Page 59 of Playing Hard to Get

“You're fucking hot. How ‘bout I sleep here tonight?”

“Go back to your room. It’s late.”

“Don't wanna. I…” There was a moment of silence before the door slammed against the wall. “The fuck’s that?”

“Anna—”

The blonde that burst into the room had seen better days. Her mascara was smudged under one eye, her lipstick smeared across the side of her mouth, and her nose was bright red. The simple sheath that dangled from her lanky body was covered in golden sequins. Her black eyes found mine and pinned me in my place.

She turned on her heel as Mitch grabbed her arm. “You didn't have to go buy yourself a whore. You wanna fuck someone, I'm right here, baby.”

“Get the fuck out.” Mitch dragged his charge by the arm, pulling her out of the room. I heard a struggle at the door. Heard the door slam open before it fell shut with a resounding thunk.

I called out Mitch’s name but got no response. After sliding out from beneath the covers, I plucked my panties and bra off the floor and slipped them on. I worried my hands as I paced the length of the room. By the time Mitch came back, I’d fallen asleep on the edge of the bed, curled in a ball with my hands tucked under my chin.

“Viv, darlin’, you okay?” The soft caress of his fingers against my cheek pulled me out of my sleep.

“Mitch.” I didn't have time to stretch before he had me wrapped in his arms.

“I'm sorry you had to see that,” he whispered against my head. “She’s a horrible person and I never wanted you to meet her. I'm so sorry she said that. But I would never, Viv. I would never touch her.”

“I know,” I told him. “It’s okay.”

“Don't want you to go.” He nuzzled his nose against my cheek, kissed a line across my jaw. “Just want to hold you. Just want to be inside you.”

“When do you get home?”

“End of the week.”

“Good,” I said. “I want to take you out. Have a real date, just you and me.”

“I’d like that.” Mitch's lips moved lower, across my throat. “Can I take you home with me afterward?”

“You can take me anywhere you want.”

Mitch pulled his head back and flashed a devilish grin. His eyebrow cocked up as his hands slid down my back, right to my ass. “Anywhere?”

The breathy whisper that fell from my lips was the only thing I could muster. “Anywhere.”

“Only right we should practice first, yeah?” His hand tugged down my panties as his other tugged at the hair at my nape. “One last time before you go?”

“Yes!”

His mouth came down hard on mine as his fingers slid into my slick folds. Mitch took me, long and hard. He brought me more pleasure than I could have ever imagined, along with a sweet, sweet pain.

This man controlled my body. Consumed my thoughts.

Owned my heart.

14

Vivian

Our nights were full of passion. Our days were filled with learning everything there was to know about each other. And I’d learned so much. I learned that Mitch was the sweetest, kindest, most warm-hearted man I’d ever met. I witnessed him give his last twenty dollars and the shirt off his back to a homeless man in need. I watched him share his lunch with a stray dog and help a little old lady across a busy intersection. The love he had in his heart didn’t stop at his friends and family. He was full of goodness.

He made me want to be good. Made me want to build better relationships with my family. More than that, he made me want to build better relationships with those few people I considered friends.

A few nights after we were both home, I kept my word and took Mitch out on a date. We went to an exclusive Japanese restaurant and ate some of the finest sushi money could buy. We sat in a dark corner and held hands like teenagers. Our legs tangled together. Our shoulders never stopped touching. The sake warmed me, relaxed me, and Mitch’s hot body against mine made me ready for dessert.