Page 30 of Home Game

“No!”

“Do you have any other options?”

I wanted this so bad it hurt. I could sleep and shower. I could wash my jeans. But I knew firsthand that kindness came with a price tag. Everyone wanted something in return. That was just the way the world worked. I studied Ryan, wondering what he would want from me. At some point, the other shoe would fall and he would take his payment. All men did. There were no free rides in this world.

Although I couldn’t imagine what he would take from me. After meeting his agent this afternoon, I was certain I wasn’t his type. But lots of men weren’t that discriminating. A fuck is a fuck.

“What do you want from me?”

He gave a disbelieving laugh. “Nothing.”

“Bullshit. Everyone wants something. I fuck no one and a blow job is probably as far as I would go, but you need to spell that out up front. I mentally need to prepare myself for that shit. I don’t want to wake up with your dick in my mouth.”

Shock crossed his face. “I don’t want a fucking blow job.”

I had given exactly one blow job in my life. It had been in grade twelve. I had the biggest crush on a guy. He had turned out to be ajackass. He was nice until I had done the deed and then he told the whole school I had sucked him off.

I studied Ryan. It probably wouldn’t be too bad. At least he looked like he showered.

“Every guy wants a blow job.”

“I don’t want a blow job from you.”

That stung. He didn’t have to sound so repulsed. “Too good for me?”

He stared at me in amazement. “How are we even talking about this?”

“What do you want then?”

“I don’t want anything.”

“You want me to believe you're doing this out of the goodness of your heart?”

“Yes.”

I crossed my arms. “What if you’re some kinky fucker and I wake up in the middle of the night and you’ve hog-tied me?”

He held up his hand. “Stop. God. Please stop with the visuals.”

I looked around. “I don’t like a free ride. It makes me feel weird. So you need to be upfront with what you want from me.”

“Nothing.”

I looked around the kitchen. “I can help clean up around here.”

“I have a cleaning lady.”

“I can do your laundry.”

He rubbed his hair, making it stick up everywhere. “Why can’t you accept this for what it is?”

“Because that’s not how it works.”

Our gazes met. Me challenging him. He slowly shook his head. “Fine. When you are feeling better, we can talk about you helping out. Maybe my expenses or something.”

“What else?”

“Let’s get you on your feet. Then we can discuss that.”

---