Chapter Text
Faye’s Rules for Being a Sugar Baby
(& securing that bag!$!)
- always look your best. hair done, nails done, waxed, lashed. a Sugar Daddy does not want to see you looking a mess - save that for your downtime.
- Always know your boundaries. This means knowing what you want, and communicating with your SD to ensure you’re both on the same page. don’t compromise, but DO consider experimentation.
- know your worth. don’t expect top shelf unless you’re providing a top shelf experience. you’re not a prostitute, you’re a SUGAR BABY. you are being compensated for your time and effort. minimum effort, minimum profit.
- never burden your SD with real life issues. if he wanted to hear about your shitty day or get nagged, he would call his wife.
- never, under any circumstances, forget that you are providing a fantasy.
- NEVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES FALL IN LOVE!!!!
Lexi Howard wasn’t sure what she was expecting. After all, Faye didn’t strike her as the most reliable person, considering they had met in line, waiting for the bathroom at a frat party. Lexi had been dragged against her will, so her roommate Rue Bennett could meet up with her crush and - apparently, as Rue had never told her this part of the plan - get monumentally fucked up on some experimental drugs and dance until their glitter was sweat off. Had Lexi known that , she would have stayed in the dorm and taken advantage of precious alone time. It was only October, and the homework and papers and reading were already piling up.
Nerd that she was, Lexi loved it. She was also incredibly overwhelmed. It was difficult to focus on her work and maintain her strict GPA to keep her scholarship while living off of Top Ramen and whatever Rue could sneak her from the dining hall. Because full rides did not cover living in the dorm or a meal plan, and her mother had dropped the bomb the day after her graduation party that they had lost the house.
Lost the house. Like it had been misplaced. What a poor choice of words.
Meeting Faye, who had been texting furiously on her phone and muttering under her breath, had seemed like fate. Serendipitous. The right place at the right time. Lexi had found it difficult to keep her hopes from getting too high when the tall, skinny blonde with drastically overfilled lips eyed her up and down and asked, “Are you into sugar dating? Because I know a daddy that would fucking adore you.”
Faye, as it turned out, ran a sort of match-making business for Sugar Daddies and Sugar Babies. Like minded individuals looking to meet and… connect. She didn’t look like she could run anything, at that moment, wearing a tiny halter top and a denim skirt that barely covered her ass, but Faye was legit. When Lexi woke the next morning to an email, directing her to fill out an application and provide information for a background check and a photo ID to prove her age, she had been surprised. A quick Google search revealed that Faye was sort of a big deal in these circles, and Lexi felt flattered she had been handpicked from the crowd.
So what if she was basically a virgin (the one time, with Ethan after her play junior year, had been a mistake that neither talked about and never repeated)? Lexi didn’t think it was a prerequisite to being a Sugar Baby. She hoped it wasn’t, at least. Nowhere on the application did it ask - but there was a survey of fifty questions, each one more personal and embarrassing than the last. Lexi had blushed to the roots of her hair as she checked boxes. Please honestly answer your limits. These questions help determine your compatibility with a future Daddy/Baby, and are VERY IMPORTANT! DO NOT LIE!
The questions were all sexual.
Lexi hadn’t known how to answer most of them. Did she like nipple play? Did she like toys? Did she like public displays of affection? Did she like anal? She’d had to search some of the terms, peeking at her phone through her fingers in the library, praying no one would be able to tell what she was doing. She took it seriously, thinking hard about how she felt as she answered.
The only hard no she had was kissing. She had decided that immediately. Like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, she felt it was too intimate. Sex had never felt personal - it was just matching up the pieces where they fit. With Ethan, they had never kissed - too swept up in the thrill of applause and exhilaration of pulling it off, they had barely even undressed. Lexi thought she could detach herself from the act, that she could disconnect from her body, that her feelings wouldn’t get hurt if her expectations were realistic.
Kissing . That inspired feelings that weren’t so easy to ignore.
Plus, she couldn’t fake that. Sex? Well, there was an entire industry built on women faking arousal and orgasms, sleeping with gross guys and acting like they loved it. Lexi was confident that she could do it right, with a little research and the right motivation.
On the application, where it asked what her financial expectations were, Lexi wrote that she needed help paying for her education. It seemed better than saying she had lost ten pounds since moving into the dorms, less pathetic than saying she would be homeless by second semester. There was hardly time for sleep, and taking on a part time job between her classes and study groups and homework wasn’t going to pay the thirteen grand she needed to stay on in the dorm.
