CHAINS
Inthehotelboardroom,I check my watch. “Where are Clint and Vanessa?” It’s not like management to be late to a meeting with their bosses.
“Relax.” Lincoln rests his ankle on his knee and leans back in his chair like he has nowhere else to be. Well, some of us do. “Clint messaged to say they're dealing with something at the Crimson Bar, and they’ll be here as soon as possible.”
“I don’t have all night to wait.”
Asher chuckles. “In a hurry to get back to Daisy?”
I clamp my lips shut. They didn’t get the chance to rib me about bringing Daisy along, not with her sitting next to me on the flight.
“Tell us again why you brought Daisy on our business trip?” Lincoln asks with faux curiosity in his tone. “And why you’ve set her up in your suite?”
“Why do you care what I’m doing and with who?” I glare at them both.
Lincoln rubs his chin. “It’s interesting. That’s all. Don’t you think so, Ash?”
“Very interesting. Especially since he has a room attached to his office here at the hotel for when he picks up women.” Asher turns toward me. “You’ve never invited a woman to your suite, have you, Chains?” He asks like he doesn’t know the answer when he damn well does.
“For a man of few words, you're fucking chatty tonight.”
He grins, taking no offense at my comment.
I can understand why this has shocked them. It shocks me too. They’re right. I’ve never taken a woman to my suite. Or in the jet. No woman has ever been in my personal space. Except, she’s been in my home, my bedroom, my plane, and now my private hotel suite.
This is not me. I don’t recognize myself when I’m around her. All I want to do is be with her. Fuck this meeting. Fuck Asher and Lincoln. I have a better place to be. “I’m outta here.” I stand and head for the door.
“Where are you going? Clint and Vanessa are on their way,” Lincoln says.
“Fill me in tomorrow.”
“Heading to your room, are you?” Amusement is threaded through his voice.
I swing open the door and leave without answering. That’s exactly where I’m going, and they know it. No need to give them the satisfaction of spelling it out for them.
On a mission to fuck Daisy every which way she’ll let me, I march in the direction of my room.
***
Daisy isn’t in the living area. I check the master bedroom, hoping she’s naked and waiting for me. That room is alsoempty. Next, I look in the bathrooms in case she’s showering. Something I’d love to join her in. She’s not there. The only room left is the one with the clothes.
Sitting in the middle of the bed, Daisy’s wearing the dress she arrived in, the clothes I had brought tossed in piles around her.
When she sees me, she scrambles off the mattress. A shadow of dismay on her face. “You’re back so soon.”
“Sorry to disappoint you.”
“Oh, no. I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just that you said you’d be longer and now you’re here, and I’m not ready, and I’ve made a mess of the clothes. Which I should’ve been more careful with because they’re so expensive…” She trails off.
She’s adorable when she babbles.
“They didn’t need me for the meeting after all.” That’s a lie. I couldn’t stand being away from Daisy. “Having trouble deciding what to wear?” I point to the outfits.
“Yes, actually. You leave me with these beautiful garments. I’m not sure you’ve bought them for me or for every other woman you’ve invited to your suite. I don’t know where we’re going or what we’re doing. I thought we were…” Her eyes flick to the bed.Yes, Daisy, that’s exactly where this night’s heading. She clears her throat. “There are evening gowns… are we going to a ball? And cocktail dresses. Outfits suitable for clubbing. Are we going out for drinks, then dancing? Then there are these.” She picks up a black negligee. “In multiple colors. This is one night only. Why do I need so many choices of sleepwear or any outfit for that matter? What do I get dressed in? Or am I getting ready for bed?”
She moves around the room with agitated arm gestures. Never would I have thought I’d overwhelm her with choice. When I take her to bed, I want her relaxed and comfortable. Not a jittery mess.
Walking to her, I rest my hands on her shoulders. “I bought all this stuff for you. Only you. I’ve never had another woman in my suite before.”
