Read Online The Escort by Harmony Raines - Free Book Online Page A

hard press of him against her thigh. He looked down at her, and where she expected to see him smile, there was nothing but longing and desire.
    When she went to pull away, he placed his hand more firmly on the small of her back, and drew her closer. It felt so right, she belonged in his arms. A sob tried to escape her throat when she wondered how many other women had thought the same thing. How many others had there been? Did he treat them all as well as he treated her? Did he flirt with them, make them believe he was in love with them, or at least lust with them, just so they would sleep with him?
    Closing her eyes she breathed in his scent. Making sure she would remember this moment for ever, the moment when she realised this could never be. Like Cinderella she had to flee the ball, pay him his money, and then get a cab home. Anything else was a romantic fantasy, and Max had learned long ago what real life had to offer, and it wasn't all princesses and ponies. She thought back to her boss, and how proud he was of his daughter. Max had never had that. Maybe that was what this was, her trying to buy the affection of a man. A surrogate for her father, who never told her she was beautiful, or danced with her at parties.
    The music was coming to an end. Before she changed her mind she said, "I'm ready to go now."
    His body stopped moving, other dancers kept going to the end, but he stared down at her, trying to read her expression. "You'll leave with me, right now?"
    "Yes. Let's slip away, so no one will talk."
    "I thought that was what you wanted?"
    "Not any more."
    "Then we'll work our way to the door, very slowly, and then slip out. "If you're sure."
    "Absolutely." She didn't let on that she was going to get in a cab and go home. Until they were outside.
    "Here's what I owe you for tonight. I had a great time, but now it's time to end the fantasy, and go home."
    "Max, I..."
    "Please, Dan, or whatever your name is." She tried to put scorn into her voice, but she couldn't. She’d known what she was getting herself into, there was no blame on his part. He had been upfront and honest, he was an escort,and she was his client. Nothing more. A deep breath to steady her nerves, and she continued. "I am not going to pay you for sex."
    He rubbed his chin with his hand, eyeing the envelope held out to him. His expression of self loathing was quickly replaced by an ironic smile. "I had a great time too. I never knew I would feel so bad about taking your money."
    "You have nothing to feel bad about. You fulfilled your end of the bargain."
    She stepped close to him, opened his jacket, and inhaled the scent of him, all male, before slipping the envelope into his inside pocket. Then she stepped away, and held her hand out for a cab. Without looking at him she watched one pull up to the curb in front of her. Reaching out to open the door, she was stunned when his muscular arm pushed against it to stop her leaving.
    "Max, the business part of our evening is closed. Now I want to ask you, if this had been a real date, would want to see me again?"
    "Don't do this. It wasn't real, none of it was real."
    "Tell me the feelings you have for me aren’t real? I want you, Max." His voice, filled with raw emotion, caught in his throat.
    "Is this what you do, hit on lonely women?"
    "No. None of this is what I do." He hesitated, and then shook his head. "I never expected it to turn out like this.”
    “You asked me what I want. Now I’m asking you.” She turned her body so she faced him directly, this was no time to be timid. “What do you really want Dan?”
    “I want to take you home, and make love to you.”
    She sucked in air to stop herself from swooning into his arms. If he had punched her the gut it wouldn’t have taken her so off guard. A hotel, yes she would have expected that. But home. Somewhere personal, it made no sense.
    “Max, please. Forget everything apart from this moment. Right now, standing here with you, I know I don’t want