Eighty-One Nights: Beautiful Illusions Duet Book 1 Read online

My chest heaves up and down. I can see it moving in my peripheral vision, and my breathing is loud. So damn loud. I’m taken aback by the sudden and unexpected urgency that I feel for him.

  Don’t do this, Cait. It’s a mistake. Maxwell Hutcheson is a mistake. He will hurt you.

  Shut up, stupid gut feeling. I want this. I want him. To hell with the consequences.

  “Kiss me.” Make my fantasies come true.

  Half of a heartbeat later, his lips collide against my mouth, and I open to invite his tongue inside to meet mine. The two share their first waltz and it’s a slow, seductive dance.

  Our first kiss. He tastes like residual Burgundy and man. All man.

  His hands move from my hips, one to the nape of my neck and the other to my lower back, pulling me hard against his body. Through the fabric of our clothing, I can feel how hard he is, and it weakens my knees.

  His mouth leaves mine and drags across my face, hovering over my ear. “Say yes and you’ll have the summer of a lifetime with me.”

  “The summer of a lifetime, huh? That makes the offer very tempting.”

  “Tell me what it will take to make my tempting offer become irresistible.”

  “I need a little longer.”

  “You said that you’d give me an answer in three days. That’s tomorrow night.”

  “I’m aware. And I will give you an answer, as promised.”

  “How will this work?”

  “Cora will contact you after I’ve made my decision. If I decide to accept your offer, she’ll ask you to come in for a consult. That’s the first meeting. After that, she’ll draw up the paperwork, and we’ll have a second meeting to finalize the agreement.”

  “When can I see you again?”

  “You won’t see me again… unless we move forward with the agreement.” I like the little wave of panic that I see in his eyes.

  “If you say yes, when is the earliest that we can move forward?”

  “That’s all dependent upon Cora’s schedule.”

  “I’m eager to move on this as soon as possible.”

  “I see that.”

  “I’m clearing my schedule for the entire weekend. I want you to spend it with me at my house.”

  “You’re already asking me to stay over?”

  “I understand that overnights will cost extra. Cora has been clear about that and I’m prepared to pay.”

  He’s failing to see that my hesitancy has nothing to do with money. “We hardly know each other.”

  “I want to change that. I’m ready to get this stranger anxiety behind us so we can move on to the fun stuff.”

  Fun stuff. We both know what he means by that.

  “I’ll think about staying over. That’s all that I’m promising.”

  “I had a lovely evening with you, Lou.” He kisses my forehead, instantly changing my mood. The sweet, intimate action is completely unexpected and feels as though it has no place in the arranged-relationship discussion that we’re having.

  I watch him walk to his car, stopping midway to turn around and call out, “I hope you say yes to my proposition and to staying the weekend.”

  This beautiful man has a dark side that draws me in yet makes me want to run. But I know I won’t run. I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life, and I wonder how in the world that I’ve allowed myself to be sucked in.

  And there it is. I admit it. Even if Hutch doesn’t yet know, he has me.

  I take out my phone and choose Cora’s contact. “Hello?”

  “Cora. It’s Caitriona. I’m calling to tell you that I want to move forward with Mr. Hutcheson’s proposition.”

  “That’s wonderful news. I’ll contact him tomorrow for the consultation. Welcome aboard, Caitriona.”

  There. It’s done.

  I’m an inamorata. Officially.

  “THIS IS CUTE.” Rachel holds up a G-string, the back made entirely of stringed pearls. “You should buy this for your date this weekend.”

  I take the G-string from her and hold it up by the waistband. “Pearls in the crack of your ass? What do you think that would feel like?”

  “Dinnae ken but I think that I’ll buy it just to find out.”

  Nothing about that statement surprises me.

  I pass the near-nothing scrap of fabric back to her. “Let me know how that works out for you.”

  We browse through the lingerie store and Rachel stops, turning to look at me. “Are you ready to sleep with him?”

  I look around the store. “Could you say that a little louder? I don’t think that old lady at the front of the shop heard you.”

  “Fine.” She lowers her voice. “Are you ready to sleep with this guy?”

  “No, of course not. I’ve only known him for a few days.”

  “You’ll sleep with him if you stay at his place this weekend.”

  Rachel knows that I’m not a girl who sleeps around. “Why would you say that?”

  “It’s what he’s going to expect. It’s what I would expect if I were him.”

  “He can expect it all he likes, but I’m not going to have sex with him because of expectations.”

  “How much is he paying for you?”

  God, those words make me cringe inside. “I don’t know yet.”

  “You like this guy, don’t you?”

  “I like Hutch as much as I can like someone that I’ve only interacted with a few times.”

  Rachel shrugs. “Maybe you should go into it with an open mind and see what happens.”

  “Are you saying that I should sleep with him this weekend?”

  “I’m saying that you don’t have to rule it out completely.” She chooses a silk cami-and-shorts set from the rack and holds it up to herself. “And it might be a good idea to show up prepared, just in case.”

  Prepared, just in case. Translation: pack lingerie in case there’s some sexy time.

  She holds out the silky pajama set for me to take. “Purple is a great color on you. It always makes your eyes look greener.”

