Take The Money And Leave

A/N:New Story but I have not given up on Guardian. (Promise) Anyway taking different approach and I hope you guys like it.

Room 339.

The familiarity of the pristine white door was now so overwhelming that I feared it. What had once been excitement with the sight of the brass doorknob, now grew into an overbearing apprehension.

However, my greatest fear was what was waiting for me inside the hotel room.

Just thinking about it, had my muscles tightening and my knees weakening, although that could be explained with the six inch heels that Heidi let me 'borrow'.

Once I gained a shred of courage, I squared my shoulders and prepared myself to knock on the door, but it was suddenly flung open, to reveal the shadowed gaze that had haunted me for the past week.

For a while, we both stood there, staring at each other. He probably knew I was too dumb struck to say anything, considering our last...session (if you could call it that), so he took it upon himself to break the silence, "You know you don't have to knock" he reminded me with a sad smile.

When my gaze wandered down to his half-dressed state, it occurred to me that he was becoming more comfortable around me - well, comfortable enough to answer the door in only his jeans.

My eyes must've lingered a little too long onto his muscled chest because he cleared his throat and I snapped my eyes to him, finding the amusement stirring in his trained gaze.

He made no comment but instead took hold of my hand and dragged me inside with him. I awkwardly used my other hand to close the door behind me and then allowed him to guide me into the living room.

"I was trying to be polite" I pointed out and stumbled after him, permitting him to take the lead. I then took a seat on our sofa which he had gestured to.

Instead of taking his place next to me, he strode to the kitchen counter, only to return with two heinekens.

Once he stood before me, I did what I usually did and scooted further down the sofa so he could lay down with his head on my lap, silently asking for my touch.

Not able to deny him, I gently but carefully began to run my nimble fingers through his short cropped hair. I even grew brazen when lightly grazing his scalp and to my satisfaction, he released a small purr. This blissful moment didn't last too long because his fingers dug into my arm.

However, as much as I wanted to, I didn't cry in pain because as always, I endured it for him as I knew it would hurt him to hear me.

When he gradually regained control, his tight grip on me loosened and his nails left my skin in a painfully slow manner. I almost sighed at the relief it brought me but I knew I couldn't so I bit down on my trembling lip.

I gave him and me a few more minutes before my fingers delved back into his prickly locks. My soothing touch had his shallow breaths finally evening out.

"Jen broke down" he broke the lengthy silence once again.

Knowing that he needed small talk, I offered a response, "What happened?"

He took a few more seconds before answering, "Tried to push her over 60mph" he laughed lightly and I smiled at the foreign but welcomed sound.

"You gonna get it tuned?"

He grew petulant and his shoulders stiffed as he angrily shook his head, "No, I'll do it myself" the frustration building up in his tone, "Mechanics around here are fucking snobs. Think they fucking know everything" he growled with such fierceness that I winced.

As always his angered words transpired into a raged rambling. I allowed him to continue because we both knew he needed a way to release his frustrations.

After twenty minutes, we somehow found ourselves talking about the Mariners vs Padres Sunday game and after bickering over Franklin's ability, he dialled it down to a wistful tone. "You should've come down and watched it with me"

Not able to hold off the melancholy tone, I murmured, "You only ask for me on Tuesdays"

He raised his head to stare at me and after permitting a few seconds to tick by, he says, "I would've paid you"

"That is not what I meant" I shook my head in disgust.

Suddenly is whole form has straightened up as he glowered at me, "Then what did you mean?"

"Don't get testy with me" I hitched an eyebrow at him and calmed down when I saw the frustration was immediately tranquilized. "I just meant that I didn't think I would be welcome"

My elaboration was met with his understanding and I watched how he visibly relaxed. His shoulders slumped and the tightening in the corner of his eyes faded when he moved back towards me. "You're always welcome here" the corner of his lips tugged up slightly in a small sad smile.

He then took my hands in his and lifted our entwined hands to his cheek.

Almost in a childlike manner, he sighed at the touch but then surprised me when hesitantly lifting them to his lips.

