Page 103 of At His Beck & Call

“Shoes?”

“Mm, Manolo’s specifically. I’ve always wanted to have a pair of those. But they’re crazy expensive.” I say.

“You like fashion then?”

“I love fashion. Bethany has about fifty pairs of Jimmy Choos, but she’s a size bigger than me, or I’d steal them all. I’ve always wanted to go to Paris for Fashion Week. I get totally obsessed around awards season, too, with all the dresses. I spend hours scrolling through the outfits and critiquing them all like I’m not sitting on the couch in my jeans from Target.”

He laughs. “Hm. We’re cut from the same cloth then, perhaps.”

“So, children’s books and watches… Do you collect anything else?” I ask.

“You’d be amazed. And probably appalled.”

“What’s your favorite collection?”

His eyes glint at me as he cocks his head to one side. “Will Henry be alright if we’re gone for just ten minutes? It’s not far.”

He doesn’t elaborate, but on the way to the stairs, I check in on Henry. Truman leaps up as he sees Oliver and scampers over to him, but Henry doesn’t stir at all. He’s fast asleep.

“We’re not going far, right?” I ask worriedly.

“It'll be ten minutes. I promise.”

We make our way downstairs all the way to the basement.

“What is this?” I ask as we step inside.

“It’s my parking garage.”

The level of luxury is amazing to me, and as we step into a private basement parking lot, my mouth falls open.

It isfilledwith cars. There must be twenty. Gleaming. Perfect. Most of them silver or black.

“This is by far my favorite collection,” Oliver admits. “Revolting, isn’t it?”

“Oh my god,” I say with a squeak in my voice. “This is crazy.”

“Abso-fucking-lutely, it is. But they’re beautiful, aren’t they?”

“Stunning,” I say as we walk toward them. The gleaming hoods reflect the lights back at me, glittering as we pass each one.

It’s breathtaking, and I can’t even imagine how much they cost.

“This is the one I use most often,” he says, moving to a black Porsche. As I stand in front of it, he moves behind me, his hands going around my waist, and I shudder in his arms as he rests his head on my shoulder. “I’d love to show you the back seat, but there isn’t one.”

I let out a laugh as he turns me around, smiling down at me.

“I’m not sure how you’re pulling off this look. Those pajama pants are ten times your size, but you still look so fucking beautiful.”

I give a nervous laugh and then gasp as he pushes me back, supporting my weight as I hit the hood of the car. He steps between my legs, unfastening the tie on my pants, his eyes filling with heat as he stares at me.

“I’ll be quick, I promise. But I really want to watch you come all over the hood of my favorite car.”

“Oliver, I can’t.” It kills me to say those words. “I need to be back in the house in case Henry needs me.”

“Of course, what am I thinking?” he says. “I’m glad you told me that. I always want you to speak up if you’re uncomfortable with any situation.”

I tie back my borrowed pants self-consciously and nod.