Little Black Book (12 page)

Thirteen

Rosslyn

Once Sebastian left the room, I let myself relax. It wasn’t that he scared me, but he
made me physically aware of myself and of him. The way my body responded to him was something I wasn’t accustomed to.

My nipple
ached, stinging from his attention, and between my legs was soaked.  Every part of me was hyper-sensitive. When I picked up my towel and rubbed it across my body, a tiny gasp escaped me.

I was alone. I’d listened carefully as the elevator opened and closed
, assuring me Sebastian was gone. So I let my hands slowly drop down my body, my palms rubbing across my hard nipples and weaving sensation into my lower stomach.

It wasn’t going to be long before I was begging him for everything he had to offer,
but the whole being paid thing was really messing me up. Not to mention, I hated it that he called me Jessica.

Who the hell was
this Jessica, anyway?

How could I get into anything sexual with him
, knowing he didn’t even want to know me? It all felt so wrong, but oh so right at the same time. It was confusing.

Not long after I dressed, Kyle stepped off the elevator. I could tell right away something was bothering him.

He
tossed his bag onto the floor in the corner and went to the kitchen for the food that was there when we moved in. Teenage boys ate more than grown men.

Reaching down, I plucked his heavy bag from the floor and moved it to the table so he could start his homework once he was done with his after school snack. A white envelope fell out of the side pocket and landed at my feet.

“What’s this?” I asked, sliding my finger into the envelope and popping it open.

“It’s an invitation to an art program that’s going on this summer,” he shrugged. “It’s not a big deal.” His mouth was full of potato chips, and his voice was muffled.

My eyes scanned the letter. The art program was distinguished—as in
, only thirty students in the entire state of New York were invited each year. And yet, my little brother managed to be one of them.

“
Looks like a pretty big deal to me. Since when are you into art?” I asked, holding up the letter.

“Since always, I just kind of always kept it to myself. Then Mrs. Gelding, my art teacher, busted me drawing in my notebo
ok. She’s the one who sent my work off to the program coordinators.”

I was flabbergasted. I thought I knew everything there was to know about my little brother… guess I was wrong
. “Can I see your work?”

He pulled out a manila folder
from his book bag and handed it over. Flipping through the art, drawings of New York City looked back at me. Lines drawn to perfection, and shadings in all the right places, formed an exact representation of the city. It was beautiful—more than beautiful.

As I flipped, I came across a picture which made my heart sink. There was Gran
smiling back at me, wrinkles filling her face with happiness. It was a perfect likeness—exactly as I remembered her.

“There’s one of you, too.” Kyle mentioned at my side.

I hadn’t known he was watching me and quickly swiped at the tear forming on my bottom lashes. I ran my fingers across the next drawing. It was me, and it was like looking in the mirror. Lines were etched into my frown, and my eyes were full of sadness.

Sliding the art back into the folder
, I handed it over to him.

“These are amazing, Kyle.
I can’t… I don’t know what to say. You’re simply amazing. You have to go. No, you’re going.”

And I meant it. It would be a lonely summer, but it was honor to be invited to such a place and with his talent, he had to go. Not to mention, with everything I had going on around me with Sebastian and the new place, maybe Kyle being tucked away somewhere wasn’t a bad idea.

“I can’t,” he said sternly, tucking his folder back into his bag.

“Why not?
I think it’s a great idea, Kyle. You could be the next big thing in the art world.”

He laughed and shook his head, his floppy hair falling into his eyes. “
I’d like to, but it’s kind of expensive.” He shrugged. “Like I said, it’s no big deal.”

And then
, I knew. Kyle wanted to go—he wanted to go bad, but like he was always doing, he blew it off so I didn’t get stressed out. Well, no more. It was time my little brother got something he wanted for once.

“How much?” I asked.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“How much, Kyle?”

He smiled sheepishly before giving in. “Five thousand for the summer,” he answered.

I swallowed hard
, trying to push down the lump stuck in my throat. It wasn’t going to happen. It wasn’t like five thousand dollars was just going to land at my feet, and as much as I loved my brother, there was no way in the world I was going to ask Sebastian for it.

I already hated the idea of
him taking care of us, which is exactly what he was doing. I felt even worse knowing I’d done nothing so far to earn everything he’d given us. Then again, it was kind of scary. What would Sebastian consider adequate payment for everything?

“I’m sorry, Kyle.
” I said with a thick throat. “I’m so very sorry.”

“No worries,” he smiled, before going into his room.

I heard his music start to play softly from his old radio before his door clicked shut.

An hour later, the bank card Sebastian had left behind, caught my attention. I’d forgotten all about it. I didn’t want to spend the money on the card. I especially didn’t want to spend it on myself like Sebastian had requested, but I wanted Kyle to be happy.

I called the number on the back of the
card, only to find the account had five thousand dollars in it. My jaw dropped. It was fate. It was so much more than fate. I had the money to send Kyle to the art program. Even if it meant not having anything for myself for the entire summer, he was going.

