I could see the look of utter defeat in her eyes before she even told me and maybe that's what brought the offer to my lips. She looked like she already knew where this was going and where my feet would be leading me after she told me, away. And while a part of me did want to walk away from this (after all, didn't my life have enough drama?), just the look in her eyes would have spurred me to stay. After all, who am I if not a guy who likes a challenge? And that's exactly what I saw in Emmy. A woman that needed help, but more than that, a woman who wasn't used to getting the help she really needed. It's not like she couldn't handle herself if I was to walk away right now. I know that. She was used to it, used to getting by on her own, making it her own way. But why should I let her when I can do something about it? She shrugged when I told her not to answer my question. I'm pretty sure I already knew what she would say anyway. Of course, I look shallow. I certainly act it. But that's really all it is, an act. I had the love of my life stolen from me by my own hand and now I lived a life of utter torment, self inflicted most of it. I felt like I had no will to live most of the time and yet my heart kept beating and my lungs kept drawing breath. And so I took it day by utterly exhausting day, drowning myself in the bottom of a whiskey bottle while I preyed on the easy lays the city had to offer. Emmy was none of that, and yet I found myself unable to walk away. I should have known she wouldn't just take me up on the offer. She hadn't survived this long by going home with the first guy who offered a roof over her head. I threw up my hands in surrender even as I stumbled against the wall beside me. "I'm not offering charity. I'm offering a reprise from your normal for one night. If you absolutely hate having a warm shower in the morning and room service, you can walk away. No strings. I'm not trying to save you. Do I look like I could save anyone right now?" I smirked even as I gave up on trying to stand upright, letting my shoulder slump against the brick wall. I know my words were slurred, but my eyes were as serious as I could make them in my current state. Emmy softened her voice, letting me know she didn't like handouts and I nodded. "Noted." What she said next, though, took me off guard. "Treat you....but you're not a pick up. Besides....no offense but I don't even know if I could get it up for a hook up tonight. I think I went a little past my limit." I couldn't help but chuckle as I glanced down at my still very loose pants. Yeah, whiskey dick was a thing, as I'd only found out a handful of times in my lifetime but of course, tonight had to be one of those nights. I shrugged. "We can watch porn if you want, though. And there's plenty of booze. I've got an open bar." ![]() |