She hadn’t told anyone that part. Not even Rue.
Lexi had finished all the paperwork by dinner time, and sent it off thinking the worst that could happen would be a denial. She wasn’t losing anything, there was no loss of it didn’t work out.
Her shock at being accepted and matched in two days - a date lined up for Friday evening - had left her speechless. She had a reservation at some fancy restaurant at eight PM, a note to “dress to impress,” and the worst case of butterflies-in-her-stomach ever. It was comparable to the opening night of her play.
All of this had left Lexi feeling off-kilter, like the world had shifted on its access. Faye’s agency had sent a guide to pleasing the Sugar Daddy she had been matched with.
“Hey Rue?” Lexi had asked, two nights before the date would take place. Her roommate was dozing on her lofted bed, computer washing out her tawny features as she zoned out in front of some trashy reality show. Lexi understood the appeal - turning off her mind and watching the dramatics was one of her favorite brainless activities, too.
“Wassup?” Rue mumbled, lifting her head from her pillow.
“What does ‘girl-next-door’ mean? Like, is that a new aesthetic I’m not aware of?” Lexi asked. She peered over the rims of her reading glasses.
“I think that means like… Normal girl style?” Rue propped her head in her hand, fighting a yawn. She was pretty, in the way that Lexi had always envied. She didn’t spend too much time in front of the mirror, she didn’t carefully choose an outfit to fit her mood that day. Her tawny skin was clear and she rarely enhanced her features with makeup. That was for parties - especially if her crush Jules would be present. “Approachable. Not too flashy. Basic, I guess.”
“Hmm,” Lexi hummed thoughtfully. That didn’t help, but it was a start. Her future ‘Daddy’ was into crypto and real estate, travel and music. He preferred brunettes, light makeup, no fake nails or fake eyelashes. A man who appreciated natural beauty. Lexi prayed she didn’t disappoint him.
She didn’t think about what he would look like. Whether he would be handsome, or interesting, or smart. Lexi didn’t think it mattered, that her expectations were a moot point. She expected compensation, which they would flesh out together after determining whether they had any chemistry.
She had been so worried about being pleasing, about being what he wanted, that she hadn’t considered the possibility that he was hot.
But the man that sauntered up to the bar - wearing an impeccably tailored, slim-fit suit - was undeniably handsome. His suit was burgundy, threaded with gold, a black button-down beneath. Gold cufflinks glinted at his sleeves. He was taller than her, freckled, with the bluest eyes Lexi had ever seen. He eased onto the stool beside her, unbuttoning his jacket with one hand, and her heart pounded.
Maybe it wasn’t the right guy. He didn’t say anything, just lifted a finger to get the bartender’s attention. Lexi fidgeted, plucking a piece of ice out of her Coke to crunch nervously between her molars. Had she been staring? He probably thought she looked like a desperate dork in her borrowed dress and heels.
Rue’s crush came in handy. If Lexi ever needed to borrow a show stopping outfit, she knew where to go. Jules had been eager, opening her cram-packed closet, holding up hanger after hanger of dresses, rompers, jumpsuits… She was much taller than Lexi, and her feet two sizes bigger, but they ended up picking a white sundress with a fitted bodice and flattering skirt that Jules hemmed to reach just above her knees. The creamy color complimented her fading summer tan, and the strappy brown heels were manageable after some practice. Lexi didn’t own any jewelry, so she went without. Her makeup was light and natural, except for her trademark red lip.
There was nothing Lexi couldn’t do when she was wearing her red lipstick. It was like her superpower.
“You early,” the guy beside her said. Lexi nearly choked on her ice in surprise, shooting him a wide-eyed look. “I like that. Issa good sign.”
“Oh - um, thank you?” Lexi said, scrunching her nose doubtfully.
“Most people run on they own time. No respect,” he went on, nodding his thanks as the bartender set a bottle of Red Stripe on the bar in front of him. “Everybody got the same amount of hours in a day, you feel? No excuse to be late.”
“Or, at the very least, giving a heads up if there’s extenuating circumstances,” Lexi agreed. It felt like she was the lead in a movie, like she was dropped into a scene without having learned her lines first. She brushed her dark curls out off her shoulders, crossing her legs toward him. “For instance, traffic. Notoriously unpredictable. The public transport around here is awful, too.”
The corner of his mouth twitched up in a grin that made her heart stutter. Why in the world would this man pay to date her? He could have any girl in the room - she wasn’t oblivious to the many blonde heads that turned to follow as he crossed the room. “You tellin’ me you rode the bus, lookin’ like that?” He raised his eyebrows, glancing down at her legs, and Lexi could not fight the blush that crept up the back of her neck.
