One Night: Promised

m a paying client,’ I remind him, reaching for one of the shells and dislodging the meat with my fork.
He turns slowly back toward me. ‘You make me feel cheap.’

How ironic that I’m now using some of the money to have myself . . . entertained. I’ve drawn a reaction, just like I planned, and the words he once said are dancing at the front of my mind, egging me on. Promise me you won’t ever degrade yourself like that again. Me? What about him?
He’s speechless. His eyes are fixed on the money, and I can definitely see his suspended hand begin to shake, the wine rippling as evidence. ‘What’s this?’ he asks tightly, settling his glass down.

The woman laughs. ‘Put it on speed dial, sweetheart.’
‘Crystal!’ Miller shouts, shutting her up in an instant. ‘It’s time for you to leave.’
Her eyes widen and turn slowly to me. ‘Oh my,’ she breathes, dragging her smug stare down my frozen body. ‘Has London’s most notorious male escort gone and fallen in love?’
Her words knock all of the air from my lungs and my knees give out a little, causing me to reach out and grab Miller’s jacket. Escort?

‘You’ll get nothing more from me.’
‘I beg to differ.’
I flinch at his arrogance and confidence. I’ve never slapped a man in my life. I’ve never slapped anyone.
Until now.
The power of my small palm across his face creates the most piercing sound, the smack echoing in the noisy air around us

‘I fall asleep here most nights,’ he says wistfully, pulling me a little closer. ‘It’s hypnotic, don’t you think?’
‘Incredible,’ I agree, but I’m more in awe of what’s behind me. ‘Have you always painted?’
‘On and off.’
‘Just landscapes and architecture?’
‘Mainly.’

‘I want to surrender myself to you completely, Livy. I want to be yours. You are my perfect.’

‘I don’t understand. You’re so pure and beautiful to the core. I love that.’
‘Alcohol got me through it. I was just there in body. But I couldn’t stop. I kept thinking there had to be more, something I was missing.’
‘Stop!’ He flies around and hammers me with an enraged glare, making me jump back on the bed in shock. ‘Any man who’s done anything less than worship you should be fucking shot!’

‘You’re my sweet girl.’
‘You’re mistaken.’
‘No, you’re mine, Livy,’ he asserts, almost showing annoyance.
‘I don’t mean that,’

I make sure I take care of what’s mine.’ He reaches forward and pinches my nipple, making me jerk on top of him. ‘And you are now mine, Olivia Taylor.’
‘I am?’ I sound shocked, but I’m secretly delighted. I want to be possessed by him every moment of every day.
‘Yes,’ he says simply, taking my waist and pulling me down until our foreheads meet. ‘You are also my habit.’
‘I’m a habit?’
‘You’re an addictive habit.’ He kisses my nose. ‘A habit that I never plan on giving up.’

‘I work hard. I’m emotionally and physically drained by it. I want to have you to worship and indulge in when I’m done.’
‘I think you might be referring to a relationship,’ I whisper.
‘Call it what you like. I want you to be at my disposal.’
I’m horrified, delighted . . . unsure. For a man who’s so articulate, he has a pretty strange way with words. ‘I think I’d like to call it a relationship,’