I woke up feeling like I was wrapped in a cocoon of pure bliss, soft sheets and a mattress that felt like it was crafted by angels. For a split second, I wondered if I had died and gone to heaven. Then reality crashed back in.
Hold up—this wasn’t the couch I’d crashed on last night.
I bolted upright, eyes wide. I was in Matt’s bed. Not just any bed—hisbed. My heart pounded as I scanned the room for signs of the brooding billionaire. The other side of the bed was empty. My heart kicked up a staccato beat as I took in the luxurious surroundings. How the hell did I end up here?
Panic gripped me as visions of Matt carrying my sleeping form flashed through my mind. I shuddered, both at the thought and the tantalizing image it conjured.Get it together, Andy.
Scrubbing a hand over my face, I noticed the folded note on the nightstand. I snatched it up and read:Stay put and order whatever you want from room service. My men will bring your things by later this afternoon.
Well, wasn’t that just peachy? I let out a heavy sigh, the paper crumpling slightly in my grip. Great. Now I was officially playing house pet for Mr. Billionaire himself. The arrogant prick probably thought I’d obediently heel like a trained dog. Since leaving wasn’t an option—not with his henchmen shadowing my every move—I decided to shower and make the best of my enforced captivity.
Minutes later, scrubbed clean and wrapped in one of those fluffy hotel robes that felt like a hug from a cloud, I dialed room service. If Matt wanted me to stay put, I’d make sure he regretted it—at least financially.
I grabbed the room service menu, scanning the listings with a mischievous glint in my eye. Why order one meal when I couldhave them all? Brunch, lunch, dinner—I wanted the full nine-course affair.
“I’d like to order,” I began, my tone all business.
“Of course, sir,” the voice on the other end replied politely.
“Let’s start with the lobster bisque,” I said, pacing back and forth, “followed by a Caesar salad, extra anchovies.”
The list went on: filet mignon, truffle fries, an entire cheese platter, a mountain of sushi rolls… By the time I’d finished, I’d racked up enough dishes to feed an army—or at least severely dent Matt’s wallet.
Within the hour, a dizzying array of dishes arrived, filling every available surface with mouthwatering platters and flutes of sparkling champagne.
I started with the sushi rolls, savoring each bite as if I were judging a high-stakes culinary competition. Then came the bisque—rich and creamy—and the salad so crisp it practically snapped with each forkful.
As I munched on a particularly divine piece of fish, the door swung open with the kind of dramatic flair that only someone like Matt could pull off. He walked in, looking every bit the smug billionaire, his eyes raking over the gastronomic battlefield before him.
“Well, well,” he purred, his lips quirking into an amused smirk. “Look who’s making himself right at home. Having fun, my little puppy?”
I nearly choked on my food at the condescending pet name. Quickly washing it down with a sip of champagne, I shot him a defiant glare. “I’m nobody’s puppy,” I retorted, keeping my tone as biting as possible.
Matt simply chuckled, sauntering over to pluck a sushi roll from one of the plates. He popped it into his mouth, that maddening smirk never wavering as he chewed. “I’ll give you this—you’ve got decent taste.”
The fact that he didn’t seem angry at my extravagant ordering only stoked my annoyance. I set my plate aside with a huff. “You can’t keep me locked up in here forever, you know.”
A dark brow arched. “Is that so?” Matt sank into the chair across from me, exuding an air of supreme confidence. “And who’s going to stop me?”
I leaned forward, unflinching despite the heat flaring in his stormy gaze. “I’ll go insane if I’m cooped up in here indefinitely. I need to get out.” My eyes searched his face, pleading. “I promise I won’t run.”
For a long moment, Matt simply studied me, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he nodded. “Very well. I have a proposal for you.”
My interest piqued despite myself. “What kind of proposal?”
His gaze raked over me with undisguised hunger. “We both know what I want from you.”
My cheeks flushed hot as his meaning sank in. “You’re an ass,” I growled, my jaw clenched.
He leaned in closer, crowding my space until all I could see were those stormy gray eyes. “Is the idea of being with me really so off-putting?”
I swallowed hard, struggling to ignore the rapid pounding of my heart.
Was it, really? A treacherous part of me knew there was an undeniable spark between us, a simmering attraction I couldn’t fully ignore no matter how much of an arrogant ass he was. But the thought of intimacy, of sex, made my stomach churn with nausea as flashes of Herbert’s cruel hands roamed over me.
“It’s not that,” I muttered, feeling my face heat up under his scrutiny. Desperate to change the subject, I blurted out, “What happened to Sean?”
“Nice try at deflection.” Matt rose from his seat in one fluid motion, stalking closer until he loomed over me. My breathhitched as his fingers curled beneath my chin, tilting my face up to meet his heated stare. “Don’t worry, pet, I’ll be gentle. I won’t eat you up all at once.”