“I’m not above the bus,” Lexi said, sheepishly looking down at her lap. She was surprised when his finger lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes. She couldn’t decide if they were greenish or grayish blue - only that they reminded her of swimming pools, deep and fathomless.
“I’m Fezco,” he said, and Lexi’s pulse quickened as he traced her jaw. She shivered, unable to break his gaze. “I think we gonna get along like a house on fire, Lexi Howard.”
She wasn’t surprised that he knew her name.
He took his hand back and broke the spell, taking a long swig of his beer. “You ready to eat, ma?”
Lexi nodded, though her anxiety was making the thought of dinner less than appetizing. She took his offered hand, surprised at the calloused fingers and warmth of his palm against her own. He led her through the crowded dining room, and she felt as if every eye on the room was tracking them. Probably wondering what a guy like him was doing with someone as unpolished and green as herself. Was he famous? Was Lexi that out of touch?
She thought about emailing Faye, that maybe there had been a mistake… But he knew her name. She hadn’t misheard that .
Fezco (he couldn’t be that famous, Lexi reasoned - she wouldn’t forget a unique name like that) led her to a private booth in the rear of the restaurant, tucked against windows that overlooked the sprawling city lighting up as the sun sank into the Pacific. Lexi had gasped, enchanted as always with the view. She loved the city, and never failed to appreciate a new perspective of it. Fezco squeezed her hand, and she caught herself with an embarrassed smile.
“Sorry,” she mumbled. “I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of that, y’know?” Lexi gestured to the window, and Fezco grinned.
“Look all you want,” he said, and Lexi bit back a smile as she slid into the booth. Heavy white linen covered the table, and as soon as they were seated, a waiter in all black appeared ready to serve them with a big smile.
“Good evening, I’m Ellie, I’ll be your server this evening,” the tall redhead said, and Lexi felt like a chewed up piece of bubblegum in comparison. It seemed like everyone in LA was better looking than normal - in this sandbox filled with actors, models, musicians, Lexi wasn’t sure she could ever compare. She didn’t miss the way the young woman’s eyes lingered on Fezco - or the way his eyes were watching her. It was like the server wasn’t even there, a vivid hallucination.
Until he leaned back in his seat and glanced at her.
“I’m in the mood for a ribeye. Medium-rare. And waffle fries,” he said, and Lexi couldn’t help her incredulous laugh. “What? You got somethin’ against waffle fries?”
“Not at all,” Lexi replied, shaking her head.
“I’m not actually sure we have waffle fries,” the waitress said, eyebrows furrowing with doubt. “I can recommend tonight’s special, though, if you’d like? We have-“
“Nah. Is Rico cooking tonight?” Fezco asked, cutting her off. “Tell Rico that Fez brought his best girl to his dinner service, and we want Rico’s waffle fries.” He glanced at her from the corner of his eye, grinning. She noticed there was a tiny gap between his front teeth. He wasn’t being a jerk about it - the waitress chuckled along with him, shrugging agreeably, jotting it down on her notepad.
His best girl? Lexi wondered if this was the line he used on all of his sugar dates. He didn’t even know her, let alone well enough to decide that she was the best. Still, her stomach swooped with anticipation, with hope.
“And for you?” asked the waitress. She barely flicked her gaze toward Lexi, too busy smiling at Fezco solicitously.
“Can Rico do a patty melt, you think?” she asked Fezco, tilting her head curiously.
“You want a patty melt?” Fezco asked. They were at one of the fanciest restaurants in the city of angels. She could probably order Kobe beef or a rack of lamb with raspberry sauce. Even the waitress seemed a little amused at her decision, chuckling like she was a toddler that had said something preposterous. But there wasn’t an ounce of humor in Fezco’s face as he waited for her response. Lexi had the distinct impression that he was the kind of man that would move mountains to get what he wanted. “If Lexi wants a patty melt, she gon’ get a patty melt.”
“This isn’t Denny’s ,” sneered the waitress, scowling at Lexi as though she was personally insulted by the request. “You can’t just order whatever you want, you know. There’s a menu, and…”
Fezco slugged down the rest of his beer and slid out of the booth. He pulled a wallet from the inside of his jacket, dropping two crisp twenties onto the tabletop. “Nah, Ellie, we good. Let’s go get you a patty melt, shorty.”
