Chapter Six

She wasn’t ready for this. There was no way she could pull it off. Ms. Beaumont had assured her that her training was nowhere near complete, that she wouldn’t be asked to be an active escort for at least two months.

She had planned to collect her paycheck during the training period, and then sneak out before she ever had to go out with a client. Yes, she would sell her very soul for her brother, but if she could just jump through hoops and get out before she had to sell her body, that would be ideal. No such luck. The fates were against her, and it wasn’t going to happen now.

Because one man happened to walk through the doors, one man who wasn’t even supposed to have seen her yet, her boss tells her that she has one hour to get ready, and that if the client is in any way disappointed, it will be the last paycheck she’ll collect. Yes, she’d get paid for this job, as he’d paid up front, but if he returned her early, she’d be tossed out on the street. It was a lot of money, but she knew how difficult it was to find work. She needed more to ensure custody.

The money was good — so good. One week with this man — that’s all the time he had requested — and she could pay the rent on a place for her and her brother for three months. She could do anything for one week, she thought in desperation. But if she kept at it longer, it would be even better. She did the math quickly in her head. If she went with this man for one week, and then another man for a week, and so on, by the time she went to court, she’d have the bills paid for a year. And she’d be free.

The best part was that the paycheck didn’t show what she did. The judge couldn’t use it against her. It just showed she had a well-paying job. She could do this. Of course the judge would ask how she’d earned the money, and that would be difficult to explain, but she had time to come up with something. The courts wouldn’t find her a suitable guardian for her little brother if they knew she’d been working as an escort — an exclusive escort who wasn’t allowed to use the word no.

Looking in the mirror at a woman her mother would no longer recognize, she had to fight the tears that wanted to break free. Shape up, Jewell! This was just another day in her life, a day she would soon forget.

“Your body is just a tool to use. It’s not sacred. It’s not important. All that’s important is Justin,” she whispered to her image.

“It’s time, Jewell. Your ride is here.”

Looking through the mirror, she made eye contact with Ms. Beaumont. If she showed fear, the woman would send her on her way, and she’d have nothing to show the judge. So, with great effort, she swallowed her doubts and masked her emotions.

“I’m ready.” That was a lie — she would never be ready. She’d never be able to forget this day or what she had to do.

“Don’t screw this up. I’ve taken a chance on you. I know you aren’t properly trained, but this is a good job and there’s nothing to feel ashamed of. However we must survive, we do it. There’s honor in that.” For a brief moment pain flashed in Ms. Beaumont’s eyes, but she quickly covered it and gave Jewell her usual stern look.

“I won’t disappoint you,” Jewell told her.

“I have my doubts. Just remember that if he is unsatisfied, this will be your last job with us, and I can be a cruel woman. I can make sure you don’t find another job; after all, you will have to use me as a reference and I can ruin your chances.” Ms. Beaumont ushered Jewell out of the room.

Jewell shivered in fear as they made their way to the back of the building, to the area where escorts were picked up discreetly. A man couldn’t just walk out the front doors with a new girl on his arm every week. Someone might catch on to what this place was all about.

A large black SUV was parked behind the building. The driver’s door opened and a man with an expressionless face stepped out, moved to the back, and opened the door for her without saying a word. With one final, confident glance at Ms. Beaumont, Jewell stepped up to the door and climbed inside onto the dark leather. When the door closed solidly, she felt as if it were sealing her into a plush coffin.

Surprised to find herself alone, she let out the breath she’d been unwittingly holding, and leaned back, tugging on the hem of her short skirt as the vehicle began on its journey. Never in her life had she worn such expensive clothing as now. It was all provided by Relinquish Control. The agency had an image of sophistication and class to maintain, and their escorts could go out only when looking their best.

Not that she’d be able to maintain the complete image when the next morning came around. Yes, they’d given her lessons in how to apply her makeup, but she’d always just thrown on a couple of layers of mascara and some lip gloss and called it good. The paint they’d applied to her face had been an ordeal, taking most of the time she’d been allotted to get ready. There was no way she could make herself up as beautifully as they had. She’d have needed the full two months of training and more to get up to speed.

It would be heaven to remove the pasty film of makeup, but then she’d have to apply the paint herself the next morning — or die trying. Ms. Beaumont had told her to not come from the bathroom until she was in full gear, makeup, sexy lingerie, jewelry. The props actually helped her. She looked at it like she was an actress and this was a role she was playing. So she would do her best to think herself into character and try to be the woman he wanted. It was all just so damn overwhelming.

At the end of the week, the director would yell cut, and then she’d be back to the escort agency, ready to audition for another script. Yes, she could do this, and she would give it her all. Making zero mistakes was the only way to survive until the custody hearing.

