“Yes.”
“And after a whole weekend of seeing me as nothing but a sexual object, you now have the chance to get to know the real me, and not only is that awkward…” Her voice went up as she guessed what she was thinking. “You’re the type to just want to move on from that. Start over. But not really, because we actuallydoknow a lot about each other on a visceral level?”
He opened his mouth to sayYesagain. Except Eden cut him off, her chin in her hand as she matched his posture against the table and adopted the kind of delicate poise that completely threw a man like Benson Smith off his game.
“Like how I know some of your dirtiest kinks, sir.”
His teeth tapped together as he zipped his mouth shut again.
“To be fair, you know some of the things I’m willing to do. Like what I’m willing to do to make a living while I still have the body to do it.”
That’s one way to put it.“Yes.”
“Okay.” She pulled back, as if she had made up her mind. “So, we’ll just try our best to move on.”
“Perhaps we should first get the most awkward questions we have out of our systems.”
“Oh. Right. And if we’re still interested in each other after, it’s a good sign.”
The waiter brought over their curries. “Suppose so,” Benson said in between taking his red curry and thanking the waiter. Once he confirmed that nothing else was required, the waiter left. Benson picked up his fork while Eden did that thing Drew always did – she took a few photos of her immaculately plated food to save for later.
“You first,” he insisted.
Eden considered her food before putting her phone away. “Sure.” She thought about it while dribbling some pumpkin curry over her jasmine rice. “How often do you go to the island, anyway? It definitely wasn’t your first time.”
Benson had sworn that nothing she could have asked would embarrass him. Yet there he was, dying inside because his date asked such a question. One that would not only gauge his interest in that kind of atmosphere, but also how much money he spent on such excursions to the Caribbean. It was a way to both suss out how much money he had at any given timeandhow he frivolously spent it on pussy.God damnit.
He would not lie, though. At this point in his life, there was no point. Besides, Eden was definitely more perceptive than some other women her age, if only because of the work she had done.I know exactly what to ask her back now.She had dropped the proverbial gauntlet on the table. Time to get serious.
“A few times,” he confessed as he meticulously added the chicken and vegetables to his rice. He would refrain from taking a bite until he was done talking. “Over the past several years. They know me, and I know how it works there, but I’m far from their biggest repeat customer.”
“What’s the appeal for you? I mean, besides the obvious.”
“That's two questions.” He would humor her, though. “I’ve already revealed that I don’t sweat the small stuff. I’ve always appreciated that a man who needs to let loose a little could show up and do exactly like that. The rules make it clear what is and isn’t okay. As I’ve gotten older and grown more of a conscience about these things, I also appreciate the added security and knowing the Butterflies are paid exceptionally well. The ball looks like it’s in the court of the guests…”
“It is,” Eden said.
“…But I’m not interested in the power play itself. I know some events cater to those fantasies. For me, consent is important. The structure of the island gives me the chance to fulfill some of my fantasies in a safe place, while I’m ensured the women fulfilling those fantasies are compensated for what they must put up with. I don’t get off on the idea of anyone being hurt.Besides, part of the reason I went at the last minute this season was because I really needed to get out of town. Get some sun. Get…”
“Laid?”
Finally, Benson cleared his throat and took a bite of food.
“Suppose that makes sense. All right.” Eden had arranged her food quite nicely before taking a single bite. “Your turn.”
His question was already locked and loaded. “How did you get a gig like that? Were you already in the industry?”
Eden hid her discomfort with her first bite. After exclaiming how good it was, she attempted to take the question seriously. “Not really,” she said, after dabbing her mouth with the napkin. “It was my first time doing something like that. It was a total fluke that I fell into it.”
“I was under the impression that most Butterflies are experienced in that line of work.”
“Most of them were, yes. See, one of my friends from collegeisin the industry and eventually got a gig as a hostess at The Dark Hour. I’m sure you know it.”
“Indeed.”
“I went a few times. I liked the atmosphere. One of the owners scouted me. Said she liked my look and inquired if I was looking for a part-time job that paid well.”
“She went straight to that?”