Lexi scrambled to stand, taking his hand again. She felt the immature urge to stick her tongue out at the baffled waitress, but managed an apologetic smile instead as Fezco tugged her toward the door. The maitre de called his name, trying to wave him down, but Fezco pushed open the door and held it for Lexi to exit in front of him. On the sidewalk, the autumn heat was still oppressive, and she felt a prickle under her arms almost instantly.
“Don’t worry,” Fez said, grinning impishly. He laced their fingers together, leading Lexi down the street to a sleek black BMW. There was a gold pinstripe running lengthwise along the body, and windows tinted so dark they were almost black. “I drive.”
He unlocked the door and held it open. Lexi hesitated only a moment, thinking of all the serial killer documentaries she and her mother had watched in their new, shitty apartment over the summer. You weren’t supposed to go to a second location - that was as good as a death sentence. But the agency was strict, and Faye had assured Lexi that her safety was top priority.
“You are strangely determined to get me a patty melt,” she said, lingering beside him on the sidewalk. “We don’t have to, you know. I could’ve eaten a ribeye.” This was blatantly false - the patty melt was now the only thing she wanted, maybe the only thing she would ever eat for the rest of her life after he made such a scene about it.
“Whatchu mean, girl? You sayin’ you don’t want a patty melt?” he asked, eyebrows lifting high on his forehead.
“No, I just meant - it’s not a big deal. If you wanted the steak, I could’ve eaten something else.” She shrugged.
“But where is the fun in that?” Fezco asked. His eyes sparkled mischievously, and Lexi shook her head before climbing in. She gripped her purse, a small, quilted clutch (borrowed, again, from Jules). It was a knock off Louis Vuitton, but Lexi thought it was passable. She really had no idea.
Fezco climbed behind the wheel and pressed the button to start the engine. “So, you look real nice and all, I don’t wanna offend you by suggesting this,” he started, and her stomach plummeted with dread. Did she really look that awful? Was he embarrassed to be seen with her? She chewed her lip nervously. “But there’s this bussin’ little diner about twenty minutes south. Best patty melt of your life, hand to god.”
“Oh,” Lexi said, giggling with relief. “Why would that offend me? Of course, let’s go.”
Fezco smiled at her, slow and full on, like he couldn’t quite help it. She blushed and turned away, reaching for her seatbelt, too overwhelmed to continue looking at his handsome face.
Lexi could almost believe that she was on a normal date. Fezco didn’t treat her like she was beneath him - in her limited experience on the matter, she thought he was treating her like a woman he wanted to impress. Like it mattered to him that Lexi liked him. She wondered if he realized how much power he had within this dynamic.
“You can put whatever on the radio,” Fezco offered as they merged into the traffic lane. Lexi eyed the dashboard skeptically; she had always believed you could tell a lot about a person from their taste in music, and was curious to learn more about her mystery of a date. He felt like a contradiction. He dressed like a street fashion model, talked with a slow, sweet drawl that made her belly quiver, and he grinned at her like they were both in on some big secret. Lexi couldn’t get a good read on him - was he genuine, was he showing off, was he confident or cocky? She couldn’t decide.
She tapped the first preset station and was surprised - but pleased - to find a Motown station. It was one of her most listened-to playlists on Spotify. She sat back and hummed along to the old Supremes song as Fezco navigated the packed city streets.
“So, Lexi. What’s your deal?” Fezco asked after a long moment.
“Um, what d’you mean?” Lexi dropped her head against the soft leather seat, glancing across the center console at him. He shrugged, one hand on the steering wheel, the other fishing a pack of smokes from on the dashboard. Her nose wrinkled, and he groaned.
“See, I knew you couldn’t be perfect ,” he grumbled, but didn’t light one up. “I mean, whatchu do all day? What’s your hopes and dreams, all that shit?”
“Well, I’m a freshman at the U. Hoping to get a degree in creative writing or journalism. Minoring in psychology, because it’s useful for a lot of careers,” Lexi said. It was comfortable territory, something she’d repeated ad nauseum all semester when introduced to new people. “Ideally, I’d like to be the next Sylvia Plath. But without the whole sticking-my-head-in-an-oven part.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Sylvia who ? She put her head where ?” He sounded alarmed.
Lexi chuckled at his reaction. “Sylvia Plath. She was a writer. And also like, very tragically depressed and unhappy. But incredibly talented.”
“Man, that’s dark as hell, Lexi. Why you look up to this broad?” Fezco asked. “You ain’t depressed or nothin’ right? Like, you good?” He glanced toward her, concern shining in her eyes.
