dominating my tone.

“Do what?”

I slither up to him, lustful eyes on his as my fingers trail down his arm. “Go back to your place. See where the night takes us.”

There’s an ache in my chest knowing he’ll fuck me then send me on my way, never to see me again. The emotional strain this position takes on the human mind is something no one can relate to unless they’ve been in my shoes. It hurts to know you’re not enough. That you will never be anything more than a body in their eyes. In the end, you’re just cast aside and forgotten.

I’ve always tried to look at it from a different angle. Use them, or they’ll use you. If I don’t allow myself to feel like the victim, then I’m not one.

“I thought you’d never ask.” He takes my hand, leading me out the back door of the tavern.

This wasn’t my plan, not by any means. I came to Lockhaven to turn over a new leaf and settle down. I just never anticipated it would be this hard. Rent is due on Monday and I have no choice. This will allow me one more month to figure something out until it’s due again. Maybe I’ll try to get some more hours at Taryn’s, or pick up a second job. Either way, it’s one night that will not set me back.

The crescent moon offers little help in lighting up the parking lot, but there’s a tall flickering lamppost that leads our way.

We cross the parking lot, Alaric’s grip on me tight, as if he thinks I’m going to pull away and run. It’s apparent he doesn’t know me at all.

“This is us,” Alaric says, reaching for the passenger handle of his car.

I pull my hand back, and to my surprise, he allows me to free myself. My fingers ghost over the bright red paint on the hood of the Aston Martin as I walk to the passenger side. “Wow. This is your car?”

Alaric pulls open the door and gestures for me to climb in, while saying, “One of them.”

“Red happens to be my favorite color. Is this a Chevy or a Ford?” I play dumb when the truth is, I know cars very well. I also know high-end fashion and the presidents on every dollar bill. I have no intention of letting Alaric know I’m aware he’s got money. I don’t want to acknowledge it or talk about it. It’s a manipulation tactic I’ve learned to use over the years to make men let down their guard.

Alaric chuckles under his breath, fighting hard not to crack a smile. But I know it’s threatening to break free and if he weren’t such a tight ass, he’d allow it. “Neither,” he says as he leans into the car and grabs the seat belt before bringing it across my body. I hold my breath, not allowing my chest to move as I watch him, slightly stupefied.

Once the belt is clicked into place, he pauses with his face just in front of mine. When he doesn’t speak, I open my mouth to say something to break the awkward tension, but just as the word, “I…” sputters out of my mouth, he ducks out of the car and closes the door.

It’s insane the amount of influence this man has on my body. Every movement, every word, leaves an aching need settling in my core. Sexual acts have always been a way of life, not a pleasurable need. But tonight, I just might enjoy myself.

Alaric walks around to the driver’s side and gets in. With his foot pressed firmly to the brake, he presses the button on the dash to bring the car to life.

Once we’re out of the parking lot, Alaric turns onto the main road. His wrist drapes over the steering wheel, his fingers twitching, while his hand lies limply on his leg.

I really am fucking insane.I’m in a car with a complete stranger who obviously has zero compassion for other people, considering our altercation only an hour ago. He belittled me and tried to make it seem as if something he did wrong was my fault.

If this were a story someone was reading, they would absolutely think,this girl has lost her mind.

I’ve never—never—put myself in a situation where all of the control is taken away from me. But right now, Alaric has all of it.

“You know, you’re pretty brave getting in the car with a stranger you met at a bar.”

I gulp.Are you reading my mind?

When he looks at me, I raise an eyebrow and a devilish smirk spreads across his face.

Of course he’s not reading my mind. He’s just stating the obvious. Something we both know to be true. I’m an idiot who can’t handle her alcohol. After this experience, one drink is my limit because two, apparently, has me throwing every single rule out the window for a man I don’t even fucking know.

“Don’t worry, Rhea. You’re safe with me.”

My body settles slightly, getting comfortable in the seat, even if that’s exactly what a serial killer would say.

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