Page 6 of River
“I have. But I was young and inexperienced too. That girl taught me the hard way that when you take a woman’s virginity, they get clingy.”
“What do you mean, clingy?”
“They put meaning into it that isn’t necessarily realistic. Also, virgins have no clue what they’re doing, so the sex typically isn’t the best.” Maximum scratched his nose. “I don’t want to sound like a dick—I mean, I’ve treasured every woman I’ve been with—but I have no interest in those two girls in there, and I already told them that I’m leaving in five days.”
“If you did, it didn’t seem to deter them. They looked completely smitten with you, and if they are twenty and twenty-two, they probably aren’t virgins. You might even be lucky enough to have both of them tonight,” I teased.
“Hmm… Now you’re just putting ideas into my head.” Maximum was rubbing his forehead before he groaned and looked back to the pub. “It’s actually been a while, so maybe I should.”
“As long as you remember to use protection.”
“And what about you? There are a lot of men in there who would give their left nut to take you home for the night."
I raised my chin. “I’m not a one-night kind of girl, Max. And besides, none of the men in there are my type.”
“Why? Because they aren’t billionaires?”
With an exasperated sigh, I gave a small eye roll. “I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to, River.” Maximum’s voice grew low and intense. “I’m so tired of seeing you mistreated by all those celebrities and aristocrats that you keep dating. Why can’t you just settle down with a really nice bloke who’ll adore you and treat you with kindness and respect?”
I shifted my balance, crossed my arms only to uncross them again. “Now you sound like Nathan. He keeps telling me the same thing.”
“You were there when he proposed to Serena on stage. You and I have witnessed three weddings this last year… doesn’t that make you want to find love yourself?”
My shoulders fell. Last April our sister Lumi had married Damian, and then in July our brother Atlas had married Jolene. Three months ago, in January, our other brother Nathan had married his American movie star at a small intimate celebration. This August, we would all be flying to the US to celebrate them again at a massive wedding party for the rich and famous.
“Of course, I want to find love, but it’s not that easy.”
“It would help if you didn’t pick men based upon their income but rather their personality.”
I threw up my hands in a gesture of resignation. “I can’t help that I’m drawn to monetary wealth. My therapist says it’s a childhood trauma from seeing my mother kicked out of the group because of her lack of money.”
“River.” Maximum took a firm hold of both my arms and dipped down to level his eyes with me. “We’re all fucked up in some way because of what happened in our childhood. But we’re adults now, and we have a choice.”
With a small pout, I shot back at him, “You have no right to lecture me. Not when you’re about to leave for the tenth time. We all know your philanthropic work is part of your guilt complex and nothing but a desperate attempt to make up for some of the evil that your father did in the world.”
Maximum let go of my arms and stepped back with his soulful brown eyes guarded, but I kept pushing.
“If I asked you to give up your charity work just because it’s clearly related to our so-called fucked-up childhood, would you?”
He didn’t answer.
“I’m aware that my preference for billionaires is related to my childhood, but it’s not something I can just switch off. Nor can I stop worrying that I might end up as crazy as my mother. It’s right here.” I tapped on my temple. "You know how hard it’s been for me these past years. The whole affair with Storm blowing up in my face when he turned out to be gay, not to mention that I lost that lucrative contract with the K.I.P. fashion house. I had to close down comments on my YouTube channel for over a year, and I’m still dealing with the anxiety it brought.”
“I know. But I still want you to find love.”
“Love!” I scoffed. “I get plenty of male attention, but honestly, no one excites me anymore.”
“That’s because you date men for the wrong reasons and vice versa. Remember when you called me from that date in Monaco with the German billionaire who flew you there to impress you?”
I sighed. “Don’t remind me.”
“You said it felt more like a business exchange with the way he requested that you wear a special dress he gave you and showed you off to his friends while at the same time cutting you off when you tried to speak. That’s not love, River.” Maximum’s chest rose and fell with a deep exhalation. “Will you at least think about what I said?”
“Ihavethought about it. That’s why I haven’t dated anyone in more than two months.” My eyes fixed on his elbow. “But it hasn’t changed that the men I flirt with are all… wealthy.”
“Then how about you challenge yourself? I’m not saying that you need to marry, but would you at least consider hooking up with a normal guy for once?”