Well, aside from being on the verge of homelessness and starvation, I’m doing good. Lexi shook that thought away. She was embarrassed, and admitting her hardships to Fezco - charming guy, but still a stranger - was too much humiliation for Lexi to bear.
“I’m good. I just… think that there’s a lot of beauty in her words, and I want to move someone the way that her poetry has moved me.” Lexi shrugged, a little helplessly.
Fezco nodded, mumbling, “That’s wassup.”
Lexi covered her face with her hands, laughing nervously. “Oh my god, that was a really dorky thing to say, wasn’t it?”
“Nah,” Fezco said immediately, reassuring. “You like what you like. You passionate, Lexi. Think you must be smart as hell, too.”
She hugged her arms around her middle, comforted and pleased by his assessment. Cassie had always acted like she was such a freak, that she was trying to show off constantly by knowing so many random things. Her mother was never fully paying attention - Lexi had given up talking about this kind of stuff with her a long time ago. Suze obviously couldn’t be bothered, unless it was about boys or dating or fashion and makeup, which happened to be all of Cassie’s favorite things.
“What about you, Fezco?” She was curious. He appeared to have money, was actively going on a date with her to determine whether or not he wanted to give her money, so Lexi wondered how someone only a bit older than her could have so much. Was he a nepo baby? Was he some kind of tech developer? Lexi was still wondering if he was a celebrity she should know about.
“I do all kinda shit. Crypto, investing, property. Lots of little hustles.”
“Wow, that’s impressive. Did you get in on the GME thing?” Lexi had followed it closely on her Reddit front page. Of course, she couldn’t invest until she turned eighteen and opened her own bank account.
“My lil bro does most of that part. He’s real good with numbers and shit.” Fezco drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “So you go to school. You like depressing ass books. What else you do?”
“That’s pretty much it. There’s not enough time for anything else. I have to maintain a high GPA to keep my scholarship, so I dedicate literally all of my free time to academics.” Lexi sighed wearily, then cringed. “Ugh, you don’t want to hear about that. Sorry.”
“You good, shorty,” Fezco said, smiling. “It sounds like you need a break.”
She nodded. “Someday. That would be nice.”
Fezco hit the blinker and turned into a small parking lot. He parked in front of a small strip mall, nodding toward the storefront. “Roxy’s is the best kept secret in this town,” Fezco said, grinning. “You hungry?”
She nodded, and unbuckled her seatbelt. He hopped out and came around to open her door. Lexi was blushing as she took his hand again. She couldn’t believe that this was actually fun. She’d imagined the date would be quieter, that the man would be older and less adventurous. Or only focused on her body, trying to get intimate before deciding whether she was going to make the sugar baby cut.
Fezco was acting like this was a genuine first date. Like he actually wanted to get to know her. For the first time in her memory, it felt like someone was truly listening to her. She wasn’t sure what to do with his undivided attention, but Lexi knew that she liked it.
Inside, the scent of grease and salt hung in the air, and the walls were covered in hundreds of photographs. Fezco squeezed her hand and tugged her into another booth - Lexi thought, as she grinned at him across the sticky tabletop, that the view was just as good here. Better, when he grinned.
“So,” Fezco said, after their food had been ordered and drinks delivered. Lexi sipped a black coffee - even if she couldn’t sleep tonight, she craved the caffeine buzzing through her veins - while Fez had another beer. She wasn’t sure if it were legal, as the place didn’t hold a liquor license, but the odds were low that anybody was going to bust him. “What do you want out of this?”
Lexi hadn’t been expecting this question so quickly. She had thought about it, how to phrase it in a polite, cute way that wouldn’t seem greedy. Asking for anything was hard - asking for help was the hardest of all. She had always just done things, whether she wanted to or not. She was the type that took over group projects, even though she hated the responsibility of telling everyone what role to fill, texting and organizing study group times, signing up breakaway rooms at the library… She just couldn’t trust anyone else to do it, so she took over.
What did she want from him? Lexi wanted support. Even just financially, it was one burden lifted off her shoulders. If she got to enjoy the time spent earning that support, it was a win-win.
“What do you want?” Lexi asked. She wrung her hands in her lap. “I’m not trying to like, deflect your question. I’ve just… never done this before. I have no idea what to expect.”
“I wanna kick it with a cool ass girl and spoil her rotten,” Fezco said bluntly. “My lil bro went off to college, it’s been hard as hell with him up outta the house.”
Lexi tucked that information away like her mind was a filing cabinet. She had a planner she started using to keep track of their dates - assuming there were more - as well as information from Faye. She had done some research between classes. Lexi liked to know what she was getting herself into.