When he glanced up to me, I caught the silent question in his coal eyes; 'Is this okay?'

Still struck with shock and disbelief, I could only nod in reply.

Suddenly a fierce determination was alighted and he dropped our hands but only so that he could trap my wrists in his fingers.

"Jacob..."

He ignored my wary question and chose to lean into me. His shallow breaths tickling my lips and I gulped with the close proximity but he seemed to ignore my apprehension.

At first, I foolishly thought he was moving towards my lips but instead his path diverted as he rested his head onto my shoulder. Hot and heavy breaths were warming my exposed collarbone as I felt a spark of desire.

Anyone could see that this man was attractive - Short, black cropped hair, Innocent dark brown eyes and a muscled and toned body.

Yes, Mr. Black was a fine specimen and probably my hottest client...but aside from that, within those smouldering eyes, burned the dark and furious flames of ghosts that haunted him.

Sure, I was supposed to be physical with him - it was expected but somehow I couldn't do that to him. It would be like taking advantage of him because he wasn't in the right state of mind.

When he finally moved back, I could only stare at him because I was too afraid to move and my erratic thoughts had numbed me to immobilisation.

I wanted to ask him what he wanted; ask him what I could do but at his penetrating gaze trapped me. "You care for me don't you" he finally broke the silence once again.

I covered our entwined hands with my other palm and sighed, "Of course I do"

Worry flickered in his stormy eyes and I would've questioned it but he voiced it, "Is it because you have to...?"

I was probably crossing the line - breaching the contract and the rules but it was different with him.

I couldn't lie to him.

Squeezing his fingers, I scooted closer to him and spoke with complete honesty. "Jake, I care for you and if you had called me on any other day - that wasn't Tuesday, I would come"

Breaking the rules was worth the wide grin that broke through as a bright gleam twinkled in his once darkened eyes. This only encouraged me in adding, "I do care for you and I don't like seeing you hurt or sca-"

My words were cut off with the desperation of his fevered lips crashing onto mine. A buried need or search with his passionate attack as I felt his dominating lips mould into mine.

Once I registered what was happening, my hands (on their own accord) reached up to wrap themselves around his neck as I pulled him closer.

I know I shouldn't.

I knew that I should stop but...

...damn my libido.

Between Alistair, the divorced CEO and Felix, the young (gay) entrepeneur, my sex life had been a great disappointment.

It felt so wrong but at the same time...it felt SO good!

Plus...Jacob was a good man - he made me see the life that I could've had.

Maybe I would've brought my baby to his garage and he would've fixed it. We would've bonded over our love of cars and horror movies and he would then ask me on a date. We would've fallen in love and done the whole move in, meet the parents, get married and have babies.

...but that wasn't real and we were living in the real world. The real world where we remained worlds apart; where Cinderella didn't get her prince or her happily ever after.

This was the real world where Cinderella was screwed over by so many people that she gave up and allowed life to throw anything at her.

"Jacob?" I whimpered when realising that the kiss had ended and Jacob now had his head in his hands.

He continued to breath heavily for a while and once his gasps subdued, he raised his head but didn't meet my eyes. "It's been an hour" he whispered.

"What?" I gasped, still confused as to what he was talking about.

He stood from the seat and moved to the kitchen counter where he picked up the money laid there. Without looking at me, he smirked and said, "$160 right?"

I wiped across my bottom lip with a scoff. The humourless gasp then turned into a forced smile as I feigned nonchalance.

As he strolled back to me, he amusedly asks, "Does the kiss cost extra?"

The hurt I felt was probably visible on my features because he sneers, "What? You can't honesty be offended!" he laughed and used a finger to tilt up my chin, "it's what you do right?"

His disgust reminds me of who I am and where I am.

With a gulp, I shrugged my head away from his touch and pushed off from the seat.

Jutting out my chin to glare at him, I nodded while blinking away the angry tears, "Yes". My fingers snatched the money out of his hands and then slipped it into my purse and pushed past him. "It is what I do"

A/N:Tell me what you think of this... Please Review