Read Belonging for Free Online Page B

Gianni, and I’d love to get to know
you, but I’m not exactly out. I know it’s stupid to ask you to
sneak around just because I have to, but if the thought of being
discrete isn’t totally off-putting, would you come to my hotel
tonight?”
    “I...um....” Shit. I’d gone all
deer-in-headlights again.
    “I’m staying in the
presidential suite at the Imperial. If you decide you want to come
by, text me and I’ll send my assistant downstairs to let you up.
You need a key for the elevators.”
    “Thanks, but I’m not
really into one-night stands.”
    “This doesn’t have to be a
one-night stand.” I’d been looking at the floor, but I glanced up
at him and raised an eyebrow. He gave me a sweet smile and said, “I
meant it when I said I’d love to get to know you. In case you’re
wondering, I’m not constantly slipping my number to sexy boys at
parties. Part of being discrete means being highly selective. I’m
attracted to you and I’d love to see where this leads.”
    I watched him for a long
moment, and he smiled at me sweetly. I wanted him, but I was
nervous, too. Was he someone I could trust?
    Jax did exactly the right
thing then. He stepped forward and drew me into a hug. My arms went
around him automatically. Jason felt solid and strong, and I melted
into him. “Give me a chance,” he said. “Come to my hotel tonight.
We won’t do anything you don’t want to.”
    “Okay,” I whispered. He
tilted my chin up and kissed me. It was surprisingly forceful, as
if he was staking a claim, and it left me reeling.
    “I’m going to leave first.
We don’t want to start any rumors.” Jason winked at me and added,
“I’m looking forward to tonight, Gianni. See you soon.” He closed
the door behind him when he left the room.
    I dropped onto a corner of
the mattress and tried to process what had just happened. I was
actually shaking a little. Part of it was that I was so star-struck
that it made my nerves kick into high gear. But the rest was in
response to that kiss. Clearly, Jason Jax was used to being in
charge. That was what I always thought I wanted from a lover,
someone who’d take control.
    It frightened me a little,
though. He said we’d only do what I wanted when I went to his
hotel, but I wasn’t that naïve. I understood there were certain
expectations. People like Jason (and for that matter, most of my
former lovers) only had one use for a boy like me. They kept me
around as long as I gave them what they needed. I wondered if this
time, I’d be asked to give more than I could handle, judging by how
demanding that kiss had been.
    But I needed this. I
needed Jason, or someone like him, someone who’d take care of me.
The price in return was my body, I understood that. It was a price
I’d paid willingly, more than once. It was all I had to
give.
    I got up and returned to the bathroom,
where I carefully finger-combed my black hair, taking a few deep
breaths to try to relax. The eyes staring back at me in the mirror
were a little too fearful and uncertain, so I worked on pulling up
a neutral expression. Finally, I straightened my clothes, making
sure my black leather jacket and the indigo blue dress shirt were
both perfect. I was really good at creating a veneer of confidence.
I’d had a lot of practice.
    When I finally returned to
the party, Yosh was nowhere to be seen. Neither was Miles. Damn it. I’d been gone
for what, fifteen minutes? I checked the library and the kitchen,
then went back to the living room. I noticed Jason and the couple
men that had been sitting with him were gone, too.
    Finally, an incredibly
guilty-looking Yoshi emerged from the hall on the far left of the
apartment, the one leading to the master bedroom. Damn. It. He came right
over when he spotted me and said, “I know. Can we go?”
    “Shit,” I muttered as we cut through
the foyer. Once we were alone on the elevator, I asked, “How did
this happen?”
    “Miles cornered me in the kitchen and
started kissing