Chapter 15
NICK
I’m only out of bed for the three seconds it takes me to tug the blinds outside the two-way mirror closed, unwilling to be away from her for longer than absolutely necessary.
Now that she’s in my hands, I don’t want to let her go even for a moment.
The show is over, and while I wanted everyone to see just how perfect Riley is for me, I have no intention of sharing this with anyone. The sight of her fucked-out and looking at me like I’m her whole world is for me alone.
I’ve waited for what feels like my entire life for her, and finally having her—properly having her—is better than I could have ever imagined. She’s the most stunning thing I’ve ever laid eyes on.
I don’t want to let anyone else ever look at her again.
Climbing back into bed with her, I tug the blankets up to cover us before I pull her close to my chest. She nuzzles into me, wrapping her arms around me, making the sweetest little noises as she comes down from her high, while I pepper gentle kisses across her face.
“You did so well for me, Princess,” I murmur against her cheek. “You’re even better than I imagined.”
“Imagine me a lot?” she asks with a giggle, still a bit unfocused as she grins up at me playfully.
“Constantly.”
Her smile turns soft and adoring as she pulls me down for a lazy, sweet kiss. I keep her close to me, protected in my arms, right where she belongs. It feels too perfect, too right, like letting go of her will ruin me.
“I do hope you know I’m not letting you go now,” I explain as I idly trace my thumb along the line of her collarbone. “You’re mine, Riley.”
She makes a soft sound, reassuring and thrilled in equal measure, and tucks her face into my throat. I can feel her lips curve in a blissed-out smile as her nails skate aimlessly over my back.
“Guess I’m lucky that there’s no place I’d rather be,” she replies as she tilts her head back to meet my gaze. “I’m yours, Nick.”
“Such a good girl.”
She was better than I dared to dream, so responsive I’d almost believe I’m the only person to have ever touched her.
She took everything I gave her so beautifully, and now that she’s floating in her afterglow, it’s time to take care of her.
If I didn’t want to see her cozy and fast asleep in my own bed, I’d tell Thomas to leave me a set of keys and let her rest, but it’s time to take her home.
She makes a series of sleepy noises when I lean over her to pull the drawer of the nightstand open.
As expected, several neatly folded bathrobes rest inside.
I pull out one and sit up, chuckling when Riley pouts and lets out a disapproving huff.
She slits her eyes open to look at me pitifully as I sit up.
“Hush, let me take care of you.” I tug her up and drape the robe over her shoulders, laughing under my breath at the way she lets me move her around like a ragdoll, not an ounce of tension in her body. “You worked hard, you need to rest.”
“I don’t know if I can relax when there might still be people outside,” she mumbles.
It sounds more like she’s apologizing for being unable to follow my instruction than like a complaint. The thought of her putting my expectations first even after behaving so perfectly for me warms my heart and sends a bolt of heat to my cock.
If I hadn’t just come, I’d be tempted to toss her back down and ravish her all over again.
“Don’t worry your pretty head about that,” I tell her. “I’m taking you home so I can take care of you properly.”
She doesn’t put up any more argument after that, letting me drape her in the robe and tie it tight around her waist. I redress myself quickly, not paying any attention to the creases in my clothes from tearing them off so quickly.
Her clothes and our masks get bundled up into a drawstring bag in the drawer of the other nightstand, and then I scoop her up into my arms.
A surprised gasp falls from her lips as she clings to my shoulders, blinking rapidly while she gets her bearings.
A soft chuckle escapes me as I stare down at her. “I told you, Princess—I’m going to take care of you. Afterall, you are mine.”
I wake up with my blankets tangled around my ankles and Riley Morgan tangled in my arms.
It’s only natural to be unbearably pleased with myself after having fucked her to unconsciousness last night. I had her twice more after we got back from The Echelon, too hungry for her after waiting so long. The ache in my thighs is almost as satisfying as the hickey blooming on her chest.
I tuck a tangled lock of her hair behind her ear, idly tracing my fingers in mindless patterns over her bare shoulder until those sweet hazel eyes flutter open.
“Good morning,” she murmurs, her voice thick with sleep.
“It certainly is.” I grin smugly as I run a hand through her messy mane of hair, tugging lightly on a few strands. “You look good in my bed, Princess.”
