10: Lia.
“I want to.” I take his hand and press the palm to my cheek.
“Talk to me.”
Tristan hedges a moment. “You know I haven’t been with.
anyone. Since the divorce.” He rolls a thick shoulder. “A lot of
that was because of work. Because I didn’t meet anyone that
interested me. But, uh…the divorce had a lot to do with it, too.
Eric’s mother and I
weren’t a great match. We didn’t have the
same interests, but we came from money. It was more for
status than anything. When she left, though… it was because
of…” He nods down at his midsection. “The way I look. Big and
bulky. Not lean like the tennis player husbands at the country
club.”
I’ve only met Eric’s mother on a handful of occasions and I’m
pretty sure I was too overcome with jealousy that she’d been
married to Tristan to pay much attention. Right now, I’d like to
stomp on her instep and bust her stupid nose, though. That
much I know. “Well, I’m sorry, but that’s really horrible and
shallow,” I say, my own nose starting to burn out of outrage and
the need to cry for this man who provides for everyone without
complaint. “That’s more of a reflection of her character than
you.” He gives me an appreciative look, but clearly doesn’t
believe me, so I swing for the fences because there’s no way my
sugar daddy is going to feel anything less than amazing when
he’s with me. I can’t believe he doesn’t know how desirable he
- is. “Listen to me. You’re sexy as shit. That thing you do…where
you roll up your sleeves and plant both fists on the kitchen
counter, the way you manspread in your swim trunks with those
log–cabin thighs. That gray and black chest hair. Like, oh my
god.” I bite my lip and give a low squeal, tugging him toward me
by the front of his shirt. “I’ve been wanting to ride the Tristan
train since it was highly illegal.”
His chest has started to heave. “Did you now?”
Contritely, I duck my head and look up at him through my
lashes. “Uh–huh.” I rake my breasts side to side against his
chest, his rumble vibrating my stiff nipples. “And I still don’t
really know what it means to ride the Tristan train. You have to
teach me, Big Daddy.”
Tristan yanks open the red door and pulls me inside, closing us
- in. “I don’t know if you’re saying this stuff because you know
you’ll be well paid or if you really mean it,” he says, backing me
against the door. His mouth on top of mine as he reaches down,
for Big Daddy.”

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