Title: Sex or Love
Author: Bru Cardoso
Summary: Rory is a successful businesswoman in her mid-twenties with no time - or skill - for relationships. Jess is a good looking guy who is willing to spend a night pleasing a woman as long as she pays for it. What happens when they meet? AU Lit
Disclaimer: Don't own the characters; do own the plot. You know the drill.
A/N: Huge thanks to ginnyclone for the beta. I also have to thank watergurl123, Yoshii, pbnk-ink, WriTeRgRl412, OrangePunk, Bittersweetbloodbaby, Spreeaholic1, ficcolo, katesque, Hallon, Lamalinche, pam halliwell, fanficreader, JPNeverlosetheButterflies, JXB0208, AcexReporter, bored247, jessroryfan24, nk-number1actress, CoffeeIsWhatIneed02, Melissa Larkin, JJ34, Lunatic Lorenzio, efka, Anonymous, Milo Maniac, Dione Robertson, Fickle Sobriguet, xh4z3L3y3sx, StaleCoffee, LitGG1982, Lee, lexi and Michela. Thank you guys and everyone else who reviewed.
And please, drop a line telling me what you think of it; anything true goes - as always.
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Chap 06Rory was in her office, looking through her glass wall at the few employees still in the office, finishing up their work or getting ready to leave. She looked at the clock and it read 7 pm. She shook her head. 'This is just wrong', she thought to herself before going to the door of her office.
"Hey guys," she called their attention. "It's 7 pm on a Friday...I'm sure you have better things to do. Just leave the rest of the work to do on Monday morning; it'll still be there. Go home to your wives, go out with your friends, have some fun."
They all stared at her in surprise for a moment; then they started gathering their things and leaving the office with smiles on their faces, sending little waves and 'Have a nice weekend's on her way.
She looked at the paper and files on her desk for a minute and picked up her purse leaving her office with a smile.
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Rory bit her lip and looked around the living room, walking from side to side with bare feet. She hadn't brought a boy home in a long time and in these circumstances she didn't know if it even mattered how her living room looked like. Maybe she should put some music on or prepare some drinks? But it was all about business, right? So...no need to try and create a romantic atmosphere. But, did it have to be so cold just because it was business?
And what should she wear for God's sake? He could knock any minute now and she was still on her business shirt and skirt; the only changes being that she took of her high heels, put her hair up and cleaned her face from the light make up she wore. Their 'date' would be at her place; they weren't going to meet anywhere before so she needn't dress up, but she couldn't meet him on her pajamas either! The only person who could help her on this was her mother but calling her to ask what she should wear to wait for her male hooker was not an option. She sighed, trying to think up a solution just when someone knocked on the door. She cringed and walked to the door.
"Hey," she said, opening it slowly.
"Hi, just got home from work?"
"Yeah, something like that," she said opening the door wider to let him in. He walked in and looked around the apartment.
"Nice place you have here."
"Thanks," she closed the door and played with her hands, not knowing what to do.
"Still uncomfortable with this?" he asked amused.
"Yeah, well… it's still weird for me. But I'm not sure if it would be much different if I weren't paying. Having a guy over is always…"
"Hard," he nodded, understanding her. He walked over to her and pulled the clip from her hair, letting it fall around her face. "You look good," he said.
She blushed, "Thank you for lying."
"No, really, you look real. Bare feet, just got home from work, clean face, hair a bit messed up…" he smirked. She bit her bottom lip and her hands through her hair to smooth it down. "I like it. Really."
"You really have some sick pleasure in teasing me and seeing me uncomfortable, right?"
"No, I just like to make you blush, really. It's fun."
And even though she tried not to, she couldn't help but blush at his words.
"Come here," he pulled her hand and her body bumps into his. He smirked, "Hey."
"Hi," she muttered quietly. He leaned down and started kissing her lightly but it doesn't take long to become more passionate. When they broke away she rested his forehead against his, "You want something to drink?"