  I take the set from her and hold it up to myself, imagining the way it would look on me. “This is sexy, yet it doesn’t imply that I’m wearing it because I came to his house planning to have sex with him.”

  “Exactly. It could go either way.”

  I pluck a similar set in ivory and black from the rack, holding it up to myself as well. “I guess I would need a second outfit if I decide to stay both nights. A man like Hutch would expect me to wear something different on night two.”

  “Absolutely, but I also think you should buy something a wee bit sexier too.”

  I look up at Rachel’s reflection in the mirror. “Something sexier?”

  “Aye, in the event that you hit it off and want to go all the way with a bang.”

  “Buying lingerie for sex is premeditated. It’ll be like going in with the mindset that I’m going to do it.”

  “Not really. It’s no different than buying condoms. Doesn’t mean that you’re ever going to use them, but you always need them on hand for the what if.”

  Funny that she should bring up condoms. “He asked me to do it bare.”

  Rachel’s eyes widen. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

  “Not even a little. He wants the full girlfriend experience. No condoms.”

  “No fucking way. I’m putting my foot down on that one.”

  “He says that he’ll provide medical documentation regarding his health. Proof that he’s clean.”

  “Are you considering it?”

  “No.”

  “Good, because yer aff yer heid if you do.”

  “You don’t have to tell me.”

  I never even had sex with Cameron without a condom. And thank God for that.

  Cheating fuck.

  We migrate over to the section of sexier lingerie, and I pick up a pale pink baby-doll set trimmed with black lace. “This is sweet with a side of sexy.”

  “It’s very cute. And it would look awesome on you. Well, hell. Any
thing would look great on you.”

  I look at the price tag. “It’s cute and also very expensive.”

  “Think of it as an investment. If he likes the way you look in it, he’ll be more inclined to spoil you with gifts.”

  I couldn’t care less about purses and clothes and jewelry. “I’m doing this for tuition. For my future. As long as that’s covered, I’m good. I don’t need that other stuff.”

  “Tuition is a brill goal but carrying a new Louis Vuitton handbag never killed anyone.”

  I love Rachel but we have different objectives in life.

  “If I decide to have sex with Hutch, it’ll be because I want to have sex. Not because he’s paying me for it.”

  A wide grin spreads across Rachel’s face.

  “What’s that shit-eating smile about?”

  “I wasn’t going to tell you but…”

  I wait for her to finish the sentence, but she doesn’t. “Tell me what?”

  She giggles and smiles even wider. “I slept with my client last night.”

  Oh wow. I wasn’t expecting to hear that. “Really?”

  “He’s a repeat client. It wasn’t about the money at all. I did it because I wanted to. I like him.”

  “What’s his name?”

  “Claud.”

  “Is he cute?”

  “I didn’t think so at first, but the more time we spend together, the more attractive he becomes to me.”

  She takes out her phone and thumbs through her photos until she finds a picture of them together. “What do you think of him? Honest truth.”

  I wouldn’t classify him as good-looking, but I definitely see some sexy qualities about him. “He has pretty eyes.”

  “He does, right?”

  “I like his facial scruff.”

  “Me too. I like the way it feels.”

  “How old is he?”

  “Forty-four.”

  Yikes. Twice her age. “You’re okay with him being twenty-two years older than you?”

  “Aye, I actually love that he’s in his forties. I’ve always had a thing for older men.”

  “Rachel, have you landed your whale?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe.” She smiles and shrugs. “I’m the only inamorata that he sees. And our dates have become regular. We see each other at least four times a week. I haven’t been out with another client in over a month because he books me out weeks in advance.”

  “Sounds as though he has a thing for you too.”

  “I think he does.”

  “Was the sex good?”

  Rachel bites her bottom lip and rolls her eyes. “It was really good. He was very… attentive, which was truly surprising. I expected it to be all about his wants and needs.”

  Rachel’s client sounds thoughtful and considerate. Sounds like someone that I know. I suppose that it makes sense. A selfless person is more likely to be a giving lover.

  Hmm. That could definitely sweeten Hutch’s offer. Who knows? Maybe it could take it from tempting to irresistible.

  6

  MAXWELL HUTCHESON

  I’VE HARDLY SLEPT since meeting Lou. I’m fine during the day while I’m busy at work, but she invades my head when I’m home, especially in the evenings. The worst is when I’m alone in my bed in the dark. And my hand always seems to find its way to my cock while I picture her beneath me, legs spread wide, hair splayed wildly on the pillow under her head, mouth forming a perfect O when she orgasms.

  Damn.

  My life has become a tragic circle of desperation to move on but plagued by the inability to do so because of the expectations of friends and family. I know that they love me and want only the best for me, but they’re making me miserable.

  So fucking miserable.

  Am I wrong for wanting a woman in my life? I don’t think so. At least not when I consider the circumstances that led to this place that I’m in.

  “Lovely to see you again, Mr. Hutcheson. Please come in.”

  “Thank you.”

  Cora sits behind her desk and I take the chair across from her. Someone on the outside looking in might mistake our interaction for a meeting between an investment fund manager and his client. But this meeting is about something entirely different.

