Page 53 of Highest Bidder

Neither did I. But I didn’t leave.

I sat on the edge for a second, then stripped off my shirt and slid in beside her.

She didn’t look at me, but she didn’t pull away either.

I wrapped an arm around her and pulled her against my chest, then kissed the top of her head.

I wanted to apologize. God, I wanted to say something.

But I didn’t.

She was my whore; I shouldn’t give a shit about hurting her feelings.

This was a transaction. Sex for money. Nothing else.

I closed my eyes and let myself believe it.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Vivian

My bladder woke me up, and I rolled out of bed to tiptoe to the bathroom.

Except the door wasn’t in its usual spot.

That’s when I realized I was in Jeff’s room, wearing the black lingerie I’d put on last night while waiting for him, and the events of last night came flooding back.

I didn’t even want to use the jerk’s bathroom, but my need to go overruled my pride, and I slipped in and quietly closed the door before turning the light on.

I’d become used to his cruelty; hell, I’d even been turned on by it. But last night had been different. He’d been angry because he thought I was acting like we were on a date.

To be fair, I could see how from his point of view, it could have looked like that. Maybe I had overstepped. But he’d handled it like a complete asshole.

His only saving grace was he’d seemed remorseful and had apologized in his own way. I knew better than to think he’d actually verbalize an “I’m sorry.”

I guess for a hundred thousand dollars, he didn’t have to.

The electronic blinds were open when I went back into the bedroom, and Jeff was sitting up in bed, reading something on his phone.

“Good morning,” I said softly from the bathroom doorway. I wasn’t sure if I should climb back in bed or go to my room and was hoping for some direction from him.

He looked up and smiled. “Good morning.”

Okay, so much for that.

I pointed toward the hall. “I’ll just go to my room.”

His mouth turned down, like he was disappointed.

“You can stay if you want, but I understand if you’d rather be alone this morning.”

No, I didn’t want to be alone.

I wanted to snuggle up next to him and have him pet my hair and tell me I was pretty. Because I was fucked up in the head.

Textbook daddy issues.

“I don’t want to bother you.”