Page 45 of Hitch
After I untie her limbs, I straighten, staring down at her sleeping form. Tousled black hair stretches across her pillow like strands of fresh rope. Her wrists have indentations from the bindings, and I rub my thumb across the divots in her skin, knowing that she’s mine.
I could tuck her in, make sure she’s got that zebra comforter up to her neck like she always likes it, but I don’t. She’s a grown woman, and she likes proving that she can take care of herself.
But I do lean down, pushing the hair out of her eyes. She probably needs to cool down anyway.
I head toward the front door, locking myself out. It’s been a long day, and tomorrow is bound to be another, especially if I’ve got to take care of a seller.
Still, staying up like this is worth it.
As I start up my truck, I glance up at her apartment window, dark now. I exhale, knowing that she’s sound asleep.
I’ll never kill Reggie. Not over blackmail. Not over trying to frame me. I’m too impressed by her to give a shit about that. It’s probably a mistake, but right now, I don’t mind it at all.
I head toward the farm and keep the radio off, just like I did that first night I picked her up. Even now, when she’s not here, she invades my every thought. It’s like she’s underneath my skin, living there like a parasite. An addictive little one at that.
Maybe I am attached, but I don’t care.
As long as she knows who owns her.
Chapter16
Reggie
The entranceto the Double Take opens, and a tall figure comes into the light. It’s still early in the shift—barely two o’clock—but I close my eyes, shifting my body away from the entrance. Last night, I experienced one of the best orgasms of my life, and it’s whiplash to come back to work and see who decided to show up today.
Today isnotthe day to see my ex-sugar daddy.
“There’s the little thief,” Michael says. His hand lands on my shoulder. “Hi Reggie.”
My stomach sinks. Pins and needles charge my skin where he’s touching me. I shift my shoulder out of his grip. His gray hair is styled just enough to still look carefree, but from experience, I know he spends half an hour with styling wax to get itjustright regularly. On the outside, he’s a sexy older man, but god, if you only knew how terrible he was in bed.
“Hi Michael,” I say.
Another figure joins him—the new sugar baby. Her black hair billows across her shoulders, her blue eyes vibrant.
“Where’d you put his money?” she asks.
Todd shifts behind the DJ booth, eyeing Michael and the sugar baby. Todd stands up, sneering at them. I didn’t know what to expect after a threesome with my boss, but Todd’s been acting like nothing happened. I guess that’s the best thing for morale, and I’m glad for it.
Todd and I make eye contact, and he silently asks if I need help. I subtly shake my head and turn back to Michael. Michael likes to talk, but it never means anything.
“Do these customers know you steal?” Michael asks, raising his voice. His sugar baby curls next to him, putting her arm around his back. “That was ten grand!”
I cross my arms over my chest, gawking at him. I have no idea what he’s talking about, and it’s irritating that he’d get worked up over an amount like that when he’s worth a hundred times more than that.
“You’re worried about ten grand?” I ask. “It’s not like you don’t make that in a day!”
“It’s the principle of it,” he says, gritting his teeth.
“Why would I steal from you?”
“Why would you steal from anyone?”
“We were together for five years, and I alwaysaskedif I needed money.” I jut my chin toward his new sugar baby. “Did you ever stop to think that she took it?”
“What did you say?” the sugar baby hisses.
I ignore her and continue on: “Maybe she doesn’t know that all she has to do is ask for help and you’ll—”
