Page 19 of Wreck Me

SCARLETT

The room is twenty feet wide in each direction. In the centre is a small circular podium made of shiny black marble, complete with a centrally positioned chrome pole. Lilac uplighters line the circumference. A huge ivory leather couch lies against the far wall. Candles dot the perimeter. A sensual beat plays through carefully positioned speakers, but at a lower volume than in the main lounge.

‘Thank you,’ I say to James.

‘For saving you from Cole? Don’t be. It was my pleasure.’ He loosens his crimson silk tie and undoes his top button. My eyes fall to the smattering of dark hair contrasting his crisp, white shirt.

I step up onto the podium. It’s what I’m being paid to do after all.

‘Wait.’ James sinks into the couch and raises his hand to halt me. ‘Have a drink with me.’ He motions to the space next to him. ‘I enjoyed our chat the other night, before you ran out on me, that is.’ He smooths a hand over his broad chest. ‘I’d like to continue the conversation, if that’s alright with you?’

I pause for a beat and suck in a breath before nodding. For fifty grand, I can’t exactly refuse, can I? I step off the edge of the podium towards the sofa.

‘Tell me, Scarlett,’ he beckons me closer with a single index finger, ‘why are you still a virgin? Is it a religious thing?’ he persists, manspreading across the leather.

I stand in front of him. If I were to take a step closer I’d be between his open thighs. ‘No.’

‘Are you saving yourself for marriage?’ Big black eyes bore through me, like he’s searching for my soul beneath my skin.

‘No.’ I shake my head. ‘I’m not sure I even believe in marriage,’ I admit.

He arches an eyebrow. ‘We have that in common. Tying myself to someone forever isn't a prospect I’m comfortable with.’

‘Yeah, until death do us part doesn’t do a lot for me either.’ It certainly didn't do a lot for my mother.

His chuckle rumbles through the air. ‘I knew I liked you.’

‘Thank you, I guess.’ His compliment stirs something in my stomach. I smooth a hand across it and watch as his eyes follow the movement.

His eyes dart up again, a startled expression hijacking his features. ‘Youareinto men?’

I swallow down another laugh. ‘Yes, but I’ve been avoiding them, mostly,’ I admit.

‘Why?’ Thick eyebrows knit together.

My eyelids flutter closed as I force away the memories. ‘It’s a long story. One I’d rather not go into.’ And one he’d probably rather not hear about, given the rivalry between the O’Connors and Becketts is notorious.

His knuckles graze over his stubble contemplatively.

‘I know it’s weird that I’ve never…’ I raise my hands.

‘It’s not weird. It’s fucking wonderful.’ His espresso-coloured eyes glint. ‘I’m just surprised none of those college boys…’

An image of Shane Stenson flashes into my mind. Like he can sense it, James’s lips purse together in a tight line. ‘Ah, so there is a college boy. Tell me, Scarlett, who is he?’

I swallow hard feeling ridiculously guilty all of a sudden. ‘No one. There was a guy once. We kissed in the campus nightclub. That was all.’

James’s jaw clenches.

Why did I even admit that?

‘I don’t have billions in the bank,’ I say, lifting my palm. ‘I don’t have a business. I don’t have a family, not anymore anyway.’

A curious look crosses his face but he doesn’t interrupt my flow.

‘But what I do have is that part of myself. And when I give it away, it’ll be because I want to, not because society thinks I should, not because a college boy thinks I should, and certainly not for money.’ My tone is unwavering.

‘I respect that more than you’ll ever know.’ His eyes bore into mine.

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