“Do you?” His voice was urgent. “Do you think you’ll be able to go to the brink of the hottest orgasm of your life and step away?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?” His eyes narrowed and he smiled slowly. “You don’t know.” He laughed slowly, the sound coming from the depths of his throat. It was hearty and seductive and I stared at him in wonder. “Oh, Meg. You’re lucky you’re with a man and not a boy. You may not know, but I do. I will have you screaming for me to take you.”
“No, you won’t.” I whispered.
“Are you arguing with me?” He cocked his head.
“No.” I shook my head. “But I won’t be begging or screaming.”
“Is that a challenge?”
“No.”
“It’s a challenge.” His eyes lit up. “I will have you begging me and screaming for me to f**k you. And then I will wait. I will wait until you can’t stand it anymore and then I will give you the best f**king of your life.”
“Yeah right.” I swallowed and stepped back, so that my back was against the door again. “I wouldn’t hold your breath.”
“I can tell you’ve never been with a real man before, Meg. Or you wouldn’t doubt my ability to take you to the brink of heaven and make it hell.”
“So you’re telling me you’re the devil?”
“I already told you, you shouldn’t play with fire.”
“Are you a good guy or a bad guy?” I sighed, suddenly overwhelmed with lust and worry.
“I’m neither. I’m just me.”
“The wannabe comedian.”
“The wannabe comedian.” He smiled and bowed his head. “You sum me up so eloquently.”
“What’s my job here?” I spoke up. “And what are the other girls’ jobs? What’s going to happen to me, and to Nancy and to Elizabeth and the other girls?”
“I can’t talk about it.” His body froze and a mask fell over his face. “You won’t have the same job as the other girls.”
“Why not?” I frowned.
“You’re special.”
“Says who?”
“Says me!”
“What if I wasn’t special?” I stepped towards him again, fire in my eyes. “What if I wasn’t special? Would I be sent away as well?”
“Who told you that?” His voice was angry and he looked at me with sharp eyes.
“Who told me what?” I trembled with fear. Had David been correct?
“Who told you that we send the girls away?” The smile was gone from his face and all facades of flirtation were gone.
“No one.” I swallowed hard. “But are they?”
“I’ve got to go.” He gave me another look.
“Why don’t you answer me, Greyson?” I reached out and grabbed his arm. “Tell me what’s really going on here.”
“I can’t do that.” He pulled his arm away and stepped away. “This isn’t any of your business.” He gave me a sad look. “I’m sorry, but you don’t want to know too much. I’ve done things, Meg. I’m not a good guy.” He sighed and shook his head. “Look, I have to go. If you don’t think you can handle this...” He waved his hands between us. “Whatever we have, it’s about sex, nothing else. You won’t get anything out of me. We won’t fall in love. You won’t get my secrets and confidences. This is about sex. If you can’t handle that, I...”
“You what?” My heart thudded with pain. His words sounded harsh and cruel. It wasn’t that I thought this was about more than sex. But the way he was speaking to me, combined with the look in his eyes, made me feel sick to my stomach.
“I don’t know what to say.” He looked away from me. “I have to go, Meg. I’m sorry.”
“No you’re not.”
“You’re right. I’m not.” And he turned around and walked away from me. I watched his back as he walked. I couldn’t stop myself from being that pitiful girl. That girl that goes after the bad boy and then wonders why she’s ended up alone and confused. I was that girl. I realized that I was acting like that girl. What did I care if all he wanted from me was sex? Who was he? For all I knew, he was a despicable human being. All signs were pointing to that. I turned around and took a few deep breaths. I wasn’t going to let him psych me out. And I wasn’t going to let him sidetrack me. His whole demeanor had changed when I’d talked about the girls being sent away. His eyes had looked angry, surprised, upset and worried. He’d looked worried. He was worried I’d report him to the authorities. He was worried I’d figure out the truth. He was trying to use my attraction to him to divert me. He’d made a mistake. I was now more determined than ever to get to the truth.
Chapter 2
"How was your day?" I asked Nancy casually as she walked into the room, a good thirty minutes after all the tests had been completed.
"Long." She sighed. "Very long."
"Figure anything out yet?"
"Not really." She shook her head. "This place is like a maze."
"You went exploring, then?"
"Kind of." She made a face, distorting her pretty features into a grimace. "I got lost."
"I wondered where you were."
"I don't think I can do this." Her eyes looked sad. "I thought I could, but it just seems too hard. I'm no Benson."
"Who?"
"Olivia," she said, as if that made more sense.
"Sorry, I don't know who Benson or Olivia are." I said almost apologetically.
"Olivia Benson is one person."
"Oh, is she famous or something?"
"Detective Olivia Benson?! She used to be partners with Stabler!"
"Nancy, I hate to break this to you, but I have no idea who Stable is either."
"Not Stable," she smiled, "Stabler. Detective Stabler. He was played by Christopher Meloni. Oh my god, he's so hot."
"Stable?"
"No, Christopher Meloni." she giggled. "Have you never watched Law and Order: SVU?"
"I have, actually. " I laughed.
"Well, Olivia Benson is a kickass, fearless detective. I wish I was like her, but I'm not."
"I don't think many of us are as fearless as TV characters always seem to be."