Page 13 of How We End

“You’re not what I expected,” I whispered.I wasn’t sure what I expected.I had seen his photos, but seeing him in person, there was something in the way he carried himself.He was guarded.

“What were you expecting?”Julian cocked his head, looking me up and down.

“I don’t know.Maybe fewer teeth.”He flashed a perfect smile that didn’t reach his eyes, which were a shade of blue green.And sad.

“What do you want me to call you?Anything but daddy.If you’re into that, I can give you a couple of names of girls or guys that are into that,” I said, walking back into the living room.My clients were rich, not handsome.They had enough money to make people believe they were attractive or forget what they looked like.But Julian Silver was truly an attractive man.

“Julian.That’s my name.”His eyes moved across the room, restless, like he didn’t quite know what to do with himself.

“Okay, Julian.”I stood in the living area, the large couch between us.He gave no indication as to what he wanted to start with.Some wanted to talk to make sure they got their money’s worth.While others wanted to get right to the part where I was naked and their dick was out.

“What should I call you?”he asked, cramming his hands in his pockets.

“Cassidy.You can hang your jacket over the chair if you like.Can I get you a drink?”

“Please.”He slipped off his jacket and hung it over the chair.The button-up he wore fit him perfectly and hinted at the muscle on his arms and shoulders.

“Whiskey okay?”

“Yeah.That’d be great.”He stepped further into the room.“Nice view.”He nodded at the large windows.

“Yes, it is.Here.”I held out the drink like some evil queen trying to tempt a brave knight to the dark side.Julian took the drink but made no move to get closer to me.I sat down on the couch.“So.”

“So,” he said, standing there.Not moving, barely looking at me.

“Is there something wrong?You didn’t specify clothing choice or how you wanted me to wear my hair.”

“Was I supposed to?”

“If that helps.”

“Helps what?”

This was weird.I never had to make the first move.Or if I did, it was because that was what the client wanted.“I can change if you don’t like what you see.Do you have a favorite color?Maybe blue?I could put less on, take more off?”

“God no.I mean, you… look very nice tonight.”He took a drink.

“Then why are you standing all the way over there?”

“Sorry.”He stiffly sat down.“You do look nice.I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

“It’s okay.”I moved closer to him, waiting for him to do something.

“Is this where we are supposed to do something?”

I shrugged.“It’s your night.You can do with it as you please.”Sex was a complicated thing.It could be taken or given.I never took; I always gave.

“But you have expectations, right?”he said, swirling the whiskey around in his glass.

“No.”I took a sip of my drink.“I’m here for you.Whatever it is you want.”

“Everyone has expectations.It’s better if we’re both clear on what they are.That way…” He stared down at his shoes.“I don’t even know what I’m doing here.”

“You don’t?I thought Jackson and Margo made that very?—”

“No.I know why I’m here.”Julian stood, voice tight.“I just don’t know how the hell I got here.I mean, I drove.Obviously.”He dragged a hand over his face.“But I can’t even do this right.”

I watched him pace a couple of steps before stopping.It was more than his looks that made him different from my other clients.None of them were worried about not doingitright.That was why they hired me.How I felt about their performance didn’t matter.Some tried, gave a couple thrusts after they came, thinking that was all it took.But women need more to get off, and most men didn’t try.