  I’m here to pay for Lou’s time. Pay for the use of her body.

  I’m buying Lou. I’m not proud that it’s come to this.

  Cora laces her fingers together and places them on her desk. “I’m keen to hear what you think of Lou.”

  Her smile screams self-satisfaction. And it should. This woman is good at what she does.

  “Lou is everything that you promised.” And more. So much more.

  “I knew that she would be, but the real question remains to be answered: is she everything that you’re looking for in a companion or would you like to meet another girl before making your final decision?”

  I don’t care for the way that I feel when I consider the possibility of never seeing Lou again. “I don’t need to meet other inamoratas. Lou is my choice. We clicked.” Or at least I think that we did. It could all be an act, her playing the role of an inamorata.

  Cora winks at me. “Lou feels the same. She’s happy with your pairing.” I’m relieved to hear the affirmation even if it does come secondhand. “She accepts your proposal and has agreed to move forward with the companionship agreement.”

  I’m soaring above the clouds. “Grand.”

  “I thought that you might feel that way.”

  “What’s the next step in the process?” I want the formalities out of the way as soon as possible.

  “I need a list of boundaries and expectations from each of you. Every single one of them must be made known upfront so that you’re both clear about what the other wants in the relationship. It’s a tedious process but necessary. After we have each of your lists, we’ll meet again and discuss your requests. Once the two of you reach an understanding, you’re ready to move forward.”

  She says that it’s a tedious process, but it sounds simple enough.

  “Payment will be banknotes, in full and upfront.”

  “Understood.”

  “You told me that you were interested in booking for three months when we spoke last week. Is that still the case?”

  “Aye, through August 31.”

  Cora takes out a calendar and counts the weeks beneath her breath. “Three days a week over the next twelve weeks. That’s thirty-six dates. We’ll estimate five hours per date at a rate of £200 per hour.” She stops and looks up at me. “You understand that £200 per hour doesn’t cover sex?”

  “I need you to allow for sex. And I want Lou to be available to me twenty-four-seven for the full duration. Not for five hours, three days a week.”

  Cora’s mouth parts but no words come out.

  “And I’d like to pay for sex without condoms.”

  “That’s not a service that we offer. I’m sure that you can understand why Inamorata wouldn’t encourage unsafe sexual practices.”

  “Of course.” Makes sense.

  But Lou and I won’t have the typical inamorata-client relationship. I will be her only client. Condom-free sex would be a safe practice as long as neither of us were having sex with anyone else. And I know that I won’t be.

  Cora counts beneath her breath again. “August 31 places us at eighty-five days from today. Availability twenty-four-seven for the duration is a lot of hours.”

  “Aye, I’m aware but it’s what I want.”

  “All right. Let’s start over with our calculations.”

  Cora taps numbers on her keyboard and jots down a number before doing it all over again. “By the way, I’m calculating from today since we aren’t certain when this will be finalized. Her time between now and then must be accounted for.”

  Which means that I’m paying for days that I might not spend with her. But by paying, I’ll be assuring that she won’t be with other clients. I’m all right with that.

  “Eighty-five days is 2040
hours.” She blows her breath out between pursed lips and slowly shakes her head. “Each hour at £200 equals £408,000. Now let’s allow for eighty-five of those hours to cover sex at a rate of £400 per hour.” She circles a six-digit number and turns it around for me to see. “That brings your grand total to £425,000.”

  Lou and everything that I want from her is going to cost me close to a half-million pounds.

  Do I want this? Is she worth that kind of money?

  There’s only one answer: abso-fucking-lutely.

  “How much will Lou get?”

  Cora’s expression is deadpan. “I don’t disclose that kind of information to clients.”

  “You will disclose it to me if you want my money.”

  Cora breathes in deeply, releasing the breath slowly. “I take 50 percent of their earnings until my investment is recouped. After that, I keep 25 percent. The girls retain 100 percent of any monies or gifts outside of the brokered agreement. I’m more than fair with my girls.”

  Lou is the one who will be playing the role of girlfriend to me for the next eighty-something days. I think that we can do better than 75 percent.

  “This is a one-time broker deal. Your work will be finished as soon as our arrangement is finalized. I’d like to encourage you to take your investment in Lou off the top and allow her to retain 85 percent of the remaining balance.”

  “You’re negotiating on her behalf instead of your own?”

  “Aye.”

  “Well, Mr. Hutcheson. I can’t say that I’ve ever encountered a client quite like you. I don’t typically entertain the idea of negotiation, but I like Lou, and I like you, so I’ll agree to your proposal.”

  “I expected a counter from a savvy businesswoman like you. Perhaps I should have asked for ninety.”

  She smiles. “I think that you’ve pushed your luck enough, Mr. Hutcheson.”

  Fair enough.

  “When can we finalize everything?”

  “Are you available Friday evening? Say five o’clock?”

  Five is a wee tight for me. “Can we schedule for six?”

  “Six o’clock works for me.”

  Another hurdle behind me. One more to go and Lou will be mine for the next three months.

  7

  CAITRIONA LOUDEN