“Nice digs,” I said playfully. “I like the private lift.”
Jared’s eyebrows lifted.
“You like?” he rumbled, amused. “That thing costs over a hundred thousand dollars a year to maintain.”
I gasped. Six figures per year? Just for maintenance? Holy shit, I really was out of my element. And reading the surprise on my face, the alpha nodded wryly.
“Yeah, who knew right? But it’s fine, it’s a drop in the bucket, nothing more,” he said carelessly. “Come in, honey, make yourself at home. Where’s your stuff?” he frowned momentarily.
I blushed, stepping into the cream-colored living room, plush sofas and a huge projection TV lined up against the wall.
“Oh um, I looked through my closet and decided I didn’t like my wardrobe,” I said lightly, shooting him a breezy smile. “I have my toothbrush and personal things right here,” I said, patting my purse, hoping he wouldn’t ask more. After all, I could hardly reveal that Jennelle had had a shit fit when I left, trying to prevent me from leaving by grabbing my duffel and dangling it out of reach.
He frowned momentarily again, but it was gone in a flash, a lazy smile in its place.
“No worries, where you’re going you won’t need much in terms of clothes,” he said silkily. “And what you do need, we’ll have made.”
I stuttered a bit. What the hell? What was this thing about not needing clothes at all? I thought we were going to a cocktail party, not some nude beach on the Caribbean. And I’d guessed that the alpha would buy me any clothes needed, but I didn’t realize that they’d be tailored, cut from whole cloth like haute couture.
So perching myself gingerly on one of the white couches, I decided to be straight with Jared, to get some answers. After all, I was in the home of a strange man, one whom I’d only met hours ago. Sure, he made my body sizzle and cunt pulse with ecstasy, but still, Fifth Avenue or not, this was someone else’s space and I had to figure out what the hell was going on.
“Mr. White,” I said sternly, trying to be serious. “I hope you realize that this is crazy, that what I’ve done is really nuts.”
His brows lifted again, the big man seating himself on the couch next to me, powerful body relaxed and yet filled with restrained energy.
“Crazy?” he drawled. “Why?”
I sputtered again.
“Because I hardly know you. I just met you tonight,” I said meaningfully fixing him with a look. “And yet I’ve left school and come to stay with you here,” I said, gesturing to the luxurious apartment.
He took a long look around, as if seeing the space for the first time.
“Jail never looked so nice, huh?” he asked with a wry smile flickering about his lips. “Does prison usually come with a projector TV and gourmet food?”
I gulped.
“No, I didn’t mean that,” I protested. “I just meant that I need a clearer picture of things. What’s going on? What’s this party that you’ve invited me to? I need to know more,” I added softly, pleading now. “Please.”
The big man shot me another lazy smile.
“I’ll tell you everything you want to know,” he drawled. “Shoot.”
I took a deep breath, mind whirling. I hadn’t expected Jared to be so straightforward, I thought I’d have to pull the answers from him with subtlety and nuance, tricking him into giving tidbits away. But evidently, that wasn’t how the alpha worked. He was direct and clear, preferring to tackle my questions head-on. So I took a deep breath.
“First of all, what was that place we were at?” I asked slowly. “What were you doing there, and why did everyone jump at your commands?”
The big man threw his head back and laughed, white teeth flashing.
“Honey, you mean that doesn’t happen wherever you go?” he teased. “People aren’t falling over themselves to accommodate you?”
I bit my lip, shooting him an accusing glance.
“This isn’t funny,” I huffed, pouting. “I’m trying to ask you a serious question.”
The big man held his hands up in acquiescence.
“Okay, okay, I get it,” he growled. “I get it. Questions, right, questions. What were you saying again?”
I rolled my eyes at him.
“You know exactly what I asked,” I shot back, exasperated. I swear, the big man was so gorgeous and yet utterly infuriating at once. He played with me, teased me, and it was shocking we were already so comfortable around one another given that we’d only met hours ago.
“Okay, okay,” he said, holding up his hands once more. “I get it. You’re the boss and I’m here to answer any questions. Let’s see, where were we tonight,” he rumbled, eyes still dancing. “We were at the Club, a place where guys and girls go to have a good time.”
The Club? What kind of name was that? I shook my head again.