What We Do in the Night (Day to Night #1) - Stylo Fantome Page 0,5

the shit going on in her life right now.

“Like the holiday!” Richard laughed, and she laughed loudly, as well.

“Exactly like the holiday,” she agreed, then she looked up at him thoughtfully. “Though really ... I think I'm more like a vacation.”

“How do you mean?”

She stood on her toes, pressed her body against his, then set her lips to his ear.

“I'm somewhere you can disappear to for a while, forget yourself while you're there, and then leave when you've had all your fun.”

Valentine could actually feel the tremor running through him, and she knew the deed was done. He as good as belonged to her for at least the next couple hours, if not longer. He wasn't wearing a mask, so he wasn't a first timer, but something about his attitude, she got the feeling he wasn't a regular, either. This was maybe his second or third visit. She scared him, but in a good way.

“I do love vacations,” he said in a low voice.

“Doesn't everyone? They're the best.”

And then his mouth was on hers, and she was kissing him back, and his hands were running up her back, and she was clawing at his chest. Her mind, however, was a million miles away, running through the laundry list of errands she'd have to do throughout the week.

“Don't be afraid to say 'no'. Don't think about what you're doing. Don't let them know what you're thinking. And for fuck's sake, don't get attached.”

Those had been DelVecchio's words to her on her fourth night at Caché, and she'd never forgotten them. They were her bible. So while Richard's tongue explored her back molars, she thought about Gam-Gam's appointment on Monday.

“You're so hot,” he gushed when he finally pulled away.

“I am,” Valentine agreed. “And heat like me will run up quite the utility bill.”

They stared at each other for a long moment. She smiled and bit into her bottom lip, her fingers coyly playing with one of his lapels. He glanced around quickly, then looked back down at her.

“What kind of bill are we talking about?”

“For three hundred dollars, I will be the best, funnest, craziest date you ever fucking had,” she assured him. “You think Caché is fun on its own? Wait till you experience it with me.”

“I can't wait,” he nodded his head, but then he looked nervous. Glanced around again. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. This was why she tended to prefer older men – they knew the game better. “So does this bill ... this date ... does it include every experience?”

“Oh, baby,” she laughed, and she leaned all her weight against him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You're sweet, and I like you, I really do, but sugar ... you don't have enough money for that bill.”

It was most definitely a “no”. A line like that could easily turn off a more seasoned man, but Valentine was good at her job, and she knew he wasn't one of those men. With her tits pressed against his chest and her mouth against his neck and her tongue against his skin, he was a dead man walking. His arms went back around her waist.

“Come meet my friends,” he said in a husky voice, already urging her backwards across the floor.

“Ooohhh, into the group thing, huh,” she teased, nibbling on his earlobe as they moved.

“No, I just want to show you off,” he laughed, then he paused. “Don't ... you won't tell them what this is, okay?”

“What what is?” she asked in an innocent voice, and she pulled away so she could bat her eyelashes at him. “I'm just excited that the sexiest guy in this entire place started dancing with me.”

He started grinning, then hustled her over to the booth.

It was dark over at his table, but she had no trouble recognizing a certain hoodie. Apparently, the “Richie” that Derrick had been looking for was her new friend Richard. She smiled and wrapped her arm around Richard's waist, hugging him to her side.

“Hey guys, this is -” he started.

“Valentine,” she was quick to cut him off. “And yes, just like the holiday.”

Everyone chuckled, Derrick loudest of all.

“You work more than just the front door, huh?” he guffawed in a loud voice, eliciting some chuckles from his friends. She felt Richard go a little stiff next to her, but she just gave him a gentle squeeze.

“You guys were my last clients – my shift had already ended when you showed up, that's why Angel took over.