CHAPTER 8
Rayna
I kind of dreaded going to work now. Declan was persistent in trying to contact me, and though a part of me wanted to just delete the threat altogether, I couldn’t do it. I did want to repeat the night with him as well, but I knew that it just couldn’t happen. For one, I was married. I knew that if I did anything with Declan, that he could end up in trouble.
I should delete it and in the process, eliminate him from my life entirely. I longed to forget about the night that we shared, but it played through my mind like a movie. I couldn’t escape the memory of our passion, and I knew that he was right about there being more than just sex between us.
James was home less and less. When he was home, he was an asshole and spoke down to me on most occasions while on other ones, he would hurt me. I was thankful that he didn’t want sex anymore, but his words and actions hurt me.
In a couple of weeks, when Declan messaged me I was at my weakest. My arms were bruised yet again, and I wore a long-sleeved green shirt to cover the marks, and some makeup to make me look less pale. I worked quietly, sucking down coffee as I booked appointments for escorts, just like any other day.
It was like any other day until I realized that there was a new message from Declan. I read it, seeing that it was the common words. He wanted to see me and get to know me better, but not as an escort. He wanted to see me as a woman, and I felt tears in my eyes. I saw him ask to see me after work and I felt my willpower fade for a moment.
I am off tonight at ten o clock.
There was a long pause, and then a message came through.
Really?
Yes. I get off at ten, and I’d be happy to see you.
My plan was to tell him that I couldn’t see him. I was going to say that I was married, taken and unavailable.
I will meet you at the curb. I’ll be in a blue Porsche. Thank you, Rayna.
See you soon.
I knew that I didn’t have plans for a good night with a future together. I had plans to end all of this for him and let him down as gently as I could. I knew that the sex was good, but I wasn’t sure what else there was between us. I learned from other escorts that there were sometimes emotions in a situation with a client and they apparently saw them again. Was there a reason that they saw the same woman repeatedly? Was it more than attraction?
I was nervous the rest of the day. I nibbled on a salad for lunch down the street, sipping soda to stay awake. I was casually dressed today in a cotton shirt and black slacks with some sandals. I didn’t dress up, and I knew that I had circles under my eyes today. I knew that I didn’t look good.
I’d accepted because I needed to end this, but also just to see the way that he looked at me. Declan valued me as a woman and a person, and I desperately needed that right now.
When the clock turned to ten on the computer screen, I saw that the night shift had taken over before I powered down the computer for the evening. I looked at the glass of the window, knowing that I was hopeless tonight and merely secured my ponytail. I locked my door and then the office before going down in the elevator, telling the security guard that I was meeting someone outside. I said good night and walked outside, noticing the sleek car waiting at the curb. Inside, I could see Declan smiling towards me, and I managed one of my own.
Declan leaned over to open the door, and I looked around slowly, just seeing the usual crowd at the bars down the street. I slipped inside quickly and let out a breath as he pulled away, asking if I was hungry. I hadn’t eaten a lot today and every day at the gym without eating well to go along with it was taking its toll. “I am. I had a light lunch,” I replied as I glanced over at him. He was so gorgeous, and I couldn’t believe that he wanted to be with me. “Can we be somewhere private, though?”
We stopped at a light, and he looked closely at me. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. It was a long night, and I just want to be in a quiet place.” He nodded and stopped at a little place on the corner, smiling as he asked me if I liked pizza. I loved it and told him so, and I watched as he locked the doors to the car and walked inside the glass doors. I sat back against the leather seat as he spoke to the girl at the counter that was clearly flirting with him before he glanced back at me. I couldn’t help but smile as he pulled out his wallet and the idea that another man was buying food for me settled into my brain. It felt so wrong but when was the last time that James willingly took me out to dinner without family being involved? I couldn’t even remember.
I watched as Declan took the two boxes from the girl and turned to leave, pushing the door opened as I leaned over and tried to find the lock. Declan chuckled as he pushed a button and unlocked it, opening the trunk to slide the boxes inside. This car didn’t offer much of a back seat at all as I looked back, enjoying the sports car. Declan got inside of the driver’s side and started the engine again before pulling away from the curb.
He drove us to a small house at the edge of town, parking in the driveway. I looked at it, noting that it was nice but not the mansion I was expecting with the car we were driving in. I gave him a look as he stared curiously at me. “What?”
“I thought it would be bigger. Is this your house?” I asked as I played my words back in his mind. “Oh, God.”
Declan laughed and looked forward. “It is my house. I bought it as an investment a while back, and it’s just me, so it’s fine for now.” Declan got out of the car and walked to my side as fear filled my head. What was I doing going to a strange man’s home alone? I didn’t know him well at all. He looked at me as understanding crossed his face. “You’re safe. I know how we met and everything but nothing happens here that you don’t want. We’ll eat and talk, Rayna. That’s all.”
I nodded slowly and got out, shoving my nerves aside as we each grabbed a box and headed inside of the house as I took one more look behind me. Declan unlocked the door and told me to head inside first, and I realized that it was clean and quite luxurious inside of the house. He led me to the kitchen and placed his box down before taking mine and setting it beside the first. Declan got some plates, and I looked around to see a glass bistro table against a window.
We got some slices and walked over to the bistro table as he asked me if I wanted some wine. I nodded, and he grabbed glasses and a bottle from the fridge before returning. “So why were you so set on seeing me?” I asked softly as he poured us each a glass and then looked at me.
I didn’t wear a ring since I knew our marriage was a sham. I noticed that James didn’t either. I knew that Declan would have no idea that I was unless I told him something.
“That was my first night hiring an escort, and it felt nothing like that as the evening went on. I wanted you from the beginning, feeling a connection between us from the start. When we were together in that bed, it was…mind blowing. I felt so much more than just a night in bed with a woman, surprising me.” He looked at me as I blinked. “How was it for you? Tell me the truth, Rayna. By the way, I like that name.”
“Thanks,” I replied as I sipped the wine and took a small bite of the pizza, chewing slowly. “I took the booking since the original girl was out on an emergency surgery. I was feeling a bit wild and told Lana that I would do it. She did a bit of research to make sure that it would work with you and…it did.”
“It took you weeks to see me. How come?” Declan asked, his eyes intent on me.
“I…I’m married, Declan.” I looked up to see the shock on his face. “It’s not a happy one or even an intimate marriage. It’s an agreement between two families and has been since the first day, but I suppose that I wanted it to be something more. In truth, it’s bad and getting worse by the day.” I looked at him again, seeing compassion in his eyes. “I was booking one day and saw his name as a client. He has no idea what I do since I’ve been making something up the entire time. It was later that week that I saw you.”
“You used me to get revenge on your husband?” He asked, his eyes dark and full of pain.
“Initially, I just wanted to rebel. I wanted to sleep with another man for the first time in my life with no strings. It sounded like the best way,” I admitted, pushing away my plate. My appetite was gone. “I was wrong about that. It left quite the imprint on me.” I shrugged. “I have been thinking of you as well, but I can’t see how this could work out.”
“Leave your husband,” he suggested, standing, and walking around the table to where I was. “You said that you’re not happy.”
“While he doesn’t love me, he also doesn’t want anyone else to have me. He’s made that clear,” I explained, staring at my cotton covered arms before he cupped my face to lift my eyes to his. “Declan…” His lips covered mine tenderly as I dropped my eyes closed. His lips molded against mine as I found myself returning his passion all too quickly.