What We Do in the Night (Day to Night #1) - Stylo Fantome Page 0,95
ears. “I understand.”
“You don't.”
“You think I don't understand what it means to be two different people?” he laughed. “To be wanted for something you can do, and not for who you are? You and I are cut from the same cloth, babe. Maybe from different tailor shops and maybe for different outfits, but definitely the same material.”
She really wanted to cry, because as nice as it was to hear that, he was totally wrong. They weren't the same person, and that was the problem. Ari longed for control in his life, and Valentine wanted to relinquish it, that's what had ultimately drawn them together – they were opposites.
But it had all backfired on her. Just like she'd predicted, he had too much control, and she didn't know if she could take it back from him when he walked away. Didn't know if it was even about that anymore.
It's not, it's about so much more, because I don't care what fabric you're made of – I just want you, Ari. Not because you're successful and not because you're rich and not because you have a dazzling future – I want you because you take care of me. You make me feel like maybe my nights and my days don't have to be so different.
“I'm sorry,” she whispered, looking up at him with big eyes. “I thought I could do this, I really thought I did. I'll give the money back.”
“What?” he sounded shocked. “What is happening right now? What the fuck are you talking about?”
“I don't want to do this for two more days,” she said, trying to pull her wrists free from him. He just gripped her tighter.
“I don't give a fuck what you want – I paid until Wednesday, so I'm getting those two fucking days,” he growled.
“You can't make me be with you! So just find somebody else to ... to ... to play Parcheesi with!” Valentine shouted. “It's just two days, who cares if it ends now or then.”
He stared down at her while she struggled, an unfathomable look in his eyes. He almost seemed ... sad. Which was impossible, she didn't think Ari even knew what that emotion was, let alone experienced it.
“I don't want someone else,” he finally said, pulling on her arms, forcing them around his waist. “I want my Saint Valentine.”
“I'm not her,” she cried, the tears finally escaping as she came flush with his chest. “I'm not.”
“I know that,” he whispered. “I know that, Val.”
Then his arms were around her, holding her tightly against him.
She cried into his shirt, feeling awful for caving in front of him yet again. Would she ever be strong where he was concerned? It was stupid – she'd stood on her own the whole time she'd been in Chicago, facing much seemingly worse adversities.
Yet this one good looking man had the ability to steal her spine and reduce her to a blubbering mess at his feet.
“I don't know what to tell you to make you stay,” he breathed, his lips against the top of her head. “I don't want you to go.”
“Why?” she sniffled. “There are other girls. Even at Caché. Even at lots of places. You'll find someone else.”
“I don't want someone else,” he repeated his earlier statement. “I like you. I have fun with you. Please.”
Please. A word she'd never heard Ari use with her before. She squeezed her eyes shut tight and started to shake.
I need to walk away. He doesn't completely own me yet, but he will soon, and then nothing else will matter and I'll lose myself.
Yet she couldn't move. Valentine clung to him, the only anchor she'd known during the stormiest time of her life. She hated who she was when she was with him, but she was terrified of who she'd be without him. Lost and adrift in a wild chaotic sea, with no one to make her body come alive and her feelings burn.
“I'm never coming here again by myself,” she grumbled against his chest, and he shouted out a laugh.
“Okay,” he said. “And I'll talk to Del, extend our contract.”
Contract. I'm a contract. I'm a stupid contract. Just sex and a couple signed papers. Always and forever Saint Valentine, because when she's around to be the life of the party, who needs poor little ol' Val?
“Don't bother,” she sighed. “I think we both know I'll sleep with you for free.”
“It's not about that,” Ari whispered, rubbing his hands up and down her back.