Natalie just raised a brow. “Honey, six hours isn’t even a work day. It’s all about finding what you really want and using him to get it. Maybe six hours is the perfect amount of time.”
And wasn’t that like her training. Using the tools around her to make life better. He was using her to get his recertification. This could be an exchange of sorts. No feelings or promises or complications. She would have a chance to practice taking control and feeling alive. Getting a little dirty…like last night. And Dex was a perfect tool in a lot of ways.
She glanced around her small shop and thought of a few things she could use Dex for. Especially since he was using her for hours.
A light feeling spread throughout her entire body.
Maybe she could use this situation to her advantage after all.
It was nine o’clock at night, and Dex walked up to the one place he never thought he’d enter. A boutique.
Michelle had called earlier, asking him to come by after her shop closed and discuss this arrangement of “needing hours.”
He knew from the beginning this was a bad idea. When he was talking with Gage: bad idea. When he’d gone over to Michelle’s house to propose the plan: bad idea. But that damn list was driving him crazy.
It was bad enough that he knew a few desires she had. He could even handle knowing some of the kinkier ones. But when he saw that she’d scratched off some—the things they’d done—and then added more, something had clicked.
He’d stood in her doorway and knew right then that she was on a mission to experience, among other things, sex. And at least for that list of hers, he wanted to be the guy to give those experiences to her.
Why? One, because she was hot as hell, and after the other night with her, he still couldn’t get the feel of her out of his mind.
Two, he’d glimpsed the wounded, vulnerable side of her. And he’d be damned if he let her go off with some stranger who would take advantage of her. Someone who’d hurt her. If she was going to check off all those adventures on her list, at least he could make sure she had fun without getting hurt.
Besides, he needed his damn hours.
He could keep their affair casual, and they could both walk away getting what they needed. Didn’t mean he liked the woman. Actually, he hated her kind of people. Wealthy and uptight. Dex got a sick thrill making that sexy mouth of hers beg for him while he issued the commands. She wasn’t so high and mighty when she was under him. Literally.
He could keep his goal in sight, get his hours, get her list tackled, and be a happy man on his way. Because truth was, deep down, the thought of another man fulfilling that list bothered him. A lot of men would take advantage of what she was offering. Use her up and spit her out. Dex would give her pleasure on her terms, the temporary kind women like her always wanted from him.
So there it was. For the good of his career, he’d train the sexy vixen that had a secret wild side. Yeah…it was hard being him.
Tonight was pretty dead, and the curtains over the windows of her boutique were drawn, but a low light glowed behind the shop.
Dex opened the door. The sign said CLOSED, but the door was unlocked.
As he opened the door, he saw a few women still inside, making their way to the register.
He stepped in. It smelled like Michelle. Lilacs and sunshine and femininity. And there was so much stuff. Classy and elegant stuff. Pops of color and clothing against light cream walls with well-organized racks of various fashions of silk and lace and holy shit—he walked farther in toward the back and there was a small circular table full of bras, panties, and so much lacy barely there lingerie that he got hard just thinking of Michelle donning a piece.
“Typical man,” Michelle said, walking from the back room and into the showroom of fashion and beauty. “Going straight for the panties.”
Dex shrugged. “I’m a guy. And if you’re offering your panties on a silver table, I’m going to fucking go for them.”
He winked.
She blushed.
It looked like she was trying not to, but he could read her. Knew she was tempted by him. And he was more than tempted by her.
Tempted didn’t mean they liked each other. But now that she’d agreed to see him, he could get his recertification and enjoy her all in the same six hours. Then they could both move on and have some fun times to look back on.
“Thank you for coming,” she said and moved toward him. She was in that same tight black skirt she’d had on this morning, along with a form-fitting white top. She was smooth and crisp, with such a fresh face that no one would think she’d been on her feet in those sexy red stilettos all day.
“Let me finish up with my customers, and then I’ll see to you,” she said with a smile.