The SUV pulled away from Relinquish Control. As much as she loathed all this, she had to do what she was doing — this was no sign of weakness or moral frailty, no real reflection on her character, she told herself several times.

They hadn’t driven far when the vehicle stopped. Jewell just sat there. Should she open the door or wait? As obedience had been drilled into her head for the past week, she chose to wait. If she was supposed to get out, the driver would come around and open the door.

When he did just that and held out his hand to her, she took it without hesitation and climbed from the SUV.

“Mr. Knight is waiting,” he said, and pointed behind them.

The man who’d come into her alcove earlier was leaning against a small dark sports car. His sunglasses prevented her from seeing his eyes this time, and she was grateful for that. When he’d held her eyes captive less than two hours earlier, the sensations surging through her had left her stunned.

She recalled how he had caressed her face, and how she hadn’t been able to breathe. It would be difficult to maintain composure around this man, but she’d do it. She had no other choice. It was either that or lose her brother to a system that far too often didn’t treat children well.

Having mustered all the confidence she could, Jewell began to saunter toward Blake Knight. Her body language made it seem that she had homed in on him completely and that nothing else in the world mattered, though she was very aware of the door closing behind her, then the SUV driving off, and the noise of the engine gradually fading away. She was now all alone with the man who’d control her life for the next week.

Yes, fear lurked just underneath her skin, but she was surprised to feel some stirrings of excitement — something she wasn’t at all willing to analyze. She didn’t want to be with this man, didn’t want his hands on her, didn’t want to pretend they were a couple.

But she didn’t find him repulsive.

That scared her more than anything else about this adventure. She’d been told over and over again not to grow attached to any of her clients. She was to treat them like royalty, give them absolutely everything, but she was never to even begin to fantasize in the smallest way that any one of them was anything more than client and master.

The men who engaged her services wanted a lot from her, but she wasn’t expected to want or need a single thing in return — other than their money. That was the life she was choosing, and it was the life she’d accepted.

“Good afternoon, Jewell.”

“Hello, Mr. Knight,” she replied softly — this time she wouldn’t have the excuse of shock for not answering him right away.

“Are you happy to be here?”

What a strange question, she thought. Of course she wasn’t happy to be there.

“Yes. I find it quite a compliment that you chose me,” she said instead.

His lips turned up in a sardonic smile as she did her best to look into his eyes, or really the lenses of his shades. It bothered her that he could see every little nuance of her expression, while he was able to keep himself hidden.

“No. You aren’t thrilled to be here, but by the end of this week, you’ll be begging me not to let you go. I assure you that our time will be well spent, though it will end.”

She wanted to snap back, wanted to fire away and make a dent in his armor, but she wasn’t allowed to do so. She was supposed to stroke his ego. That was her job.

“I assure you that there’s nowhere else I’d rather be right now, and though I’m sure it will be a disappointment for me when our time ends, I will respect your wishes.”

“Did you memorize that speech from a learners’ manual?” He tilted his head as if trying to read her, trying to solve a puzzle and not quite sure how.

“Of course not, Mr. Knight. I find you very handsome.”

“Then prove to me that you’re happy I chose you,” he ordered her, his voice suddenly severe.

She had no doubt that he was testing her, and if he didn’t like what she did next, he might send her back. She almost wanted that to happen. Then, when she didn’t manage to sell her body to save her brother, it wouldn’t be because she hadn’t tried; it would be because she’d been rejected.

As soon as she had that thought, she felt guilt eat away at her. Justin needed her, and she’d be there for him even if she hated herself. Her brother would never need to know what she’d had to do, and she’d have to learn to forgive herself for her sins.

“How would you like me to prove myself to you?” She hoped she was making her voice sufficiently sexy.

“Be creative,” he said, still leaning against the sleek car.

Hesitating only another second, Jewell stepped forward and allowed her breasts to brush lightly against the smooth material of his jacket. That small contact made her nipples instantly hard, and her breath hitched. Maybe she wouldn’t have to do much acting with this man, because he created sensations in her untouched body that were unlike anything she’d felt before.

When he didn’t show the slightest sign that he approved of her attempt to be seductive, she leaned in even closer and ran her slender fingers up the sleeves of his jacket and then embraced his neck. She leaned forward and kissed his jaw, then trailed her lips across his firm chin and down the side of his neck.

Was she having any effect at all on this cold man? She touched the sides of his neck with her forefingers to test his pulse. It was beating rapidly. Yes, he wasn’t as cool and collected as he was making himself appear.

That gave her strength to continue, though she was far from a seductress, and she had no clue what to do next. She’d just have to listen to what her body told her to do.

She never got that chance.