He chuckled. "I'm fine-" he started but seeing the look on her face he changed his mind, "but I could use a beer, yeah."
"Okay, good, I'll go get it," she said eagerly, going to the kitchen.
He smirked, "Do you mind if I put some music on?"
"No, make yourself at home," she yelled from the kitchen.
He went to her stereo and pushed the 'play' button and a second later 'Unbelievable' by EMF was blasting through the speakers. He took a step back, surprised and pushed 'stop' before going through her CDs. A couple of minutes later she came back from the kitchen with two beers in hand just to listen the beginning of 'She Will Be Loved' by Maroon 5 being played.
She looked at him and he smirked, trying to fake an innocent face but knowing he was failing miserably.
"You just had to choose that song, huh?"
"I didn't see anything wrong with it, do you?"
"No, nothing at all," she offered him a beer, but he got both and put them on the coffee table. "Come here," he asked and she hesitantly did as she was told. Not wasting a second he started kissing her and before she could understand what was happening, she was lying on the couch with him on top of her.
She giggled, "God, I haven't made out in a couch since I was a teenager, I think."
He chuckled, but didn't stop, working his way to her neck and unbuttoning her shirt. She started pulling his shirt over his head and undoing his jeans. His lips made their way down to her breast while he ran his palms up the back of her knees and to her thighs.
"What are you trying to do? Drive me crazy?" she asked with a strangled voice.
He pulled away from her breast to look at her and raised an eyebrow, "I just want to make you feel beautiful?" he quoted the lyrics of the song.
She laughed quietly, not sure how much mocking and truth were in that sentence before slapping him on the shoulder lightly.
He playfully shook his head, "I try to do my best work and that's how I'm re-paid." And as a mean of revenge he attacked her mouth again, full of want.
A few minutes later, when she felt things were getting too close to the point of no coming back she pulled away from the kiss. "Not that I'm not greatly enjoying this - cuz I really am – but you want to do it on my couch!" she asked, a bit unsure.
He looked at her for a moment, seizing her and suddenly a smirk covered his features, a smirk that made her regret opening her mouth. He quickly stood up and took her by the waist, throwing her over his shoulder and walking to her room.
"Ahh!" was her only response as she was shocked and surprised at the same time. "Jess put me down! That's not why I'm paying you! Put me down!"
He laughed and tapped her bottom, "Stop complaining when you know you're having fun!" he berated. "Besides, we're almost in your room," he said just before throwing her on her bed.
She smiled a little and watched his face while his eyes roamed her body. This time she didn't try to cover herself or make him stop. It wasn't just because she didn't want to hear him saying all those things again, and she definitely wasn't comfortable with him looking at her like that. But she trusted him; she really did. And if anyone had to look at her this way, she would rather be him than anyone else.
He put his knee on the mattress beside her leg and hovered over her. "You're getting better at this. Already decided how you want it?"
She bit her lip, thinking for a second. "Just like it's been so far," she answered.
He grinned and started kissing her again.
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She rolled over in bed and found the other side empty. She sighed, not sure if had dreamt or if he had just left – which didn't make sense. She sat on bed and put a hand to her head; there was no point on thinking about that at the moment. She stood up to go to the kitchen and get herself a glass of water but as soon as she stepped on the living room she screamed.
Jess jumped from the couch where he was laying, startled, "What the fuck?"
"Sorry, I just thought… what are you doing here!"
"Well, you asked me to come tonight, remember?" he said laying back down on the couch.
"No, I mean here, in my living room. Why aren't you in bed?" she asked, going to sit next to him.
"Oh, I wasn't sleepy. So I thought I'd read a bit."
"You read, huh?" she asked interested.
He shrugged, "Not much."
"Howl?" she questioned, reading the cover of the book. "I love this book. I have a copy somewhere among those shelves," she said, pointing to a few shelves full of books on the other side of the living room.
He nodded, "I know, this is yours."
