Chapter Thirteen
Danielle
I VAGUELY REMEMBER being lifted and carried, the familiar scent of Austin filling my senses as I buried my face in his neck, but then I woke up in a strange bed and had no idea how I’d gotten there.
The light from the moon shone through the window and it gave me enough of a visual to see that there was bottled water on the nightstand, which I opened and drank greedily. My head was pounding, but not quite as badly as I probably deserved. The small blessings of very expensive tequila.
I threw the covers off and realized I was virtually naked. I had on a T-shirt unfamiliar to me, but it smelled like Austin, so I deduced it was his. My panties were in place, but nothing else.
“Babe,” Austin grumbled.
I started a little and looked behind me. I hadn’t even noticed him in bed beside me.
“Bathroom,” I whispered.
He pointed to the door to the right of the bed.
I headed to the bathroom and flipped on the light.
Talk about a room you’d never have to leave.
A large tile shower big enough for forty-two thousand people (really.
.. not kidding) and six (counted ’em... six) shower heads.
Two sinks were nestled in a long vanity with gorgeous cherry wood cabinetry.
The heated tile floor felt amazing under my feet and I passed a huge soaking tub on my way to the little room that housed the toilet.
After doing my business I took a minute to study my reflection. God, I looked awful.
“Dani?” Austin called. I was grateful he didn’t come in. “Babe?”
“Just a minute.”
“You okay?”
“Other than looking like a zombie, I’m great.”
He chuckled. “I doubt it’s all that bad.”
“I wish I had my makeup remover.”
“Check the medicine cabinet,” he called.
I pulled it open and found all of my favorite face creams, toners, cotton rounds, and toothbrush and toothpaste.
“Towels under the sink,” Austin said.
“Thanks.”
I took a few minutes to freshen up and then padded back into the bedroom.
I was alone, so I grabbed a towel, wrapped it around my waist, and went looking for him.
I found him in the kitchen, a bottle of ibuprofen in his hand.
“How do you feel?” he asked, all sexy like wearing only a pair of cotton pajama bottoms.
“Hung over,” I said. “What time is it?”
“Four.”
“In the morning?”
“Yeah, babe.”
“I never wake up this early,” I complained.
“Probably the alcohol.” He chuckled. “Like your outfit.”
“I seem to be missing my clothes.” I glanced down my body. “I’m assuming I can thank you for that.”
“You were pretty wasted... figured you’d be more comfortable that way.”
I frowned. “Are we going to talk about last night?”
“If you need to.”
“Um, yeah, I need to, Austin. You held me against my will and left me to get drunk in a dark, isolated office.”
“I did.”
“You’re not even going to deny it?” I don’t know why I was surprised, but I was.
“Nope,” he said, and opened the bottle of pain relief.
“I hate you so much right now.” I stomped my foot and turned on my heel. “I’m leaving.”
I stormed back the way I came, let myself into the bedroom, and made a valiant effort to find my clothes.
“They’re not in here, babe.”
I turned and scowled at Austin leaning against the doorjamb. “Where are they?”
“Laundry.” He pushed away from the door and smiled. “Take these.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “What’s your game, mister?”
“No game. Just ibuprofen for your head.”
“No, not that,” I said, taking the pills from him and swallowing them without water. Gross. “Why are my clothes in the laundry? I’m going to have to wear them home, right?”
He shook his head and opened his walk-in closet.
I noticed my suitcase leaning up against the inside wall and made my way to it. “Why is this here?”
“You’re staying with me for a few days.”
“What? Why?”
Austin sat on the edge of the mattress. “There’s been a development that I’m uncomfortable with, and since I know you’ll be safe here, you’re here.”
“What kind of development?” I faced him again. “And if you say ‘club business,’ Austin, I swear to God, I will kill you.”
He gave me a slight smile. “I found Steven.”
“I’m sorry?”
“And your money.”
“What?” I squeaked.
“I also discovered there’s a ten-million-dollar kidnap and ransom insurance policy on you.”
“What?”
“Steven offered you up as an alternative to returning the money he stole from you.”
“What?” I said again, only this time it was barely a whisper.
“Come here, baby.”
I went to him immediately.
He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me between his legs.
“I need to talk to your father and brother. I have no idea if there’s even a threat yet, but I’m not happy that Steven knew about the insurance and offered it up to me at all, let alone so quickly.
For the time being, I want you here where I can protect you. ”
“Steven was at the club?”
Austin nodded.
I looped my arms around his neck. “That’s why you locked me up.”
