Playing With Fire (4 page)

The
guy started to back away and he backed into Edward. Edward nailed him in the
face with once punch and the guy was out. Two other men dressed like Edward
picked the guy up and carried him off.

I
looked at Quinn wide eyed and nervous. I couldn’t think straight and my vision
was spinning.

“She
looks drugged,” Edward said making me look at him.

“I
agree, get Naomi and we will leave,” Quinn ordered and Edward walked back into
the club

 
I just stood looking at Quinn not sure what to do. “Thank you,” I said quietly.

“It
is my job, Miss Blake,” he said offering his arm. He looked beyond pissed and I
was trying to figure out why.

I
went to move and stumbled forward and he caught me. I looked up at him
startled. He ran his hand down my cheek and I was looking up in his dark eyes.
I wanted him to kiss me so bad I could feel his lips on mine.

“Thea
what’s going on?” Naomi asked hurrying out followed by Edward.

I
shook my head trying to clear it. “I don’t know,” I said suddenly feeling
tired.

Quinn
picked me up and carried me to the waiting car. Naomi slid in next to him and
Edward got into the driver’s seat. I buried my face into Quinn’s chest and
closed my eyes.

“Should
she go to the hospital?” Naomi asked sounding worried.

I
didn’t hear his reply, everything went dark.

I
woke up in soft sheets. I stretched and groaned. I had no idea where I was and
the night before was foggy as hell. “Sleep well Miss Blake?” Quinn asked
sounding amused. I sat up and he was in a chair across from the bed messing
with an iPad. He set it down and looked at me.

“What
happened?” I asked confused.

“You
went out, you were reckless, you were drugged, and you almost ended up with
someone you didn’t know,” he said sounding kind of pissed off.

I
rolled my eyes and stood up. “You sound like my father,” I growled as I walked
past him and into the bathroom. He looked a little startled because I was naked
except for the tiny pink thong and I made no move to hide my body from him. It
wasn’t like he hadn’t seen it before. I found and unopened tooth brush and
brushed my teeth and washed my face. He had followed me and was leaning against
the door jamb watching me. “You are a beautiful woman Miss Blake” he said
seductively.

I
turned toward him and smiled. I walked over to him and he sucked in air as I
ran my hands over his chest. “You are not so bad yourself Quinn,” I whispered
close to his lips.

He
pressed his lips to mine and his hands trailed up my sides. Our tongues touched
and excitement shot through me. He broke the kiss and tangled his fingers in my
hair. “You are infuriating,” he growled.

I
smiled. “Why?” His mouth was hovering just above me. I wanted him to kiss me
again so bad. I wanted to taste his mouth. I wanted his full soft lips between
my thighs again.

“I
do not want to do this with you,” he growled pushing me back.

“Why
not?” I asked batting my eyes innocently.

“You
are not my preference,” he growled and walked out.

I
scowled and followed him out. “How is it I am not your preference?” I asked
annoyed.

“You
are too confident, too sure of yourself, and you are not a virgin,” he snapped.

I
rolled my eyes. “You can only be a virgin once. How can that be a preference?”
I countered. I was a virgin, but I wasn’t telling him that, then he would just
want to pop my cherry.

“It
is possible and it is what I like. You are too much to handle,” he said
sounding exasperated.

“Just
tell me where my clothes are, I need to get out of here,” I snapped.

He
pointed to the chair where there was a sweat suit. I put it on and put the
sneakers on. He watched me the entire time not saying a thing. “Edward will give
you a ride,” he said as I gathered my purse, dress, and boots.

“I
don’t want one,” I said softly then walked out of the hotel room. I was
determined to be pissed off. I was tired of him sending me mixed signals. I
wasn’t sure if he was even sending me signals. It could have all been in my
head and that bothered me more.

The
hotel wasn’t far from our little apartment so I made it home in less than a
half hour.

“Oh
my god, Thea are you ok?” Naomi asked hurrying over to me and checking me over.

I
nodded. “I swear if I ever see that guy again I am going to crush his nuts,” I
growled.

She
grinned. “Are we talking about Quinn or the guy that drugged you?”

I
sighed. “Both I guess,” I said and flopped down on the couch.

“Girl
you need to do your job and leave Quinn alone. He is nothing but heart ache,”
she said matter of factly.

“I
know that is why this is so annoying,” I said groaning.

“Well
get some sleep because we have school tomorrow,” she said and walked off to her
bedroom. I did what she said and went to bed.

The
alarm was going off and I still didn’t want to get out of bed. I reluctantly
did and did my usual to get dressed for school. Today was a jean and sweater
kind of day. It was early November and it was chilly.

Naomi
was waiting for me when I came out and we made the trek to school. We were only
a few blocks away so there was no point in driving.

Classes
were the same as usual. I couldn’t stay focused. My mind kept wandering back to
Quinn and I was getting annoyed. I was relieved when I was leaving my last
class.

“Hey
Thea,” Mark, a guy I had considered dating ran over to me.

“Hey
Mark what’s up?” I asked not really wanting to deal with him. Somehow after
meeting Quinn, Mark was less interesting.

“You
want to go get coffee and maybe do some studying?” he asked sounding hopeful.

I
didn’t really want to, but coffee sounded good and maybe it would distract me.
“You know what that sounds good.”

“Awesome,
we can go to the Extreme Bean up the street,” he said happily.

I
nodded and we walked across the school lawn toward the coffee shop. I saw
Edward standing in the parking lot leaning against a range rover. He waved me
over with the crook of his finger.

I
inwardly groaned. “Hey Mark, I have to go check something on my schedule. Can I
catch up with you?” I asked hoping he wouldn’t question me.

“Ya
sure see you in a minute,” he said and continued on with the other students.
When he turned the corner I slowly walked toward Edward. The back door opened
and Quinn stepped out.