She flushes, somehow innocent even in nothing but the lacy panties she fell asleep in last night. I pull her to me, taking her lips, slow and hot as I roll her beneath me. Her thighs part for me easily, willowy arms wrapping around my shoulders, tugging me closer. It’s like she was made for me.
Pinning her wrists to the bed, I chuckle at the soft gasp that slips from her mouth. She trembles in excitement as I trail my lips across her jaw, down the column of her neck, steadily moving lower and lower.
“I was planning on taking you out to eat,” I say as I kiss down her sternum, keeping her hips firmly pinned to the bed. “I’m starting to think breakfast in bed is a better idea.”
I drag my lips down over the sensitive skin of her stomach, grinning at the way she shivers. My stubble is a bit longer than I usually keep it, but she seems to like the scratch, arching up into my mouth as I lick lower.
“Fuck, Nick.” She whimpers at the tease, rolling her head back against the pillows and jolting when I nip at her hip. “You’re going to be the death of me.”
A low and encouraging laugh escapes me as I bend my head between her thighs, ghosting featherlight kisses over the fabric of her panties. An act that causes her to deliciously arch her back as a pleading whine spills from her lips.
My ringtone pierces the air, shrill and obnoxious.
I’ve never hated a sound more.
I push up with a curse, swiping my phone off my nightstand with every intention of turning it off and throwing it into the hallway.
Irritation flashes through me when I see my assistant’s name lighting up the screen.
She only calls me outside of work hours if it’s an emergency, which means I need to answer it.
Goddamnit.
“What?” I bite out, not bothering to hide my annoyance at the interruption.
It’s fucking nine in the morning on a weekend; I’d be annoyed to get a call even if Riley wasn’t splayed out half naked in my bed.
“Good morning, Mr. D’Amico,” Julie says, not at all phased by the acid in my tone. “You’re needed at the office today.”
I grunt in frustration, shooting Riley an apologetic look over my shoulder before pushing up off the bed and stalking toward my walk-in closet.
“For fucking what?” I snap even as I pull a freshly dry-cleaned suit down from the hanger. “Can Marcus not handle it?”
“Marcus doesn’t have clearance for all personnel files, sir.
” Her tone is blunt and to-the-point, as always, her usually waspish nature toned down by whatever I can hear her typing while she talks.
“Several employee and client files were tampered with late yesterday evening while no one was in the office. Several IT employees are looking for any evidence of a security breach, but you’ll need to come in to cross-reference the more sensitive internal data yourself. ”
Times like these, I wish I wasn’t such a hardass about doing things myself.
It’s not that I don’t trust Marcus, but he’s my baby brother.
I’m in charge of the company, and while he holds a position of importance, the whole point of him working with me instead of with Bruno is for him to not work himself to death.
Sure, Bruno’s line of work would put him closer to actual death, whereas getting called in on the weekends only runs the risk of burning out, but the point stands.
“I’ll be there in twenty,” I grunt, hanging up on her before she can say anything else.
Quickly pulling on a suit, I send up a silent thanks to my housekeeper for keeping all of my work suits ready to go on short notice. I’m really not in the mood to put together something appropriate, but I’m not about to let my assistant see me in the sweats I fell asleep in.
That sight is for Riley alone.
I step out of the closet, tugging my tie into a Windsor knot, only to find Riley sitting up, holding the blanket up to her chest in a lazy attempt at modesty. It’s far too cute for my sanity, and I have to fight the urge to ravish her again.
The soft smile on her face widens as I make my way back over to her, reaching out to cup her cheek as I brush my thumb across her lips.
“You have to go in to work?” she asks quietly, tipping her face into my hand as she gazes up at me.
God, she has too much sway over me if just a look is enough to make me consider ignoring whatever fiasco awaits me at the office.
“I’d brush it off if I could.” I smile apologetically, but the look in her eyes tells me she understands. “Stay as long as you want, Princess. It’s still early, and I had you up late. I’m sure you need some rest.”
She grins up at me, her cheeks going that addictive shade of pink at my thinly veiled teasing.
“Go to work,” she says with fond laughter.
I lean down with a matching grin, pulling her into one more kiss before I leave. She tastes like sleep and warmth, like she belongs here, and my gut tightens at the thought of kissing her goodbye every morning.
If I can wrap up whatever the hell is going on at the office quickly enough, maybe she’ll still be here when I get back.