I called his school and made the
payment over the phone, telling the administrator I was an anonymous benefactor. Kyle already had questions about the condo. How would I explain suddenly having five grand for his program? It was easier to lie.

I could hardly wait to see the happy smile I was sure he’d be
wearing when he came home from school the following day. I missed his smile—the special one he used to have before he began to understand the cruelty of the world. I planned on basking in his smile, and letting it fill me with happiness while secretly knowing I was the one that put it there.

Later, I dressed in my
sexiest bra and panties—which of course were still cotton—and my nicest clothing, including the shirt Sebastian had bought me. He would know everything wasn’t new, but I’d deal with that, if and when he brought it up.

I met him out front.
He arrived in the black car Mr. Martin chauffeured. I liked it better when Sebastian drove because it was more comfortable. I didn’t have to worry about what Mr. Martin could hear from the driver’s seat.

Plus
, all the drivers and expensive restaurants weren’t for me. I wanted so badly for him to take me to a burger joint and a movie, but I kept quiet.

“Hi, Mr. Martin,” I said
when I slid into the car.

“Hello, Miss.”

I turned to find Sebastian angrily staring at me.

“
Why aren’t you dressed to kill?”

I looked down at my outfit
. Plucking at the front of my shirt, I acted seriously confused. “I thought I was dressed to kill.”

He didn’t find that comment as amusing as I did.

“Answer the question.”

I sighed and gave in.

“I didn’t have time to shop.”

“You
’re lying,” he said. “Let’s try that again. Why aren’t you—”

“I’m broke,” I cut him off.

“How is that possible, Jessica? You had five thousand dollars in that account. I know this because I’m the one who opened it. Where did the money go?”

“I spent it.”

“On what? I swear if I find out you’re into some crazy shit, the deal’s off.”

“No. It’s nothing like that.”

“Then what?”

“Kyle. He got into this art program for the summer. Only thirty people
were invited from around the state, and he made it in,” I rushed. “I’ll show you his work. He’s really good. I just… I didn’t want him to go without again.”

“So now you’re going to go without?”

“No. When he’s happy, I’m happy. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure Kyle has a good life. If that means going without, then so be it.”

“And
what about your life? Don’t you think you should have a good life, too?”

“My life is just fine.”

“I disagree,” he turned away, looking down at his expensive watch. “I’ll put more money into the account.”

“
No!” I said too loudly. “I mean, please don’t do that. I haven’t done anything to earn it yet.”

“Yet?” he lifted a brow and grinned.

A hot blush covered my cheeks. “You know what I mean. I just don’t understand why you’re doing this when I haven’t… you know?”

“What would you say if I said
I’d
do whatever it took to make sure
you
had a good life?”

“I’d say you’re nuts.”

“Then I guess I’m nuts,” he moved closer. “Very soon you’ll pay me back, and I look forward to that kind of payment.”

My blush heated
. “Do you have to make it so obvious?” I asked quietly, motioning to Mr. Martin in the front seat.

He looked at me with confusion before his face cleared and he started to laugh. I sunk deeper i
nto my embarrassment and into the seat.

“
Were you under the assumption that Martin doesn’t know what I do with my girls?” Again, he chuckled.

“Well, no. I mean…”

“Trust me. Martin gets paid the big bucks for a reason. He’s paid to act with the upmost discretion.” He reached forward and shook Mr. Martin’s shoulder playfully. “Isn’t that right, old man?”

My eyes met Mr. Martin’s in the rear
-view mirror and he nodded and smiled. “Absolutely, sir.”

Sebastian grinned over at me, before looking out the window once more.

“Change of plans, Martin. Let’s go to the other side of town and make a pit stop.”

Instead of the expected expensive restaurant, Sebastian took me to a
hole-in-the-wall burger joint called, The Pit Stop. It was on the darker side of the city. The outside of the building looked sketchy, and the people who were coming from inside looked even worse.

“Are you that embarrassed by the way I dress?” I tried to control the edge in my voice and avoided all eye contact with him.

“What are you talking about?” He sounded genuinely confused.

Waving my arm, I said, “
Didn’t you bring me to this place so I wouldn’t taint your reputation?”

“We really have to control your over-active emotions, Jessica. You’re either hot or cold, and while that might sound appealing sexually, it’s not when outside the bedroom. I didn’t bring you here because I’m embarrassed by your choice of clothing. This is my favorite place to eat heart failing, artery clogging hamburgers
.”

I didn’t respond to that. Instead, I contained my smiled and followed him in.

This time Sebastian was the one who stuck out like a sore thumb when we walked in. He held his head high as he moved confidently through the place in his expensive black suit. I covered my smile. The expressions on the faces of everyone around us were comical.

“What?” Sebastian asked when he noticed me staring and smiling.

“You look so out of place here,” I giggled.

He tried hard not to smile, then his dimples deepened and the side of his mouth tilted up
wards. “Trust me. I’m more comfortable in a place like this than you’d think.”