Page 4 of Tempting Frankie (Lust & Luxury #1)

Francesca

M y heart's pounding so hard I swear he can hear it. I try to play it cool, but fuck, the way Alexander's looking at me right now…his eyes are dark with hunger, roaming over my body like he wants to devour me whole.

And I would let him, I think. I probably wouldn’t put up a fight.

“You'd like to know who I was thinking about, wouldn't you?” I taunt, cocking my hip. “Maybe I just like making dirty old men squirm.”

He steps closer, boxing me in against a car. The heat radiating off his body makes me shiver. “I think we both know who you were thinking about, Francesca. Say it.”

His voice is low, commanding. It sends a jolt straight to my cunt. I'm embarrassingly wet already, my panties damp beneath my work pants.

My phone vibrates in my hand. The notification makes my blood run cold.

The literal worst time for this to happen.

Infinity: New match!

High-paying client seeking companion tomorrow night. Accept?

Alexander's eyes narrow as he glances at my screen. I try to hide it, but I'm not fast enough.

“Infinity?” he growls, his voice dangerously low. “What the hell are you doing on that app?”

I try to play it cool, but my hands are shaking. “None of your business,” I snap, shoving my phone in my pocket.

He crowds me against the car again, this time caging me in with his arms. The heat of his body makes me dizzy. “Oh, I think it is very much my business. Are you selling yourself, Francesca?”

My cheeks burn with shame and anger. “I'm not a whore,” I hiss.

“I didn’t say you were. Now explain,” he demands. His green eyes bore into mine, making my core clench. Fuck, why does he have to be so goddamn sexy when he's pissed off?

I swallow hard, weighing my options. I could lie, but something tells me he'd see right through it. And part of me...part of me wants him to know.

“Fine,” I spit out. “You want the truth? I use Infinity to book high-end companion gigs. Nothing illegal, just dates. Arm candy for rich assholes who want to show off at fancy parties.”

His jaw clenches. “And why the fuck would you need to do that?”

I laugh bitterly. “Because, unlike your precious son, some of us weren't born with a silver spoon up our asses. I've got six figures in student loan debt and three jobs barely keeping me afloat. Infinity pays well; no strings attached.”

Alexander's eyes darken. “No strings? You really think these men don't expect more?”

“I can handle myself,” I snap. My bravado falters as his hand comes up to cup my cheek. His touch is surprisingly gentle.

“You shouldn't have to,” he murmurs. His thumb brushes over my bottom lip, making me shiver. “Let me help you, Francesca. I can take care of everything.”

My cunt throbs at his words. God, the things I want him to do to me. But I can't let him see how much he affects me.

“I don't need your charity,” I say, even as my body betrays me by leaning into his touch.

He chuckles, low and dangerous. “Oh sweetheart, it's not charity I'm offering.”

“So, what exactly are you offering, then?” I ask, my voice embarrassingly breathy.

His lips brush my ear as he growls, “Exclusivity. I'll pay off every cent of your debt. Handle your rent, bills, whatever you need. I’ll pay for your time. All of it.”

My cunt clenches at his possessive tone. Fuck, the things I want this man to do to me…but anger flares hot in my chest, cutting through the haze of lust.

I shove him back, glaring. “Are you fucking kidding me right now? You want to buy me like some prize poodle?”

His eyes narrow. “That's not what I?—”

“Save it,” I snarl. “I'm not some toy for you to own. I don't need a sugar daddy or whatever the fuck this is.”

“Francesca,” he says, voice low and dangerous. “You're not thinking clearly. Do you have any idea how risky that app is? The kind of men who use it?”

I laugh bitterly. “Oh, you mean entitled assholes who think they can buy whatever they want? Gee, I can't imagine.”

His jaw clenches. “I'm trying to protect you.”

“I don't need your protection,” I say, but even as the words leave my mouth, I know they're a lie. My hands are shaking, and I hate how safe I feel when he's close.

Alexander steps forward again, crowding me against the car. His hand cups my cheek, surprisingly gentle. “Let me help you. No more juggling jobs, no more sleazy dates. I have more money than I can spend in five lifetimes, Francesca.”

My traitorous body responds, clenching at his words. I want to give in so badly. But I can't let him see how much he affects me and how easy it would be for him to wear me down to a yes.

I meet his gaze defiantly. “Thanks, but no thanks. I'm not interested in being your kept woman or whatever the fuck this is. You literally just gave me shit for using Infinity and you’re essentially just like any of the men from it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I want to go home and get a decent night’s sleep before my date tomorrow.”

I try to push past him, but he grabs my wrist. His grip is firm but not painful.

“The hell you do,” he growls. “I'm not letting you whore yourself out to some random fuck on that app.”

Before I can think better of it, I slap him hard across the face.

“You don't own me,” I snarl. “And I'm not a whore.”

For a moment, he looks stunned. Then his eyes darken with a hunger that makes me throb.

“You're right,” he says, voice dangerously low. “You aren’t and I don't own you. Yet. But I will and then the only man you'll ever smile for again is me. Do you understand?”

The way he says the last part sends shivers down my spine.

He steps back and lets me go. I look at him for a second longer than necessary before I open my door and climb into the car. He grabs my door before I can slam it shut.

“Goodnight Francesca. Do make sure you don’t accept that booking.”

I don’t get a chance to respond before he’s closing the door and walking away toward the valet.

I start up my old Honda, the engine sputtering to life as I pull out of the Rosewood's staff lot. My hands are shaking on the wheel, adrenaline and anger still coursing through my veins. Who the fuck does Alexander Steele think he is?

I reach back and grab my phone, hitting “Accept” on the Infinity booking before I can think better of it. Fuck him. I don't need his charity or his bullshit.

The app chimes with the confirmation, and a smug satisfaction blooms in my chest. Take that, you rich jackass. I'm not some toy he can buy and own.

Merging onto the highway, doubt starts to creep in.

I shake my head, trying to focus on the road. But it's useless. All I can think about is Alexander's hands on me, his voice growling filthy promises in my ear.

I want to pull over and fuck myself with my fingers, but I resist the urge.

Instead, I turn up the radio, trying to drown out the litany of filth running through my head. It doesn't work. By the time I pull into my apartment complex, I'm a mess of conflicting emotions. Horny and furious and scared all at once.

I stumble into my shitty apartment, kicking off my shoes and collapsing onto my bed. Thank fuck, Kat has a late bartending shift tonight.

My hand slides into my pants before I can stop myself, fingers finding my clit. I'm so wet, it's almost shameful.

“Goddamn it,” I moan, rubbing tight circles over my swollen clit. It feels good, but it's not enough. I need more. I need...

The image of Alexander's face flashes through my mind. His green eyes dark with hunger, jaw clenched as he growled that he was going to own me. My hips buck against my hand as I imagine him here, pinning me to this cheap mattress and fucking me senseless.

“Oh god,” I whimper, shoving two fingers inside myself. It's not enough, not nearly enough. I need to be stretched and filled, need to feel owned and claimed.

I come with a strangled cry, cunt clenching around my fingers. But the orgasm is unsatisfying, leaving me frustrated and aching for more.

“Fuck,” I groan, staring up at the water-stained ceiling. What the hell am I going to do?