21. Chapter 21
twenty-one
CHAINS
In the hotel boardroom, 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 also empty. 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.”
Her eyes widen. “You haven’t?”
I shake my head. “I’ve never wanted to.” Until you.
The smile she gives me sends a shot of electricity through my chest. I need to get her out of this room before I do something stupid and never want to let her go. “Let’s get out of here.”
“What? Where?”
“I’ll show you the hotel.”
“But… tonight we were going to… to—”
“We have time for that later. If you still want to.” Her body relaxes under my palms.
“Oh, okay. If you’re sure.”
“Yes, I’m sure.”
She turns her head toward the clothes on the bed. “What should I wear?”
“You’re dressed perfectly the way you are.” It’s true. None of these clothes can change how beautiful she looks. When I organized them to be delivered to the room, I wanted her to have options, not overwhelm her. I’ll know better next time. Next time? This is one time only.
Facing me again, she smiles, and damn, it’s like some kind of electricity zapped my chest. What the fuck?
I let her go and step away. “Would you like to freshen up before we go?”
“Yes, thank you. I won’t be long.” Before she heads into the ensuite, she takes a lipstick and hairbrush from the dresser and rushes into the bathroom.
I pace the room, rubbing the palm of my hand on the top of my head.
I don’t know how to cope with these reactions I’m having with Daisy.
Was bringing her here a mistake? Should I put her on a plane and send her home?
I’ll find another woman I can fuck and never have to see or think of again.
I dismiss the thought immediately. Fucking random women doesn’t sound as appealing as it once did.
I only want Daisy.
Holy shit.
A moment later, Daisy walks out of the bathroom. Her long, blonde hair is brushed neatly, with one side tucked behind her ear. A swipe of dusty pink coats her lips. She gets more beautiful every time I lay my eyes on her.
“Are you ready to check out the hotel?”
I offer her my hand, and she takes it without hesitation. It’s small in my large one and feels like it’s meant to be there. When we’re out in the hall, I ask, “Where do you want to go first?”
She nibbles her bottom lip as she thinks, then her face lights up. “When we arrived, I saw a sign for a waterfall? Is there really a waterfall?”
That’s the perfect place to take her—later. “Sure is. I’ll have it ready for us soon, and we can have the place to ourselves.” I send off a quick text to management to have what I want arranged for when we arrive.
“No one will be in there?”
We step into the private elevator that’s only accessible to my suite. I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her in. Skimming my lips along her smooth neck. “No. Just us. We can do whatever we want in there.”
Her head falls back as she lets out a hum of approval. If I didn’t know I have to take my time with Daisy, I’d have her back in the suite in a heartbeat. After a moment, the doors open at the casino level. Her face flushes pink when she spots the security guard standing at the entrance.
“Good evening, Mr. Sullivan, ma’am.” We’re greeted as we step out of the elevator.
“Hello, Peter. How are you? How’s Rhonda?” I ask.
“She’s well, thank you, sir. She really appreciated the flowers and housekeeper you sent after her surgery.”
“No problem. If there’s anything else you need, please let one of us know.”
“I will. Thank you, sir.”
“His wife had knee surgery last week,” I explain as we walk.
“And you got her a housekeeper? That’s so sweet.”
I turn to her and frown. “I’m not sweet.”
Seeming undeterred by my firm expression, she giggles. “If you say so.”
“You’ll change your mind when I get you to bed.” Nuzzling her neck, I lower my voice. “The last thing you’ll be calling me is sweet.” Heat flares in her eyes. “But first, let’s win some money. Where would you like to start?”
This private room is for the big spenders. People who spend millions in one night. The room is pristine with custom-made tables and furniture, and felts thicker than the main casino. There are no slot machines or crowds, just the soft clink of chips and low conversation.
Daisy scans the room. “I’ve never played any of these games before. That spinning wheel thing looks fun.”
“Roulette it is.” We slide onto the stools. “Good evening, Mr. Sullivan. Your usual?” the dealer asks.
“Yes, please, Mark.”
He sets ten gray chips in front of us, and I hand one to Daisy. “Place your bet.”
“I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“It’s easy. Pick a number and color. The dealer will spin the wheel, and if it lands on your choice, you win.”
“That sounds easy enough.” She holds the chip as she scrutinizes the numbers. “Red, seven.” She places it down.
The dealer announces, “No more bets.” The wheel spins, slows down and lands on red, eleven.
Daisy’s face falls. “I lost.”
I smile at her disappointed expression and place another chip in her hand. “Happens all the time. Try again.”
For the next half hour, she claps with excitement when she wins and slumps in defeat when she loses. When there are no more chips left, she sits back in the chair with disappointment. “I lost all your chips.”
“Would you like more?”
“Better not. I’d hate to lose more money. I want to pay you back. How much do I owe you?”
“That’s not necessary.”
“I want to. How much is a chip?” she asks again.
“A hundred thousand dollars.”
Her eyes bug out of their sockets. “One… hun… hundred thous… thousand dollars each?” she stutters.
I nod.
The color drains from her face. “You gave me ten chips. I lost you one million dollars?” Her voice is a strangled whisper. “I don’t have… I can’t…”
“It’s nothing. The casino will make me back a hell of a lot more than that tonight. Is there anything else you’d like to play?”