“How many nights a week you busy?” Fezco asked next.
“I only have two night classes, so any other nights are open.”
“So, we meet up like, three nights a week. Hang out, get food, hit the club, whatever you want. How’s that sound?” Fezco asked. He scratched his chin, and she wondered if the sudden fidgeting meant he was nervous, too.
“I’d like that,” Lexi replied.
“You havin a nice time?” His lips turned up, teasing her, and Lexi had to look away. She liked his smile too much already.
“I am,” she confirmed in a soft voice.
“Good. Me too.” His foot nudged hers under the table, and she felt her cheeks go hot. “So, to be like… thorough. You said that kissing was a no-go.”
Lexi considered crawling under the table. Of course, this was an important part of the whole process. Negotiating the terms of their relationship. But it was still incredibly awkward to be discussing it out in the open, instead of behind a screen.
“Is there any reason, or…?” Fezco went on. “It ain’t cuz you got a man already or nothin’?”
“Oh god, no,” Lexi said, shaking her head quickly. “No, it’s just… Not something I’m comfortable with.”
“But everything else…?” His eyebrows furrowed seriously.
Really, the floor could open up and swallow her whole at any time. “Yeah, I mean. All the things I checked yes on.” She spotted their waitress bringing their food, and smiled at her. Fezco waited until their plates were delivered with a quick “ careful, it’s hot!” before he continued.
Lexi licked her lips at the sight of her patty melt. It was exactly what she wanted - Fezco had one too, with a mound of waffle fries.
“Are you on birth control?” Fezco asked.
She wasn’t embarrassed to answer this one. “Yes. I’ve got an implant.” She pointed at her arm, and Fezco nodded. “My sister had an abortion when I was sixteen, and I basically begged my mother to put me on something. I wasn’t even having sex yet.” She’d only had sex once since then, but Fezco didn’t need to know that.
“Smart girl,” Fezco said. He took a bite of his sandwich, and Lexi followed suit. The carmelized onions and gooey Swiss cheese combined with thick, grilled Texas toast was precisely what she needed. After weeks of convenience store food and hot ‘n ready pizzas, Lexi was in heaven. “Good to see you eat, shorty. You too skinny.”
Lexi rolled her eyes. “I eat. You don't have to worry about that.”
“Good.” He took another bite and chewed thoughtfully. “So you got a scholarship. That cover everything?”
Lexi grimaced. She could spill her pathetic sob story, or she could maybe ease into that at a later date. She didn’t want to trauma dump and bring their whole evening down. She obviously needed the money, and that was her motivation here. But she didn’t want to be pathetic. She didn’t want him to pity her. Her evening with Fezco was quickly becoming the best time she’s had since moving onto campus in August. She didn’t want to spoil it.
“Pretty much,” she lied, sipping her coffee.
Fezco seemed impressed. “Must’ve been valedictorian, huh?”
Lexi rolled her eyes. “Of course.”
They munched on their meals in silence for a minute. Lexi could barely finish half, but Fezco made an impressive dent in his own plate.
“So after this,” Fezco said, wiping his hands on a paper napkin. “I got a room, and if you’re up for it, we could chill out there for the night.”
Lexi’s heart stuttered. If she went to a third location, a secluded hotel room where she was essentially trapped with a very cute man that she barely knew, she would have to be a real dummy. But her stomach was fluttering with excitement, and anticipation. She wanted to be alone with him. She wanted to know what would happen.
Maybe it was novelty, a guy seeming interested in her for once. Not just any guy, but a handsome one, a guy that made her feel like she was the only other person in the room. She liked it, liked how warm it made her feel.
“That sounds good,” Lexi said, forcing herself to hold his gaze. Something between them shifted, nothing tangible - but Lexi felt as if the entire atmosphere had changed. Like his blue eyes had suddenly darkened, turned a bit predatory. They dropped to her mouth, her throat - he smiled crookedly as she swallowed hard - to the top of her dress, the small swells of her breasts pressing against the cotton.
“Ima go pay,” Fezco said, sliding out of the booth.
Lexi glanced down at her plate, fighting a smile. It didn’t feel like something that could have ever happened to her, it felt like something out of a movie. She finished her coffee and grabbed her clutch, meeting Fezco at the door.
“You ready, shorty?” he asked, his voice soft and low and close enough to her ear that she felt his warm breath fan across her cheek. She didn’t have to think about it, she didn’t have to lie.
“Yes.”