I make no excuses for who or what I am. I don’t hide; why should I? Don’t get me wrong. I don’t go around shaking people’s hands, introducing myself as Vivienne the sex worker. But I am.
I’m your upper-class escort; the arm candy of the filthy rich and if the price is right, I’m the stuff wet dreams are made of. It’s just a job, but one I get paid ridiculously well for. One I excel at. So why would I stop? It’s just sex; it means nothing.
But for one man, it’s everything. And he’s about to ruin it all.
DESTINED TO FALL, the first standalone contemporary novel in Reluctant Lovers series by Simone Nicole, the author of the The Darkness duet.
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DESTINED TO FALL
© 2025 Simone Nicole
“The gallery was amazing,” I offer weakly.
He turns to look at me with a small, lopsided grin. “I had a feeling you’d like it. And I kept my word—you didn’t break the bank.”
I chuckle halfheartedly. “I’ll have to take Luke up on that tour, then, and take some of that magic home with me.”
“I’m sure he’d love that,” Jeremy mumbles before opening his car door.
My forehead furrows as the door slams behind him before the realization of what I’d inadvertently hinted at dawns on me, and I hastily exit the car. “Like you’ll let me go alone. You know I can’t be trusted.” What am I doing?
One corner of his mouth flickers with a hesitant smile as I round the car, coming to stand in front of him. “With Luke or your credit card?”
I smirk at that. “The latter, of course.”
“And the former?” he asks, his voice low.
All playfulness is gone, and my mouth feels dry and unresponsive as he continues to stare through me. I manage to find my voice, but not my good sense, with the need to break the tension building. “And break him? Not my style.” He’s too slight for my liking. Jeremy, on the other hand…
“And me?”
My gaze drifts lazily down to sweep across his broad shoulders and down his firm chest. I still remember how it felt pressed up against mine. It was hard, unyielding, and rippled in all the right places. I’ve caught myself more than once since meeting him, wondering what he’s hiding underneath his well-fitted clothing.
Jeremy steps forward, the movement breaking my train of thought and forcing my gaze to his. A hint of a smirk plays at one corner of his enticing mouth.
“Are you done objectifying my body, or do you need another minute?”
“As much as I can with your clothes on,” I mumble, more to myself than to him. “And as if you weren’t molesting mine with your eyes at the charity thing last Thursday.”
He chuckles softly. “You noticed that, huh?”
“It was hard to miss.” It was all I could notice. “And as for you? You don’t look breakable.” Physically, at least. “But that’s yet to be determined.”
“Is that so? Well, I guess there’s only one thing to do about that.”
“Get you naked and take you for a test drive?” I ask in all seriousness.
“There’s that…” he says lazily, his tone one of calm indifference as he steps closer still. I, on the other hand, am anything but. I can feel my pulse everywhere. “But I have the distinct impression you’re the look-with-your-hands type.”
Hands…tongue… “I like to be thorough.”
“No inch left un-perused?”
I swallow. Hard. And nod.
He closes the little distance between us, and my heart stutters. His cheek a hairsbreadth from mine, he whispers in my ear, “No dice.”
Mouth. Agape.
God, the ass. I fling my legs over the side of my bed and stand with a thud. His laughter still rings in my head as I slam the alarm off and storm into my closet.
“It’s like waving chocolate cake in front of a diabetic,” he teases.
I push feebly at his chest. “Keys, jackass.”
Still chuckling, he says, “Go out with me.”
“No.”
“I’m not giving your keys back until you say yes.”
“Yes,” I say flatly, thrusting my hand out, palm up.
His eyes widen, and his smirk turns into a blinding grin as he lifts the keys to my hand. “Really? That was easier than I thought.”
I laugh out loud to myself as I throw on a sports bra, tank, and bike shorts. I guess he was just as gullible as I was.
“No, not really.” His face falls for a fraction of a second before he frowns, his fingers curling around the keys before I can take them. “Damn it, Jeremy, give me the keys.”
“That was mean.”
I shrug, fighting a sardonic grin. “Tit for tat, baby.” My gaze drops to his covered chest again. “Hmm, do you have any tattoos? I wouldn’t be opposed to trading skin for skin.”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
I roll my eyes again, hopping from foot to foot as I stumble with the uncoordinated grace of a gorilla, putting on my socks and running shoes before pulling a thin hoodie from a drawer. I grab my cell, armband, and headphones on the way out, slamming the front door locked behind me.
“I’d much rather find out for myself, but we’ve already established that’s off the table.”
“Is it?”
“Jeremy…”
“Coffee, and I’ll tell you.”
I wrinkle my nose, frustrated, and against my better judgment, intrigued. “Fine. Sunday, ten a.m., at the Equal Exchange Café on Causeway, North End.”
He nods briefly before giving me a pointed look. The keys dangling precariously off one finger.
“I’m a woman of my word,” I drawl.
“Good.”
Jeremy takes my hand, putting the keys securely in it, and wraps his other around my waist, tugging me out of the way of the driver’s door. He opens it as I watch, confused by the gesture. His face is so close to my own I could stick my tongue out and lick him. The thought makes me grin.
Jeremy chooses that moment to look at me, his gaze dropping to my lips, and his hand tightens on my hip. Before I can blink, he shifts me with ease, our bodies brushing as I’m wedged between him and the open door, a silent gasp escaping me at the unexpected movement and contact.
My heart races, practically beats against his chest, we’re so close. Our noses brush as he whispers against my lips, “It’s a date.”
Just as quickly, he releases his hold on me and walks off, leaving me taken aback and in a stunned stupor.
My fingers trace an invisible line across my mouth, still feeling the whispered warmth and electricity he left behind. I shake my head, stuff my earbuds in, and turn up the volume. I run, and I’ll keep on running until the sun replaces the heat on my face and the wind deadens the ache on my lips.
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