Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 94489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 472(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 472(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Vanessa: For the orgasms?
Simon: For showing them they didn't want someone like me.
Vanessa: What do they say?
Simon: I work too hard. I'm not emotionally available. I remind them of their fathers.
Vanessa: Really? They admit that?
Simon: Usually.
Vanessa: What do you say?
Simon: What's there to say? I don't know their fathers. I do work hard. I'm not looking to fall in love. They're right. I'm happy they found what they wanted.
Vanessa: Really? You never feel a pang of regret? You sit there, watch them say I do, and you don't think once, that could have been us?
Simon: Us? Never.
Vanessa: You and someone else?
Simon: That was the life I imagined. When I was younger.
Vanessa: Marriage to a Park Avenue Princess? Cute blond kids?
Simon: Blonds again?
Vanessa: What can I say? I see you with a blond.
Simon: I don't.
Vanessa: You imagine your wife?
Simon: I used to?
Vanessa: And?
I'm not answering that. It's not a good idea.
For either of us.
Simon: I don't have a type.
Vanessa: As long as she's hot?
Simon: My exact words, yes.
Vanessa: I got it from Liam.
Simon: You talk to Liam?
Vanessa: No. But it's not for lack of trying on his part.
Simon: He likes to fuck with me.
Vanessa: Younger siblings.
Simon: Try having four.
Shit.
Vanessa: I'm sorry about Bash.
Simon: Don't.
Vanessa: Okay. I won't. I just wanted you to know. Even though you're my ruthless rival, I want your family to be okay.
Simon: My family? Not me.
Vanessa: They're great. You're an asshole.
Simon: I'm not going to argue.
Vanessa: I didn't know him well, but he went out of his way to make me feel comfortable.
Simon: He liked you.
Vanessa: Really?
Simon: He loved beautiful women.
Vanessa: Was that all it was?
No. But it was part of it.
Simon: He was a romantic.
Vanessa: And we're two overly pragmatic realists?
Simon: That's how I saw it.
Vanessa: He saw otherwise?
Simon: He thought I was a cynic. Lying to myself about my true desire for love and connection.
Vanessa: He's the one you promised?
Simon: Yes.
Vanessa: Is that what this is? More of that promise?
Maybe. But not the way she means.
I'm not doing this out of blind obligation.
Simon: No. This is because I want you to come on my face.
Vanessa: Fuck. You unnerve me.
Simon: I know.
Vanessa: You do it on purpose.
Simon: I do.
Vanessa: Why?
Simon: You're a queen. Strong. Regal. Poised. I want to affect you. To see your composure fall.
Vanessa. You can't tell you do?
Simon: Only at certain times.
Vanessa: The times we're discussing.
Simon: Yes.
She's quiet for a minute.
Vanessa: Is it like your other arrangements?
Simon: I don't have a rulebook.
Vanessa: I don't believe that.
Simon: Nothing in writing.
Vanessa: I barely believe that.
Simon: Do you want something in writing?
Vanessa: Maybe. I, Simon Pierce, promise not to lie to or manipulate one, Vanessa Moyer.
Simon: I promise.
Vanessa: The rest?
Simon: Tell me what you want. I'll make it happen.
Vanessa: I want to be monogamous.
Simon: Done.
Vanessa: I want to be honest. No excuses, no lies, no bullshit. I spend all day listening to bullshit.
Simon: The truth is ugly sometimes.
Vanessa: Even so.
Simon: If it's too ugly?
Vanessa: Say that. Say, 'I can't talk about this.' The way you did just now. About your brother. You're Simon Pierce. You know how to say no.
Simon: My favorite word.
Vanessa: Is it really?
Simon: It's up there.
Vanessa: With?
Simon: Fuck.
Vanessa: Fuck. Really?
Simon: Of course. It's efficient, adaptable, powerful.
Vanessa: It reminds you of you.
Simon: It reminds me of you.
Vanessa: Really?
Simon: Yes. Elegant. Dirty. Strong. All at once.
Vanessa: That sounds like a compliment.
Simon: It is.
Vanessa: You're unnerving me again.
Simon: Because I admire you?
Vanessa: Because you say it.
Simon: I do admire you. But that's not why I want to fuck you.
Vanessa: This is not how I thought this conversation would go.
Simon: Me either.
Vanessa: I like no too. It's authoritative.
Simon: Like you.
Vanessa: Compared to anyone else.
Simon: Even compared to me.
Vanessa: We're both in the 99th percentile.
A laugh spills from my lips. She's calling me a bossy bastard. With statistics.
Simon: Is that it? No one else and no bullshit?
Vanessa: No feelings. We can be friends. We can talk. We can eat dinner first. Or eat breakfast in the morning. But it doesn't mean anything.
Simon: You want me to spend the night?
Vanessa: Not necessarily. But I don't want you to leave the moment you're done. There's no shame in paying for it, or taking payment for it, but I'm not a whore, and I don't want to feel like one.
Simon: Did you?
Vanessa: Not exactly.
Simon: That wasn't my intention.
Vanessa: I know.
Simon: I can't stay often. I have to keep an eye on Opal.
Vanessa: She's an adult.
Simon: Even so.
Vanessa: Will you tell her?
Simon: No. She already assumes. And Lee?
Vanessa: She knows.
Simon: Then she knows.
Vanessa: You don't mind?
Simon: It depends what you're saying about me.
Vanessa: It's dick size again.
Simon: It is?
Vanessa: That girl in high school, the one who said you two hooked up, but it didn't fit. You paid her to say that, didn't you?
Simon: How did you know?
Vanessa: Ruthless. Efficient. Exactly like you.