say?”
“What was it, Faith? Looking forward to Part Two, or something.”
Faith just shrugged again. She’d been surprised when the card arrived. It was the first Valentine’s card she’d ever received, apart from a hand-drawn one when she was eight from the kid next door. She’d known he’d meant it as a teasing gesture, but still, it had made her glow, and she’d put it next to her bed where she could see it as she dozed off.
Rusty sipped his Coke. She was pretty sure he’d done it to cover up a smile.
Eve caught her eye. “Do you think you’ll carry on seeing him after the articles are done?”
“No, we have a contract. Seven times only.”
“Well, not quite,” said Rusty.
Faith’s heart thumped. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve already done it three times on the first night.”
She gave him a sarcastic look. “Seven meetings, then.”
“You made him sign a contract?” said Dan.
“Yep.”
“And he agreed? What an idiot.”
Faith raised an eyebrow, aware of Rusty shifting next to her. “I didn’t give him a lot of choice.”
“Even so. What if he really likes you?”
“He does really like me. We’re having sex, Dan.”
“Stop reminding me. I meant what if he wants to carry on afterward?”
She sipped her wine. “He won’t. Come on, it’s just a bit of fun. These guys do it all the time.” She gestured to Toby and Rusty. “They’re always off with girls for a couple of weeks. You don’t go on at them about it.”
“They’re not you.” He caught her gaze and held it. His eyes were tender, affectionate, and held a hint of worry. “I know what you’re like. You’re going to fall for this guy, and he’s going to break your heart.”
Faith felt a rush of heat rise in her neck and up into her face. She made herself stay looking at her brother, however, even though she was acutely conscious that Rusty had stiffened. “No, I’m not. That’s what the contract’s for. Seven times, Dan, that’s all. We’re both perfectly aware it ends after that.” She sipped her wine again. “You guys aren’t the only ones who have needs, you know. It is possible for girls to have sex without the heart being involved.”
“Tell me more about these needs,” said Toby.
She thumped him. “Shut up.”
“No, I’d be interested in hearing more,” said Rusty.
“For God’s sake, you lot. Can we change the subject, please?”
They all laughed and Dan started talking about work, and Faith allowed herself to breathe out finally. She had seven weeks of this to get through. Talk about self-imposed torture.
Rusty moved in his seat again, widening his legs a little so his knee came to rest against hers. She didn’t look at him, but she was aware of the comforting gesture, the small token of support. It would be fine. They were both on the same wavelength, and there was no way Rusty was going to get serious about her, or vice versa. It was just sex. Hot, steamy, passionate sex, true, but just sex.
Chapter Seven
Rusty was already at the motel when Faith arrived the following Saturday, around six thirty. He watched her get out of the car and smile at him.
“Wow,” she said. “You’re early.”
“Couldn’t wait.” He came over and took her bag, kissing her cheek. “I’ve got the key and paid for the room.”
“I told you not to do that—my expenses will cover the cost.”
“Sweetheart, it’s the only thing stopping me from feeling like some sort of gigolo.”
She laughed out loud at that. “Fair enough.” She smiled up at him, and his heart rate increased. She wore a beautiful light orange halter top he could imagine untying to reveal her delectable breasts, and a floaty chocolate-brown skirt that was very nearly transparent. She’d caught up her lovely hair in a clip again, revealing her long, slender neck. Did she have any idea how crazy that drove him?
She lifted out another bag, which he knew would contain wine, Coke and probably chocolate, which she
“What was it, Faith? Looking forward to Part Two, or something.”
Faith just shrugged again. She’d been surprised when the card arrived. It was the first Valentine’s card she’d ever received, apart from a hand-drawn one when she was eight from the kid next door. She’d known he’d meant it as a teasing gesture, but still, it had made her glow, and she’d put it next to her bed where she could see it as she dozed off.
Rusty sipped his Coke. She was pretty sure he’d done it to cover up a smile.
Eve caught her eye. “Do you think you’ll carry on seeing him after the articles are done?”
“No, we have a contract. Seven times only.”
“Well, not quite,” said Rusty.
Faith’s heart thumped. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve already done it three times on the first night.”
She gave him a sarcastic look. “Seven meetings, then.”
“You made him sign a contract?” said Dan.
“Yep.”
“And he agreed? What an idiot.”
Faith raised an eyebrow, aware of Rusty shifting next to her. “I didn’t give him a lot of choice.”
“Even so. What if he really likes you?”
“He does really like me. We’re having sex, Dan.”
“Stop reminding me. I meant what if he wants to carry on afterward?”
She sipped her wine. “He won’t. Come on, it’s just a bit of fun. These guys do it all the time.” She gestured to Toby and Rusty. “They’re always off with girls for a couple of weeks. You don’t go on at them about it.”
“They’re not you.” He caught her gaze and held it. His eyes were tender, affectionate, and held a hint of worry. “I know what you’re like. You’re going to fall for this guy, and he’s going to break your heart.”
Faith felt a rush of heat rise in her neck and up into her face. She made herself stay looking at her brother, however, even though she was acutely conscious that Rusty had stiffened. “No, I’m not. That’s what the contract’s for. Seven times, Dan, that’s all. We’re both perfectly aware it ends after that.” She sipped her wine again. “You guys aren’t the only ones who have needs, you know. It is possible for girls to have sex without the heart being involved.”
“Tell me more about these needs,” said Toby.
She thumped him. “Shut up.”
“No, I’d be interested in hearing more,” said Rusty.
“For God’s sake, you lot. Can we change the subject, please?”
They all laughed and Dan started talking about work, and Faith allowed herself to breathe out finally. She had seven weeks of this to get through. Talk about self-imposed torture.
Rusty moved in his seat again, widening his legs a little so his knee came to rest against hers. She didn’t look at him, but she was aware of the comforting gesture, the small token of support. It would be fine. They were both on the same wavelength, and there was no way Rusty was going to get serious about her, or vice versa. It was just sex. Hot, steamy, passionate sex, true, but just sex.
Chapter Seven
Rusty was already at the motel when Faith arrived the following Saturday, around six thirty. He watched her get out of the car and smile at him.
“Wow,” she said. “You’re early.”
“Couldn’t wait.” He came over and took her bag, kissing her cheek. “I’ve got the key and paid for the room.”
“I told you not to do that—my expenses will cover the cost.”
“Sweetheart, it’s the only thing stopping me from feeling like some sort of gigolo.”
She laughed out loud at that. “Fair enough.” She smiled up at him, and his heart rate increased. She wore a beautiful light orange halter top he could imagine untying to reveal her delectable breasts, and a floaty chocolate-brown skirt that was very nearly transparent. She’d caught up her lovely hair in a clip again, revealing her long, slender neck. Did she have any idea how crazy that drove him?
She lifted out another bag, which he knew would contain wine, Coke and probably chocolate, which she
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