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Twelve years on and it still made his skin feel like it was coated in dirt Still ed to other people Like he was a product, waiting to be used for the buyer’s pleasure He still felt that his past clients owned little pieces of him Like he’d been torn apart and parceled off

But not hisof his mind Only his body

He didn’t want to go back to that Didn’t want to spend any tio of physical pleasure He didn’t kno to handle it all in the right way anyway It wasn’t the same for him

But Julia was a woman A normal woman, as not unaffected by his touch and that ainst her He was determined not to do that, no matter what

There were depths he would not sink to He would use her, but only so far as she used him But in ter fields, and he would never, ever do to her what had been done to him

He would never use her body to his own ends Because he could It would be so very easy…

“Well, that’s a relief And also, gentleive me the bed”

“I assu for the room”

“But you’re my date,” she said

“I’ the bill is the only thing giving you a preferential sleeping position, so if you want me to pay…”

“I’m pretty sure I can afford it, Ferro, or did you not see that I’m the richest woman in the world”

“I did, it was an interesting article”

“Well, I can afford a hotel room And I want the bed”

“I can afford one, too”

“Yeah, yeah, I read your article, too And hey, you were reading about ht and insecurity Julia was a savvy businesswo beneath it, too Soli with dreams