Chapter 13
Breaking the Rules
Melissa
The next week, I studied and spent time alone without any contact from Peyton. I decided that if I hadn’t heard from him by Friday morning, I would meet Bryce at the club. I knew I wasn't supposed to date, but I’d convinced myself that it wasn’t a date. It was simply friends hanging out together. Peyton had developed a pattern, and his visits correlated with his payments. When I received money, he received a service. By that standard, this month’s transaction had already occurred. If he stayed true to the schedule, he wouldn’t be back for another two weeks.
This time when I arrived at Final Stand, Raul was at the door and ushered me into the club. I didn’t have to wait or show my ID. He just slipped the white band on my arm and led me to the loft. A second bouncer opened the rope before I even uttered a word.
As I climbed the stairs, Bryce stood at the top with a drink in his hand. He was dressed even sexier than the last time I saw him: dark blue jeans and solid black dress shirt untucked from his pants. The first three buttons were undone, and a gold necklace hung from his neck.
Bryce took my hand and kissed my cheek. “I’m glad you came.”
He led me to the same table from the week before. I hadn't noticed the view the last time I had been there. The entire bottom of the loft was made of glass and allowed the dance floor and bar to be viewed from above. I often wondered how he found me in the back of the club at a small table if he partied up here. He apparently had the perfect view. We drank and watched the dancers below for the first hour, and then he pulled me close to his body. His arms wrapped around me, and my head fell to his shoulder as we swayed to the music. The club music was pumping loud and to a fast beat, but our bodies moved in harmony with each other. It was like we had music just for us. One minute we were dancing, and the next our lips collided, and passion took over. His tongue swept into my mouth, taking my tongue hostage, sucking and pulling it into his mouth. His hands moved from my arms to the back of my head and tilted it to have better access. His kiss was a match, and I was the unlit candle—together combustible. My heart was beating faster, and my panties had just melted off of my body. Someone called his name and broke the connection; he groaned in annoyance.
“I’ll be right back.”
“Okay.”
As he stepped away, all my senses came back. I realized the consequences if I didn’t get out of there fast. It would cost me everything.
“Bryce, I need to go.”
“But the party is just starting.”
“I can’t. If I get caught with you, I'll lose everything.”
A smirk crossed his face. “Oh, I can make you lose everything with just my tongue.”
Damn, why did he have to be so sexy? Turning him down wouldn’t be easy. “I really have to go.”
“Oh, Melissa, you break my heart and leave me desperate.” He grabbed my hands and pulled me back. “Talk to me. Let me help you.”
I leaned my head into his chest and inhaled; his scent alone made me weak again. He pulled me into another passionate kiss and was relentless with the attack on my mouth. His tongue worked fast as his hands pulled me even closer.
“Meet me tomorrow for lunch.”
“I can’t. I shouldn’t be here now.”
“Melissa, my sweet Melissa—please?”
“I’ll think about it.”
He took the phone out of my hand and called his phone. “I’ll text you.”
Fuck, I was in such a sex-induced haze, I didn’t realize Bryce used the phone Peyton had given me. I needed to get away fast before I lost my will to leave.
“Fine. Where?”
“I’ll pick you up tomorrow at noon. I’ll take you somewhere we can talk and really get to know each other.”
I knew it was against the rules, but I was so tired of being lonely and depressed. Bryce made me feel alive again. He treated me like Peyton did in the beginning—made me feel wanted. Our first lunch was simple and easy. We talked about school and our dreams. He spoke about his mother in Savannah, and that one day he would be the head of Montague Corporation. He told me about his childhood and that his mom had been the best friend of the corporation’s owner and his mother’s friend’s husband had groomed him from a young age to take over the business. He would return to Savannah after graduate school and in no time at all be running a multimillion-dollar company. He never showed disapproval of the fact that I didn’t come from money. He didn’t care.
It wasn’t until our last lunch that I realized Bryce cared about only one thing—his dick. Up until that time, Bryce had been one of the most charming men I’d ever met. He’d held my hand and kissed the top of my head like I was special. He’d never mentioned sex and never pushed for more.
Bryce always wore a gold chain, but this was the first time I noticed a charm with the letter “A” dangling from it. I tried to pick it up, but he twisted my arm back and squeezed tighter.
He growled, “Don’t fucking touch!”
“Bryce, you're hurting me.”
Just as fast as he turned angry, his demeanor changed again. “Melissa, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. It’s just that the charm is special. It belongs to a… friend.”
“Oh,” I said. “I just wanted to look at it. It’s beautiful. What does the “A” stand for?”
“Alexandria.”
“Alexandria? Who is she?”
“My fiancée.”
“Your fiancée?” WTF. You're engaged?” I tried to keep my voice down, but people had already heard us and began to stare.
“Melissa, calm down. You didn’t think I would marry a nobody like you? You’re a fuck—nothing more. You may be a high-priced whore, but you’re still a whore.” His eyes glazed over and his teeth gritted together as he delivered his speech about the type of woman I was and assessing my worth or lack thereof.
I grabbed my purse and left, crying the entire way home. Bryce was like every other asshole—they used people for their benefit. Even the first boy I slept with used me to help him pass his finals. Peyton used me for sex, and even though I didn’t sleep with Bryce, that was always his intention.
Every man I wanted to give my heart to was a cheater. But was I any different? Every man I slept with was already in a relationship. I may not have known, but I still was the other woman. And truthfully speaking, my relationship with Bryce was more than as a friend. We may not have had sex, but we kissed each other like lovers. I had to classify myself in the same category as a cheater. That was the moment everything became clear: things needed to change.
I went home to my apartment that Peyton financed and contemplated my next move. I wanted to be free from this contract and tell Peyton the truth. I may have kissed Bryce, but I never slept with him. I hoped Peyton would be understanding. I knew Peyton would be pissed even if seemed as if he didn’t want me anymore. Maybe we could agree to walk away from the contract with no penalties for either of us. If Peyton refused to release me from the contract with Infidelity, I would have to honor it for the next six months. But after that, I was done, and I refused to sell any more of my soul to anyone.
Once I was settled, I decided it was now or never. I needed to text him while my determination was strong. I feared that Peyton would wiggle his way back into my heart if I let him. I might have resented his treatment, but deep down I still cared for him.
Me: We need to talk.
Peyton: Monday. I’m not sure you will be able to speak with your mouth filled with my dick. I pay you to service my needs—not talk.
Dick. Why were all the men in my life assholes? I spent Saturday with my journal: I listed all of my decisions over the last few months and how I would do each one differently. Once I wrote almost every decision I’d made over the previous six months, I realized that everything was my fault. My dream became more important than living my life. My insecurities about never being good enough cost me more than I expected.