Blake’s hands snaked around her and he pulled her tightly to him, then reached into her neatly coiffed hair, quickly loosening her locks so they fell over her shoulders. Grasping a handful of her hair, he forced her head back, leaving her far too exposed, and her neck a succulent dish for him to feast upon, as if he were a vampire.

This was too fast, too much, too soon. She wanted to pull away, but knew she couldn’t. This was going to happen no matter what, so wasn’t it better that he just take whatever it was that he wanted? They were in public, though. How far would he go with this? How far would she let him?

Without a word, he leaned forward and then his lips were crushing hers, punishing her for something she wasn’t aware she’d done. He didn’t ask for her permission to invade her mouth; he just thrust his tongue forward, diving between her gasping lips, while one hand moved down her back and then grabbed her derrière.

As quickly as he’d begun the kiss, he pulled back, and once her eyes fluttered open, she gazed at her own reflection in his sunglasses.

“You make me want to do things I shouldn’t,” he growled before turning her and leaning her backward over his expensive car.

He pushed his hand up her blouse and scorched her skin as he quickly moved over the mound of her breast and squeezed. The feel of his palm against her barely covered nipple had her coming undone.

“We’re in public,” she finally gasped, and he stopped, his lips turning down in a frown.

“Forget where we are,” he said, and he leaned down and took her lips again.

She was tense for only a few seconds and then the sensations washing through her made her forget where they were. When he moved his hand down to the hem of her skirt and began raising it, Jewell found herself in the throes of a desperate internal struggle. Should she allow him to break every rule of proper behavior and public decency she’d ever been brought up with? Did she have any choice but to let him do just that? No. Not according to the agency.

“Excuse me, but the two of you are in a public place. You’ll need to stop right away.”

It took a few moments for the words to get past the fog in her brain, but when they did, Jewell was horrified to realize that someone — a stranger — was speaking to them.

Blake instantly stiffened and pulled away from her after quickly tugging her clothing back into place. She was afraid to open her eyes, but when she did, she felt the color wash from her face.

A police officer, who was looking anything but happy with them, was standing five feet away and pulling out his ticket book. If this incident went on record, she would forever lose her chances of getting her brother back. She was doing everything she could for Justin, and she might have blown it already.

“I’m going to have to cite you both for indecent behavior,” the man said as he looked at Jewell with a trace of disgust.

“What indecent behavior?” she said before she was able to stop herself.

“The streets are not the place to have sex,” he replied coldly.

“We weren’t having sex,” she argued before Blake sent her a searing look that told her to stop talking.

“Your clothing was out of place. I’m not arguing with you.” The officer continued to write on the pad.

“I don’t think so,” Blake said, and that made the officer’s eyes narrow.

“Excuse me?” the officer said, as if not sure how to react to having these two randy people challenging him. Blake then moved away from Jewell and the officer took a single step back, and his hand came up to rest on the butt of his holstered gun. Was the cop frightened, or did he just want to remind Blake that he had a weapon? Jewell didn’t know.

“Get into the car.”

It took a moment for Jewell to realize that Blake was speaking to her. She looked from him to the officer and decided she was more afraid of Blake at that moment than the law, and so, without another word, she moved to the passenger’s side and climbed into the sports car.

She was surprised when she saw the officer’s lips moving but heard no sound. Maybe the car was soundproof. If Blake riled up the officer too much, she certainly hoped it was also bulletproof. Too nervous to look away, she kept watching as the officer and Blake spoke. Then her jaw dropped. The officer put away his ticket book, turned around, and started walking to his police car.

Then the cop got in and drove off. She hadn’t had to give her name, hadn’t received a ticket. Who in the hell was Blake Knight? If he could get an outraged police officer to go away, what couldn’t he do?

Blake entered his car a moment later, switched on the ignition, and the engine came to life. Without speaking, he pulled from the parking place, then jumped onto the freeway.

His masculine scent surrounded her, making her stomach clench as her desire immediately revved back up. When she noticed his fingers wrapping around the stick shift, she ground her thighs together and wondered what was wrong with her. This was a job, only a job, a job she despised. Being attracted to her client in any way made her pathetic.

“We’ll finish this later,” he said, making her jump in her seat.

“What did you say to him to make him leave?” She’d been dying to ask, but had waited until he spoke first.

“It doesn’t matter; I know people” was his only answer.

Jewell decided not to say anything further. She had no idea what was coming next, but whatever it was, she was sure she would need her strength. Blake Knight frightened her — and, sadly enough, excited her as well.

It would be in her best interest to remember who he was, and also to remember herself. They weren’t a couple; they weren’t even friends. She was his toy to play with for a short time, and she was sure he’d make the most of it, take every advantage.

And then she’d be another man’s toy. She needed to keep this sad fact constantly in the front of her mind.