21 Questions

**Allie's POV**
"Look outside."
My attention was drawn away from his strange line of questioning regarding Alex by his simple command. I turned my head to the floor to ceiling windows of the New York high rise, gasping when I saw the large white flakes sprinkling gently from the dreary sky above.
It wasn't the first fall of the season, but it was beautiful nonetheless. I watched as Nate took graceful steps towards the large picturesque panes, stopping just shy of the glass. His jaw was loose, contrasting with it's previous tension from our conversation. He looked so awed. Awed and beautiful, beautiful like the snow.
Shit, was was I thinking? What was I doing? I was gawking. At a man. A man who was technically nothing more than an employee of mine, like Rob or Wells. He was just... prettier. I tried to swallow the massive lump that had formed in my throat, pulling my attention back to the last bite of cheesecake.
Why was he so insistent on me having this? I was fine with the carrots, even though they weren't all that tasty.
Carrots.
Carats.
My eyes flickered down to the rings on my finger. My left ring finger. The only outward proof of the major life decision I had made this morning.
God, it was a beautiful set. Simple, elegant, and judging by the shine, expensive as hell. The box read Abe Mor, which was one of the most reputable jewelers in New York. It must've cost him a shit ton of money to buy, which only made the gesture that much more confusing. He didn't have to do it. He could've very well left me to choose a ring for myself... Wait, did he have a ring?
Maybe I could check, and if he doesn't... I abandoned my cheesecake, turning to face Nate for an answer to my question, but he was gone. My face fell. He just left. Without even telling me.
With a sigh and huff, I headed in the direction of his bedroom. What the hell could he have run off for? I thought he was enjoying looking at the snow.
I skidded to a stop outside his door, debating if I should disrupt him. I mean, he did rudely intrude on me, earlier. My face flushed crimson at the humiliating memory. He looked so… apologetic. It wasn't at all like I imagined a man like him to behave after walking in on a woman pleasuring herself. I half expected him to volunteer to take over on my behalf.
But he didn't. He turned around.
A brief thought that maybe he didn't find me attractive flashed through my mind, unwelcome. I mean, I'm not nearly as dressed up as I usually am. I chose not to dwell, not liking the tightening in my chest at the thought.
I honestly believed he was trying to be respectful. Which only left me with more questions. How could an escort, a man who looked like that, respect anybody but themselves?
'*You don't have to like me. But at least respect me*.'
I sighed, but just as I was about to continue down the hall to my own room in defeat, the door before me swung open.
"Jesus!" He breathed out in surprise, clutching at his chest. His bare chest. I knew I should've apologized, or at least tried explaining why the hell I was stationed outside his door like a creep, but I couldn't speak.
My gluttonous eyes raked hungrily over his exposed skin, answering the questions I had asked during my alone time earlier. Shit. He had a light dusting of hair in the center of his toned chest to match his head. Dark. Exotic against his ivory English skin. His pecks and abs formed little grooves down his lean torso, telling me that he was just as in shape as I imagined he would be, and another light in quantity but dark in shade trail of hair formed from his naval, disappearing below the waistband of his shorts.
So… Sexy.
He cleared his throat, making me flinch, and my eyes met his confused, albeit slightly amused golden orbs.
"Allie?" He prompted, his accent thick and his voice slightly husky.
"I, um, didn't know where you went." Because you didn't say anything. His brow shot up.
"I didn't think you'd care. I apologize." Oh. It stung a little more than I'd expected it to, but he was right. I had given him no signs that I actually cared where he was or what he was doing. When I didn't answer, he spoke again. "Would you like to join me? I'm popping over for a swim. I thought it would be nice with the snow."
Oh. That was why he was topless. He was going to swim.
Just like in my fantasy.
I shook my improper thoughts from my head.
"Yea. Sure. I, um, wanted to talk to you some more. But I'll pass on swimming." He was right, though. I couldn't count how many times I'd rushed to the pool during early snowfall. The glass retractable dome that shielded the water in the cold winter months made snowfall magical. I loved to just float on my back, watching the flakes disappear as they hit the glass overhead, of course eventually accumulating once it was sufficiently cooled.
I led the way, not trusting myself to walk behind him in his tight European style navy trunks. Way too tempting. Hell, this was going to be hard.
Within a minute, the scent of chlorine hit my senses hard, masking the addicting scent of his cologne. The door had been left open, probably by me earlier when I was giving Nate the tour.
I stepped onto the textured yet modern style tile floor with my bare feet, crossing to the padded lounger by the deep end to sit. Nate's eyes were focused up, and I used it as an opportunity to focus mine on him. Equal parts masculine and graceful, dominating yet effortlessly fluid. How? And better yet, why?
Why did a man like him agree to marry me, when he could easily have found his own wife, one he could touch?
He stood at the edge of the pool, first sticking out a toe, creating a small current in the water as he tested it. Then, in one elegant and perfect motion, he dove beneath the gentle wave.
"Twenty one questions."
"Huh?" I was so busy daydreaming, that I hadn't realized him coming back up to the surface. He floated, using his arms to tread the water.
"The game." When I cocked my head, his eyes widened in surprise. "You know, where you ask someone a question and they have to answer honestly, no matter what?" Huh.
"Okay. Am I allowed to pass?" He shook his head vehemently. "So what happens if I don't answer?" I raised a brow, crossing my arms in defiance. He shrugged, not bothering to hide his smirk.
"You get tossed in the pool." I gaped.
"That's not fair. You're already in the pool!" But he dismissed my complaint with a chuckle.
"I won't be passing on any questions." He retorted daringly. Okay fine. I'd play his little game. I sat up, squaring my shoulders.
"Fine. But I go first." He smiled, the bright white of his teeth making it impossible not to grin myself.
"Alright. Ask away." I thought for a minute. Finally deciding on one, I opened my lips.
"Did you work as an escort for very long?" He didn't look the least bit surprised by my choice of question.
"No. Only a month. I made pizza beforehand. I've only been here for six months. In the US, I mean." Something inside me cheered, and I knew it was because that meant he hadn't been out with many women. But why did I care? "My turn. You mentioned your dad is a big executive. But what about the rest of your family? Your mum?"
"Gone. It's just me." His face softened, but not in pity. More like understanding. "How about you? Is your family in America, too?" He swam up to the side, leaning up on his elbows as he kicked his feet behind him.
"It's just me. My mum and dad passed in an accident a year ago. Left me just enough to get here." He said with a shrug, and I felt my throat tighten. He was orphaned?
"I'm so sorry." But he just gave me a soft smile, his bright eyes chasing my anxiety away.
"My turn. But you have to come closer, first." I lifted a brow in question. "Just in case you try skipping." He explained with a boyish grin. I rolled my eyes, taking slow steps to the edge of the pool and sitting cross-legged beside where he leaned. He eyed me in curiosity, and I thought I saw flash of desire as he passed over my cleavage, but it vanished quickly.
"Okay, ask your question." I said with a huff. His golden eyes darkened slightly, his voice taking on a certain level of gentle sympathy as he met my wavering and hesitant gaze.
"What's the real reason we can't conceive together?"
Having the Escort's Baby
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