“Run.” A gruesome look passed over my face and Bane chuckled. “It’s relaxing.”
“If you say so. I tried that once and thought my lungs were going to burst from lack of oxygen. Running and I aren’t a mix.” I folded my legs underneath me to get more comfortable.
Bane mimicked my relaxed posture. “It takes some training.”
It was hard to concentrate as the outline of his defined abs became more defined through his snug shirt. Stay on track, Maren. Talk. He’s paying you to talk. “Okay, what’s your favorite junk food?”
“What’s yours?”
Ugh, he had a way of out-maneuvering any personal question asked. I wondered if that was a defense mechanism. “Without a doubt, cheesecake. I could live without everything else in my life … except that.”
Unexpected laughter came from Bane, which made me smile. He had a deep laugh and the matching smile enhanced his handsome features. From the stiffness of his posture at Discrete Encounters when we first met, Bane didn’t seem like the type who laughed much. Me being able to make him laugh pleased me more than it should.
I gave a slight playful pout. “Your turn.”
“My junk food of choice would be Cheetos.”
Bane’s phone rung before I had a chance to comment. Answering, he said, “Yes. Okay.” There was a long lingering silence. “Give me an hour. No problem. Thanks.”
Hanging up the phone, I knew our time was over and I was disappointed. “I need to leave. I’ve booked you for the next month if you’re up for more talking.”
I had no idea that my month was filled. Jewel only mentioned I had a date tonight, and I wondered why that large detail was left out. First, I needed to understand what Bane wanted from me. This was not normal. “Why?”
I wrung my hands in front of me as Bane watched me closely—caressing me with one sweep of my body.
“Because you have no expectations. I enjoy it and I haven’t let myself enjoy anything in a long time.”
Whoa.
Biting my lip, I tried to determine what I should do. Bane stood. “Maren, there’s no strings. No pressure. We can meet here again if you want to keep up the illusion until you figure out how you want to handle things with your brother.”
Bane figured so much out about me in the short time span of talking. “What are you expecting from me?”
Another long pause, but the way Bane’s eyes burned through me had my body temperature rising. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”
I wasn’t sure what to say. “Thanks. I’ll think about it.”
For a split second, his brow furrowed, but the blank mask quickly went back into place. “Sounds good. I guess tomorrow we’ll see.”
Without another word, he left the room. I sat there, figuring out what in the world Bane wanted and if I thought he told the truth. Earning the money couldn’t be as simple as it seemed. Nothing was that easy in life.
SHIT. ALL I thought about was Maren since I’d left the hotel room yesterday. I knew I was distracted and that was a bad thing. Jeremy, friend and head of security for my former employer, Damien Wales, needed an in depth review of a man wanting to meet with Damien for a new business venture.
All had come back clear.
From time to time, I helped Jeremy out when things got busier for the Wales. Football season was always stressful. So many people to watch and control. And of course, Damien wanted his family with him as much as possible when he was at the games. They had a private suite at the stadium, which helped. At some point, I needed to stop by and see them again. It’d been awhile.
Tossing my keys to the valet, I gave him my name. “Bradley. Room 2314.”
“Yes, sir.”
As I approached the elevator, I pushed an excited energy away and ignored it. The feeling felt foreign, nearly unrecognizable. There was no doubt, Maren was a fresh breath of air. A nice change. Someone I wanted more time with. But … that’s where it ended. Money wasn’t an issue, but eventually I’d have to break this habit so as not to endanger her. I never wanted anyone to think there was anything I couldn’t live without. If they found out … that person would have a death sentence, like Jasmine and Faith. I reminded myself of those final moments.
The best thing I could do was turn around and leave, but I couldn’t. And that scared me. Maybe if I indulged the craving, it would vanish. If not, I’d force myself to stop.
As I hit the button for the twenty-third floor, I wondered if Maren would come today. She was hard to read, which I guess would be the pot calling the kettle black. In the Discrete Encounters kitchen, Maren had been flirting, and yesterday she was a different girl completely. As I thought about her junk food question, a slight smile crept on my face.
There were a million different things I figured she’d ask before that. I’d been expecting something more personal. That alone made me want to get to know her some. For now, she wasn’t giving me that moony-eyed giggly shit that girls do when they wanted something more. In fact, Maren had been pretty adamant about no sex. Though my dick wouldn’t mind some relief if she changed her mind. As long as whatever this became over the next month didn’t become complicated. I didn’t do complicated when it came to people.