Chapter 1
Chapter One
Two months later …
“Amelia?”
My back is to the person who just spoke my name, but I’d know that voice anywhere. I stand taller and turn around, careful not to spill the drinks on my tray.
I swallow as I face him, Noah Anthem. The man is a tall drink of water, and he’s even hotter than I’ve ever seen him. He’s wearing a starched white shirt, black slacks, loafers, and a colorful tie.
I know Noah from the Dungeon. I’ve never seen him outside of the club before. I’ve never seen him in work attire. Granted, he’s never seen me outside of the club either. I’m surprised he even recognized me.
He smiles. “I thought that was you.”
I lick my lips. This is awkward. Nodding toward my full tray, I say, “I uh, need to deliver these.”
“Of course.”
As I walk away, my heart is racing. Why does that man have to be so hot and somehow even hotter in street clothes?
My hands are shaking as I deliver the drinks to table five before turning back toward Noah. It would be weird not to at least exchange polite conversation. The restaurant is busy, though, and I have more drink orders to deliver, so I can’t pause for long.
Another man joined Noah at his table while my back was turned. He’s dressed similarly. I don’t recognize him, so it won’t be appropriate to point out where I know Noah from, nor for him to do so.
Noah smiles warmly and stands when I approach. “Good to see you. It’s been a while.” He points to his companion. “Amelia, this is Theo. Theo, Amelia.”
Theo holds out a hand and shakes mine. “Nice to meet you.”
I nod at him, unsure how else to respond.
Damn, Noah looks amazing. I think I like him better in a tie than in his usual black-on-black Dungeon attire. I turn my gaze back to him and stare. I need to get back to work, though.
“Ellie!” the bartender shouts. “A little help here!”
I point over my shoulder. “I have to, uhh...”
Noah nods. “Of course.”
I hesitate another moment and then rush toward the bar. I can’t even remember what order I’m picking up. Noah scrambled my brain with his presence.
After I deliver the next order, I glance in his direction. He’s looking at me. I flush and jerk my gaze away. Why is my face heating? He’s just some guy I know from the club who happens to be having lunch at a bar where I work.
We’re swamped, which is usual for the lunch crowd. My job is strictly as runner from the bar to the tables, but this restaurant has a lot of heavy drinkers during the lunch hour.
The next time I look, Noah and his friend are eating. I can’t stop glancing. I’m aware as they finish eating and get their bills. My heart races because I don’t want him to leave. It’s irrational. He’s nothing to me. I’m certain I’m less than nothing to him. I’m just a brat who throws tantrums at the Dungeon to get attention.
My heart sinks when I glance over to find the table empty. At least seeing him was the highlight of my day.
I’m dragging as I return to the bar with a tray of empty glasses. My breath hitches, and I stop walking when I spot Noah leaning against the bar where he’s seen me come and go dozens of times.
He grins at me. “I’m tired from watching you work,” he says softly.
“We have a lull. Take your break, Ellie,” the bartender calls out.
I blow out a breath and set my tray down next to Noah’s elbow. “How was your lunch?” I ask because I can’t think of anything else to say.
“It was lovely.” He glances toward the bartender. “I guess your friends outside the club call you Ellie?”
I nod. “It’s a nickname. No one calls me Amelia. I figured I would just use Amelia at the club. It sort of divides my personalities.”
“Makes sense. I haven’t seen you in two months.” His tone is odd. I can’t tell what he’s trying to say. I think I hear accusation and disappointment.
I swallow. I’ve been gone from the Dungeon for exactly two months. Either he noticed with great accuracy or he made an accidental guess. I reach up to nervously tuck an errant lock of hair behind my ear. “I, uh, took some time off.”
“Why? Is everything okay?”
I nod. “Yeah, sure. Yes.”
He gives me a crooked smile. “How long is your break? Can we talk somewhere?”
I glance over my shoulder. “Sure. We can step out back.” Why does he want to talk to me? I can’t believe he stayed behind after he finished eating.
I lead him to the back of the restaurant and out the door. It’s warm outside, but there’s shade from the side of the building.
“It took me a few minutes to be sure it was you when I saw you,” he says, looking up and down my body. “I’ve never seen you with your hair in a single ponytail. Nor have I seen you with pants and a blouse.”
He’s never seen me with a bra on either, but we can leave that part unspoken.
I glance down. “Yeah, they frown on the bar staff wearing frilly dresses that barely cover our butts and ruffled panties,” I joke.
He chuckles. “I guess so. So why did you stop coming to the club?”
I shrug and tuck my fingers into my back pockets to keep from fidgeting. The action stretches my blouse over my breasts, but it seems like it would be even more awkward to drop my hands now, so I just leave them.
I do notice that Noah’s gaze trails to my breasts for a moment before popping back up to my face. He lifts a brow, reminding me he asked me a question.
We’re not at the club, but his stance is very dominant even here. His feet are planted wider than necessary, his gaze penetrating. His hands come to his hips, and that furrowed brow… It feels like he’s accusing me of something naughty. He waits for me to speak.
I inhale deeply. “I felt like I needed a break.”
“From what exactly?”
I drop my head and drag my toe along the concrete. I’m wearing black skinny pants and black tennis shoes. I have to do a lot of walking, so I always wear comfortable shoes. “From…” I’m not sure what to say. I’m not even sure what the answer is myself. “I guess I was tired,” I mutter.
“Tired of what, Amelia?” His voice is kind but demanding. Somehow he’s making me tremble. If he had any idea how much I long to submit to him…
I lift my gaze, look him in the eyes, and say the first thing that comes to mind. “Bratting?”
He smiles and cocks his head to one side. “Isn’t that your signature move?”
I shrug. “I don’t think so. I think it’s just something I did for no apparent reason, and then people expected it of me.”
“I see. If you could start over and change that, do you know what your persona would look like?”
My breath hitches.
“Look at me, Amelia.”
I lift my gaze. It’s impossible not to obey him, and he makes my heart race. “It doesn’t matter,” I whisper. My fantasies are too farfetched. They’re from books. Fiction. Not something I could ever attain or live out. I’d never meet a Daddy who could fill my dreams.
Lacey did .
“It matters to me.”
I swallow and stare at him.
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a card. When he holds it out, I realize it’s a business card. “Call me.”
I slowly remove my hands from my back pockets and reach for the card with trembling fingers. “Call you?” Even his business card is fancy. White and glossy with embossed gold lettering. I finger the raised script. Noah Anthem . Realtor .
“Yep. I’d like to spend some time with you.”
I look at him. “Like a date?”
He smiles. “Yes, Amelia. A date. I want to know what’s in that pretty head of yours.”
He does? I’m not sure I’m capable of sharing what’s in my brain. It’s private and personal and way too embarrassing. I can’t keep from blushing.
Noah reaches out and strokes my cheek with his thumb. “I like this pink tinge. I bet there’s a side of you I have not seen before.”
I glance at the door to the restaurant. “The waitress side?” I suggest, trying to sound funny and lighten the weird tension between us.
He chuckles. “That, too.”
“I better get back to work.” I’m sure my fifteen minutes are almost up.
He lowers his hand. “Okay. Will you call me?”
“I don’t know.”
He smiles. “I know where you work, Amelia. I could start eating lunch here every day until you agree to go out with me.”
“So, you’re a stalker?”
He chuckles. I like the sound. His voice lowers when he speaks again. “More like a concerned Daddy who’s intrigued by a certain Little.”
I suck in a breath.
He points at the card. “Call me.” And then he turns and strolls around the side of the building.