“You
know I have a phone,” I said trying not to sound annoyed.

“I’m
aware of that Miss Blake, however I wanted to speak with you in person,” he
said indicating I should get in the car.

I
sighed and slid in the back seat and he got in next to me. Edward stayed
outside the car and waited.

“What
do you want?” I asked trying to maintain a polite tone.

“I
received several high dollar offers for you. You will make twenty five to fifty
thousand dollars per date if you offer the full package,” he said calmly.

“I
don’t offer the full package,” I said firmly.

“Athena
this isn’t a time for morals to intervene. You would have your college paid for
in two dates if you would take your damn chastity belt off,” he growled.

“I
am sure I could and what would you be making off this? Double I’m sure,” I said
amused.

He
stiffened. “I wouldn’t have bothered you if I didn’t think it was worth your
while.”

I
scoffed. “It is still not worth my while. I don’t understand why a man would
spend that amount for one night with a girl. It is ridiculous!”

“I
agree but these five men are very wealthy and we have checked into all of
them,” he argued.

“Five?
You want me to sleep with five men?” I was horrified. I don’t know why I was so
stunned it was the business I had gotten into.

He
didn’t look like it was unusual. “Those are the ones willing to pay that
amount,” he said smoothly. He said it like I was just a business transaction. I
don’t know why I thought it would be any different.

I
looked away from him and shook my head. “No, I’m not doing it. If you have just
a date, call me,” I said and got out.

“Damn
it Athena…” he started, but I slammed the door before he could finish.

I
stalked off toward the coffee shop and didn’t look back.

Mark
waved me over when he saw me. I plastered a smile on my face and sat down next
to him. We studied for a couple hours and by the time I looked up it was nine.
“I have to get home,” I said and started gathering my things.

“Ya,
me to, I’ll walk you home,” he said as he gathered his things.

I
wanted to decline, but I knew he would insist. We walked silently back to my
apartment. I stopped in front of my door and smiled at him. “Thanks for the
coffee and walking me home,” I said and smiled.

“Hey
anytime,” he said grinning. He was a good looking guy. He had the boy next door
look. Sandy blond hair and blue eyes. They weren’t Quinn’s blue eyes. The
second I thought it I chased the thought away. I leaned in and pressed my lips
to his. He was caught off guard, but he kissed me back immediately. It didn’t
feel like Quinn’s kiss and I inwardly groaned and broke the kiss.

“Goodnight,”
I said quickly and slipped into my apartment.

Naomi
came in a few seconds later. “I think you gave Mark a stroke all the blood
rushed to his wee
wee
when you kissed him and he is
still standing there in a daze,” she said and grinned.

I
rolled my eyes. “Whatever,” I said amused.

“So
spill why don’t you have a price?” she asked watching me.

“Let
me guess he wants you to talk to me?” Somehow I knew he was going to involve
Naomi.

She
nodded. “Baby that’s a lot of money. I would have to do triple the number of
dates to make that.”

“I
don’t want the damn money, he doesn’t get it. I want to make enough to pay my
bills. I don’t want this to be a stain on my memories,” I said annoyed.

She
raised her hands in surrender. “I get it, you want love not just sex. You’re
one of those girls that needs to date, but I mean I have never seen you date. I
mean for your experience I would think you dated more,” she said quietly.

“What
experience, why does everyone think I have experience?” I moaned.

She
looked a little shocked. “The way you move, and talk. Thea have you ever?” she
started but didn’t say it.

“No,
that is what I am saying. I was taught to talk, walk, and move a certain way.
That does not mean I sleep around or that I have any form of experience,” I
pouted.

“Who
taught you all this?” she asked looking curious.

“My
mother, she was an exotic dancer and prostitute. A high dollar one. She wanted
me to be like her, but I wasn’t. I wanted to go to college and not make my way
through life with sex. She figured if she taught me everything I would like it
and become one anyway.” As I spoke I was digging through my bag now looking for
my phone.

“Thea
I didn’t know. I understand now. I will tell him it’s a no go and that you
won’t change your mind,” she said quietly.

I
nodded. “I lost my phone, I’m going back to the coffee shop,” I said and walked
out.

I
made my way back to the coffee shop and found my phone in one of the couch
cushions. I shoved it in my pocket and headed back toward the house. I stopped
when I saw the Lincoln parked in front of the house. I was debating going the
other way but I decided against it. Edward was probably lurking somewhere and
already saw me anyway.

I
went into the apartment and Quinn was sitting on the couch. Naomi handed him a
drink then scurried off to her room.

“To
what do I owe this pleasure?” I asked dryly.

“Naomi
informed me that you would not reconsider. She won’t tell me why though. She
said it was for personal reasons,” he said quietly.

“It
is,” I said smoothly and walked to the kitchen to get a drink.

I
nearly jumped out of my skin when I turned away from the refrigerator and he
was standing near me. “You scared me, why are you so quiet?” I growled.

“I
would like to know your reason, Miss Blake,” he said watching me with his dark
eyes. His eyes made me want to confess everything.

I
scoffed. “Why, Quinn? So you can sell that to?” I asked and went to walk by
him.

He
caught my wrist. “Miss Blake, if you do not like the business do not get
involved in it,” he countered.

“Then
I won’t be, consider this my resignation,” I growled and pulled away but he
wouldn’t release me.

He
pulled me against his chest and I felt my breath catch. He stared at me with
his dark blue eyes and I felt like I was falling in them. “You have a date
tomorrow night. Edward will pick you up at seven. It is a formal event,” he
snapped then walked out of the apartment.

I
sighed, I guess that meant I wasn’t allowed to quit. I decided to go to bed and
try not to think about him.