“Partly,” he said. “There are other things going on that I can’t tell you about, but if it involves you, baby, I won’t keep that from you. I was being pulled in a few different directions last night and I knew if you were in my office, you were safe.”
“Austin.” I sighed and dropped my forehead to his.
“I can’t say I liked the way you did it, but I will give you a little grace since you were trying to protect me.
” He smiled, and I shook my head. “But... and this is a big but, so hear me here, honey. If you ever do anything like that again without talking to me first, I will cut you.”
He chuckled. “I hear you.”
“Come to dinner tomorrow... ah, tonight. You can talk to my brother and dad then.”
“They won’t mind?”
I shook my head. “I’ll call my mom and let her know, but no, they won’t mind.”
“Gotta meet with Crow and Hatch tomorrow, but it shouldn’t conflict.”
I nodded and smiled.
He slid his hands under my T-shirt and up my back, kissing my collarbone. “Do you have any idea how gorgeous you are?”
“Not nearly as gorgeous as you,” I said, my fingers finding their way into his hair.
He tugged my shirt off and pulled me close again, drawing a nipple into his mouth. I dropped my head back, the feeling heady as he bit down gently. He slid my panties down my hips and I stepped out of them, feeling my way as my nipple was still in his mouth.
His finger slid through the wetness between my legs and then slipped inside of me. I gasped and my hips bucked as he slid another inside me. He wrapped an arm around my waist and guided me onto the bed, his fingers still doing unbelievably incredible things to my body.
“You on the pill?”
I shook my head, gasping as his thumb found my clit. I could feel an orgasm building, but before it washed over me, he removed his hand.
“Austin,” I hissed.
He chuckled and I heard a little whoosh of something being torn. “Condom, baby.”
He rose up above me, settling his hips between mine and guiding himself inside of me. I wrapped my legs around him and arched up.
“You’re tight, baby. Am I hurting you?”
“God, no,” I breathed. “More.”
He grinned, covering my mouth with his and thrusting deep inside of me.
“Yes,” I whispered. “More, honey.”
He drew my nipple back into his mouth again as he surged deeper and deeper, faster and faster. I had no warning of my climax as the orgasm washed over me and I cried out his name. Never in my life had I come so fast, so hard, and I gripped his biceps as I caught my breath.
Austin let out a grunt and I felt his cock pulsate inside of me before he rolled us onto our sides, staying connected to me as he wrapped his arms around my waist. “Fuck me,” he whispered, and kissed me deeply.
“I think I just did.” I grinned and stroked his cheek. “Amazing.”
He chuckled. “You have very low expectations, then. This was nothing.”
“I think that was my very first orgasm,” I whispered.
“What?” He frowned. “Ever?”
I nodded. “I thought I’d had orgasms in the past, but it was never like that. I had no idea what good sex was, I think. I mean, I did, because my sister gave me a broad stroke idea of what good sex could be, but I’ve never personally experienced it. Not like that.”
“Babe,” he said, and smiled. “That’s a fuckin’ crime. You’re beautiful all the time, but when you come, God, it’s incredible.”
I bit my lip. “Can we do it again?”
Austin laughed. “Hell, yeah, we can do it again. I’ll take care of the condom. Don’t move.”
I grimaced when he slid out of me and headed to the bathroom. My body was wired, ready for him to do whatever he wanted to me. So much for my plan to make him wait a while. But ten days was a while, right?
The dip of the bed pulled me from my thoughts, and I smiled up at the man who’d totally ruined me for anyone else.
“I can hear you thinking,” he said.
“Just thinking how you’ve totally ruined me for any other man.”
He leaned down and kissed me gently. “There’ll never be another man.”
“You’re so sure, huh?”
Austin nodded. “I love you, Dani.”
I gasped and sat up, my forehead almost colliding with his. “What?”
He grinned. “You heard me.”
“But you can’t.”
“Why can’t I?”
“It’s too soon.”
“Is it?”
I let out a frustrated squeak. “Quit volleying with me.”
Austin laughed, pulling me down on top of him. “I’ve had the kind of life that when I find something good, I see it for what it is. I love you. End of story.”
I dropped my cheek to his chest. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t have to say anything, babe.”
“You’re not mad?” I was surprised he was so calm.
“About what?”
“Me not saying it back,” I said, lifting my head.
He chuckled. “Why the hell would I be mad?”
I sighed. “I have just always wondered what it would be like to be so secure in one’s self that they can say whatever they want and not feel vulnerable and stupid.”
“You think I’m vulnerable and stupid?” he teased.
“No,” I said quickly, and groaned.