"But you're writing on it," she said quietly and then accusingly, "You're writing on my book!"
He shook his head and chuckled, "I tease, I offend, I provoke, I'm smart-ass and all you do is blush. I make some notes on your book and then you get all bothered and pissed off."
"But it's my book!" she repeats as explanation.
"Take a breath, you're going to thank me when I'm done!"
She snorted, "I don't think so!"
"You got all bothered and pissed off because of a book…" he pondered and concluded, "It's hot! You should do that more often… stand up for yourself."
"I'm not doing it for myself, I'm doing it for my book! Now stop destroying it!"
He smirks, "Oh, you'll have to get it first."
She reached for the book but he held it over his head. She reached again but he dodged her. She tried a third time and this time she almost reached it, but ended up losing her balance and falling half straddling him.
She looked up blushing but before he could tease her about it she straddled him and reached for the book again. This time she got it. But he wasn't paying attention to the book; instead he was looking up at her. He pulled her down with one hand and kissed her deeply. She was surprised by his spontaneity but kissed back. They continued to make out in the couch for a while, until she pulled back and rested her forehead against his, smiling. "You're still not vandalizing my book."
He chuckled, "Okay, I was just writing some notes on the margins for you, but if you don't want…"
"Notes?" she asked interested, opening her book. She saw the margins filled with his small handwrite and raised an eyebrow. "You've read this before," she half affirmed half questioned.
"Yeah. I've never said I hadn't."
"But you said you didn't read much!"
"Well, what is much?"
She sat back on his lap, reading one of the notes when he took the book from her hands and closed it. "You can read that later, right now I think there are better things to do."
She smirked, "It seems I'm not the only one having fun."
He shrugged, "I was just trying to provide the best service, make you take the most of your time but if you don't want…"
She leaned forward and started kissing him again, "Oh, I do want."
He smirked into the kiss and his hands started from her belly to her breasts but before he could reach his destination she broke the kiss.
"Okay, I know I'm a mood killer right now but I can't stop thinking about the way you acted with Terry."
He sighed and leaned back on the couch, "You're right, you are a mood killer."
She bit her lip, "I know, it's just… you seemed so bothered about what she had done."
"You remember what she did, right?"
"I know, I know. I'm not defending her here. I'm just saying that the way you treated her, it was pure disgust. I know what she did was sick but I didn't think it would have such a strong reaction on you," she paused. He remained silent, so she continued. "Unless that's not all," she tried in a low voice.
He looked away for a minute, his face expressionless. "Maybe it hit a little too close to home."
"Ah," she nodded, letting him say whatever he wanted but not probing.
"My father ran away just after I was born and my mother just fell apart. At least I like to think that's why she was like that. Anyway, when she wasn't working or with her boyfriend of the week, she was drunk. I had to raise myself and when I got older I had to take care of her drunk ass," he paused then continued a little angrier. "If she couldn't be a mother, then she shouldn't have gotten pregnant in the first place. And it's the same with Terry. She just got pregnant cuz her husband needed an heir and his family was pushing them for it to be soon. She never wanted to have a kid, she just wanted the presents her husband gave her, including a trip she took me as a 'vacation', to convince her to get pregnant. How shallow is that? It's fucking crazy!"
She smiled sadly. "You said it yourself, it's over. You never have to see her again."
"I know, but I feel bad for her kid," he said, calmer. He couldn't believe he really had told her these things about his past, but now that he had there was way to take it back.
She put a hand on his cheek, "There's nothing you can do. But if this kid has any luck he'll be like you and raise himself."
He smiled sadly and rested his hands on her thighs, "It's not that easy."
She nodded, "I bet." She looked up and at the expression on his face and was sure he was remembering those moments of his past. She raised his face and kissed him, "So, was that story about providing the best service really true? Cuz I'd really like to go back to that room and check it out."
He smirked and stood up still holding her while she wrapped her legs around his waist. "I thought you'd never ask!" he said, carrying her back to the room.