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Chapter 14
OPAL
In the early morning light, the suite is aglow with the soft peaches and pinks of the Florida sun. It is so warm and womb-like, it’s practically naughty.
I stretch my arms over my head, knotting my fingers together as I purr audaciously.Audacious. That’s a word that Cal used. He told me to be bold. He told me to be audacious.
And now my body is vibrating from head to toe, humming with the excitement of my own audacity.
Visions of yesterday course through my mind, making me gasp in response as my body clenches reflexively. For so long I have imagined being with Irving, but I couldn’t have known what it would really be like. And first, Cal pulled me forward, practically giving me a pep talk. He really compelled me to do more, to try harder…
To beaudacious.
And he was right. As soon as I started talking to Irving, he stopped to listen to me. I saw that intense scrutiny that he gives any sudden and surprising problem. It was as though I were a math problem or technological solution for him to puzzle over. I felt so powerful, capturing him, watching his attention fall only on me.
Thinking about it makes my toes curl. I couldn’t stop watching him. Couldn’t stop watching the way his face transformed with every kiss. His magnificent body, hardening on top of me. The way he showed me a side of him I had only ever dared to dream of.
Slipping from between the sheets, I tiptoe around the perimeter of my room again. I wasn’t really paying very close attention, but now I can see a bit of what Irving was talking about. It’s beautiful, but it is not five stars. The bathroom fixtures look to be about ten years old. The bed is a queen, not a king or some other outrageously luxurious size. I don’t even know what kind of sizes those would be.
But it is certainly nicer than any place I have ever lived in. Or any hotel I have ever stayed at.
Once, Tabby and I went to Las Vegas and stayed at Caesars. That was pretty nice, in a way. It was extravagant. Mostly, it was noisy. I have seen pictures of the penthouse suite there though, and that certainly looks to be a different level of accommodation.
I suddenly realize I don’t actually know what the really, really wealthy people of this world expect. Gold-plated everything? Lobster for three meals a day?
Before I can dwell on my humble upbringing, which means I have no place in this world at all, there is a soft knock at my door. Grabbing a robe off the hook in the small closet, I wrap the white, fluffy cloth around me and open the door just a crack.
Cal smiles from behind a rolling cart with silver service on top of it.
“Room service, ma’am?”
My eyes go wide.
“What? Is this… Oh my God, is that coffee?”
“You’re going to have to let me in and find out,” he smirks.
“Please, come in! Come in!”
Self-consciously, I tug the robe closed. I took a shower last night before bed to get clean but also to clear my thoughts. Yesterday was such a whirlwind of surprises that I really needed the calming effects of a warm, vigorous shower and a good scrubbing to get my head on straight.
But now, I am vividly aware that I am completely naked beneath this robe. Cal seems to be aware of it too. I can see the hungry look in his eye as he rolls the cart past me toward the small table by the window.
My bare feet make no sound on the carpet as I pad across the room, excited to see what he brought. He pours out a dark, fragrant stream of coffee into a porcelain mug and drops two sugar cubes into it, plus a healthy dollop of thick cream.
“I am guessing you are a fan of cream and sugar, correct?”
“Isn’t there anything I am going to be able to surprise you with?” I quip as I tuck into the dainty chair on the side of the table. “If you are just going to figure out everything there is to know about me, why should I say anything out loud?”
“Maybe you don’t have to actually say anything out loud. Wouldn’t that be kind of nice?”
I hold the warm cup between my palms and blow across the top of the liquid as he stands to the side and, with a flourish, removes the silver lid from a small dish. Gleaming pastries sit in a pile, with chocolate chips and raisins poking out at different angles. My mouth instantly begins to water. He picks up a pair of silver tongs and claps them together three times.
“Okay, let me guess,” he smirks. “I am going to say… Yes. Chocolate croissant.”
“Wow!” I nod avidly. “Exactly right!”
He winks at me as he plucks it from the pile with the tongs and puts it on a small dish.
