BUY ME - Riley Alexa - Страница 19

“They do pretty good work. And Dad?”

Tim goes silent, and I know he is thinking of a way of telling me something, a way to phrase something without lying, but without telling me the honest truth either. This is something he never does. He’s always honest with me. Guilt weighs a little heavily on me for the lies I’ve been telling him.

“He was home last night. He’s just still sleeping it off.” I glance over at the clock and see it’s already three in the afternoon. Jesus.

“All right.” What else can I really say? “You can reach me at this number if you need me.” We say our goodbyes, and I feel a little bit calmer. Almost like something has been lifted off my shoulders.

I look back at the clock and see that only a minute has passed. I wonder when they will be back. I should have brought some books or my Kindle. I make my way to the kitchen and grab a banana out of the bowl on the counter. I sit down at the breakfast bar and open the paper.

Flipping through the pages, I stop cold on page six.

Looks like the rumors are true! Casino hot-shot Justin Cortez and Reality Star Natasha Woods are hot and heavy.

It’s then I realize who the woman is. She’s a famous reality star who lands on the covers of magazines around Las Vegas all the time. The same woman I saw Justin with downstairs only moments ago.

The picture shows him leaning in close, whispering in her ear, with her pressing her body into his. She’s smiling right at the camera. The article goes on to talk about the event they were at. The one that was hosted at this casino last night. Where they went last night after they left the room.

I can’t bring myself to read it and I drop it back down on the counter. I head back to the living room and plop back down onto the sofa.

The mistress contract said we weren't to ask the clients about where they spent their time; it wasn't our business, but Justin made it seem so different this morning. Or maybe that was their game. They wanted a woman at home but wanted to do whatever they wanted when they were out and about. It wasn't an unheard of arrangement in Vegas.

They are rich men who want to have their cake and eat it too. Or maybe they think since I got both of them, they should get other people too. I drop my head in my hands and force myself not to cry. I feel like I’m drowning in the grief of losing something I never even had.

I should have listened to myself in the beginning. Men like Justin and Aaron are too good to be true. Yeah, they may want me. They may even want to keep me, but I wouldn't be the only one they spent time with and that just isn't something I’m cut out for.

Back to plan A, which would be easier this time. I know the game for sure. Do your thirty days and be done. Put your walls back up, Stella. Guard yourself. Do as they command, and walk away with what you came for.

I hear the elevator ding, and I look up to see Justin and Aaron exit, both with big smiles on their faces. They both stride towards me. Justin reaches me first, pulling me up into his arms. He kisses me, and I willingly open my mouth. It takes everything in me not to kiss him back, but I don't deny him access either. It is, after all, what they paid for.

He pulls back and looks at me in puzzlement.

“You look beautiful, baby,” he says.

“Thank you.” My words are flat. I should at least try to pretend, but it's just too soon. The bitterness of what I lost is still too fresh.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, looking over at Aaron, and then back to me. Aaron looks just as confused.

“Nothing.” I pull back from his arms and drop to my knees in front of him, going for his belt. The look of shock on his face would be almost laughable if I wasn't so mad. I have no right to be, but he made me believe I could have something that I couldn't. I wouldn't be their little woman who stayed at home while the boys went out just being boys.

But I would give them their fucking thirty days. It might rip me apart trying to stay detached from them, but I would do it.

“What are you doing?” he demands, grabbing me by the wrist. My anger gets the best of me and I snap.

“I’m doing what you paid me to do. I’m sorry if I’m doing it wrong, but maybe next time don’t get yourself a virgin. At least then you’ll have someone who knows what they are doing. Wait…is that why you have Natasha? Because she knows how to suck you off how you like?”

“Fuck!”

10

JUSTIN

When we pull in to the Cortez, there are paparazzi everywhere. “This place is turning into a zoo. Fuck, I can’t wait for this tournament to end.” I push past a few of them as security from the casino comes out and helps us through the crowd.

Once inside, we walk past the tournament tables, but before we clear them, I’m run over as Natasha jumps out in front of me.

“Justin, we need to talk.” She’s got her fake-ass camera smile pasted on, so they must be close by. After hearing about what happened that night at Snake Eyes, it’s all I can do not to grab her by the arms and throw her ass out of our casino.

I don’t feel Aaron beside me, and I look over to see him walking towards the elevators. He’s walking up behind a brunette in a blue dress, and I realize it’s Stella.

I’m anxious to get to her, so I grab Natasha’s arm, lean in, and tell her exactly what’s going to happen.

“You are going to go back to your table, cash out your chips, and get the fuck out of my casino. Now.”

She leans back, laughing like I just made a joke.

“I’ve got a video of the night you drugged me and had one of your friends carry me to your hotel room. It’s enough evidence to press charges, and you better believe that’s exactly what I’m doing. I’m giving you the opportunity to get your shit and get out of here, because I don’t want any more of your reality TV filth dirtying up the place. But know that I’m filing a report today, so if I were you, I’d take this time to enjoy your freedom. I plan on using every dime I have sending you to jail for as long as possible.”

Her eyes are wide with shock, and her practiced smile has slipped.

“Be sure to wave to the cameras on your way out, Natasha. Wouldn’t want to disappoint your fans.”

I drop her arm and watch her walk back to her table to gather her chips. I move to the private elevator and see Mandy coming in my direction, her phone in her hand.

“Something wrong?” I ask as I swipe my card and wait for the doors to open.

“No, just another hang up. Oh well. How did everything go at the Snake Eyes? How was your meeting with Mr. Townsend?”

I struggle to find the words, knowing that we need to tell her, but wanting to wait. As I open my mouth to say something, the elevator doors open, and Aaron is standing there smiling. He grabs me by the jacket, hauls me in the elevator, and nods goodbye to Mandy. The doors close as he shouts to her. “Clear our schedule until tomorrow.” They seal shut.

‘What’s gotten into you?” I ask. I haven't seen him this giddy in…I can’t even remember, because ‘giddy’ is a word I would have never in a million years used to describe Aaron.

“Lucky is ready.”

“Really?” I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

“Goddamn, yes. I ate that sweet pussy right here on the way up to the penthouse, and once we got inside, I knew I needed to come get you. Fuck, I’m so hard, I’ve gotta get inside her. Just smelling her on my face is killing me.”

“Hell yeah, brother. It’s about time.” I feel my cheeks hurt from smiling as the doors open. I walk out, grabbing her body and pulling her against me. I press my lips happily to hers, but as I kiss her, something feels off. She’s opening to me, but she isn’t kissing me back. There’s none of the passion we’ve shared before.