Tell Me You Want Me (Search and Seduce, #2)(20)
“It was one night,” she reassured herself as much as Natalie. “And he has ulterior motives. I guess he has to train me for six more hours to get recertified.”
“That’s great.”
“No, it’s not. I did my training. I don’t need more.”
“Really? What about a different kind of training?” She winked, and Michelle was starting to wonder if she shouldn’t have disclosed her obsessive list-making habit to her friend. “You want experiences and to cross off some of those wild wants from your sexy list. Dex is your man. Besides, your douche of an ex made you feel crappy and contained all the time, right? This is the first time I’ve seen you act happy and confident. Maybe Dex did teach you a thing or two.”
Oh, he definitely had. But that didn’t mean she should keep seeing him.
“It’s not a good idea.”
“I disagree,” Natalie said. “If Dex has ulterior motives, then so should you. He needs his hours? You need to be adventurous.”
There was that word again. But Natalie was trying to be supportive. And the truth was, last night with Dex had unleashed her inner wild side, and that was fun. Just like he was.
“Dex is a powerful guy, so use your power back. Maybe take this time to explore your wants and desires. Give in to all the things you want to be and feel. Why not?”
Michelle opened her mouth to argue that this was terrible, but nothing came out. Because…yeah…why not?
Dex knew what this was. Which was casual. He wanted something from her; she could get something from him.
Why not?
“Six hours isn’t really a commitment, right?” she asked for clarification.
Natalie just raised a brow. “Honey, six hours isn’t even a work day. It’s all about finding what you really want and using him to get it. Maybe six hours is the perfect amount of time.”
And wasn’t that like her training. Using the tools around her to make life better. He was using her to get his recertification. This could be an exchange of sorts. No feelings or promises or complications. She would have a chance to practice taking control and feeling alive. Getting a little dirty…like last night. And Dex was a perfect tool in a lot of ways.
She glanced around her small shop and thought of a few things she could use Dex for. Especially since he was using her for hours.
A light feeling spread throughout her entire body.
Maybe she could use this situation to her advantage after all.
It was nine o’clock at night, and Dex walked up to the one place he never thought he’d enter. A boutique.
Michelle had called earlier, asking him to come by after her shop closed and discuss this arrangement of “needing hours.”
He knew from the beginning this was a bad idea. When he was talking with Gage: bad idea. When he’d gone over to Michelle’s house to propose the plan: bad idea. But that damn list was driving him crazy.
It was bad enough that he knew a few desires she had. He could even handle knowing some of the kinkier ones. But when he saw that she’d scratched off some—the things they’d done—and then added more, something had clicked.
He’d stood in her doorway and knew right then that she was on a mission to experience, among other things, sex. And at least for that list of hers, he wanted to be the guy to give those experiences to her.
Why? One, because she was hot as hell, and after the other night with her, he still couldn’t get the feel of her out of his mind.
Two, he’d glimpsed the wounded, vulnerable side of her. And he’d be damned if he let her go off with some stranger who would take advantage of her. Someone who’d hurt her. If she was going to check off all those adventures on her list, at least he could make sure she had fun without getting hurt.
Besides, he needed his damn hours.
He could keep their affair casual, and they could both walk away getting what they needed. Didn’t mean he liked the woman. Actually, he hated her kind of people. Wealthy and uptight. Dex got a sick thrill making that sexy mouth of hers beg for him while he issued the commands. She wasn’t so high and mighty when she was under him. Literally.
He could keep his goal in sight, get his hours, get her list tackled, and be a happy man on his way. Because truth was, deep down, the thought of another man fulfilling that list bothered him. A lot of men would take advantage of what she was offering. Use her up and spit her out. Dex would give her pleasure on her terms, the temporary kind women like her always wanted from him.
So there it was. For the good of his career, he’d train the sexy vixen that had a secret wild side. Yeah…it was hard being him.
Tonight was pretty dead, and the curtains over the windows of her boutique were drawn, but a low light glowed behind the shop.
Dex opened the door. The sign said CLOSED, but the door was unlocked.
As he opened the door, he saw a few women still inside, making their way to the register.
He stepped in. It smelled like Michelle. Lilacs and sunshine and femininity. And there was so much stuff. Classy and elegant stuff. Pops of color and clothing against light cream walls with well-organized racks of various fashions of silk and lace and holy shit—he walked farther in toward the back and there was a small circular table full of bras, panties, and so much lacy barely there lingerie that he got hard just thinking of Michelle donning a piece.