With a brisk movement, Dusk fished a black credit card emblazoned with the scarlet ‘R’ and golden crown out from his inner jacket-pocket, extending it to Layla. She took it as her eyebrows lifted, seeing her own name imprinted upon the card.
“Keep this safe. To lose it would be unfortunate.” Dusk eyeballed her again, impressing his point. “As per your employment contract, your personal expense account has no limit, though the Hotel screens any purchases over ten thousand dollars to ensure their necessity. Please don’t purchase a car or anything unless you are going on assignment somewhere. We have chauffeurs that can drive you wherever you need to go, in the Twilight Realm or the human world. Clothing you may purchase with impunity, and meals, but if the Hotel finds you are purchasing styles not fit for use here, we will send a personal stylist with you while you shop, and anything inappropriate for Hotel use will be confiscated. That said, you may acquire a small amount of casual clothes for things like exercise classes and free days in the city or traveling home. While you are out and about in the Hotel where guests can see you, you will look exquisite at all times. If you attend exercise classes – and we highly encourage you to do so – there are changing and bathing facilities, even out in the gardens for the outdoor classes.”
“What about this?” Holding up her left wrist, Layla displayed her Moroccan cuff, still on her wrist from the night before.
Glancing at it, Dusk gave a small smile. “Your talisman you are to wear at all times. It will temper your Dragon’s abilities and contain them until you get your feet underneath your magic. Wear it exercising, wear it into the pools, wear it while you work and when you go into Paris. It will not chafe and never tarnish. Talismans are specially-crafted items and much thought goes into their make so they are suitable for all occasions. Now. Let’s get you into this dress.”
Holding up the black cocktail dress, Dusk allowed Layla to take it from him. She was moderately relieved that he backed out of her closet, pulling the gilded double-doors closed as he went. Layla was left alone, stripping off her cobalt silk robe and hanging it up on a hook. She had her black mini-dress halfway on when she had a thought.
“Dusk?” She called through the doors. “Do I have time to shower?”
“You don’t need a shower,” he called back through the doors. “Folk of the Twilight Realm enjoy scent. The more you smell like yourself, the less invasive they’ll be trying to figure you out. By all means, use deodorants or perfumes if you like, but daily bathing is not a requirement – though you are expected to look presentable after exercise and such.”
The way he saidand suchwas clear that he meant exercise of the carnal variety. Layla found herself smiling as she finished wriggling into her dress, pulling on the strappy black heels Adrian had bought her in Seattle. Twisting up her sable locks, she set them in a low side-chignon with Mimi’s diamond hairpins, then opened the doors.
Dusk stepped back in, examining her with a critical eye.
“Let’s have you wear the diamonds and sapphires from last night,” he spoke briskly. “Mimi’s antique set is quite stunning, and will bring color to the drab.” Whisking to the silvered mirror on the wall beside Layla’s bed, he nodded to it. “Please open this and fetch them out. We need to get you breakfasted and then I’ll give you the full tour of the premises, including a stop at the main Concierge desk.”
“Alright.”
Stepping to her mirror-safe, Layla went through the process of setting her fingertips to the glass and watching it ripple away, then the eye scan and the breath. The sleek panel popped open, revealing the obsidian chamber now packed with Mimi’s jewelry in a hodgepodge. Dusk made a despairing sound as he saw the jumble. His fast hands fetched out Mimi’s sapphire set, stuffed in carelessly during Layla’s anger last night with Adrian. Whisking behind Layla, he lowered the necklace over her chest, then slid his fingers back to fasten the clasp – with only a small caress of his fingertips on her neck, as if he couldn’t quite stop himself. Layla smiled as he came back around, handing over the teardrop earrings.
“What is it?” He asked, cocking his head at her smile.
“You like me.” Layla sassed, arching one eyebrow as she put on the earrings.
Dusk pursed his blue-grey lips, but he couldn’t stop the intrigued smile that lit his summer-blue eyes. “What I like or do not like is not the topic of this morning’s learning, Ms. Price.” But reaching out, he straightened her necklace – letting the tips of his fingers sigh over her skin again. Looking up, a sly smile took his handsome face. “Besides, you like me also. I can feel it, thrumming through you. Even though you still think I’m a bastard. Now, let’s get you fed.”
With a swift movement, Dusk whisked over to the four-seat breakfast table by the tall windows overlooking the garden. Taking the tops off three silver platters, he revealed one with scrambled eggs, one with bacon, and the third containing a combination of cantaloupe and raspberries. Avocados sat in a gilded bowl and Dusk grasped one, deftly cutting it open with a knife and paring out slices onto a gilded china plate. He served Layla’s plate as she arrived at the table, pulling out her chair and settling it back behind her as she sat.
“What service!” Layla grinned, noting Dusk’s impeccable manners and how he didn’t spoil an inch of his elegant finery even with the avocado.
“As Concierge, you are butler, best friend, and agile problem-solver,” he commented as he settled into a chair beside her. “You had a problem of not having anything fitting to wear today – so I solved it. You had a problem of not knowing which jewelry would go best with your outfit, and I solved that too. You had a problem of needing breakfast before a full day of work, so I—”
“Solved that, too. Go figure.” Layla chuckled as she ate, marveling at the precision and awareness of the Head Concierge. She was finally starting to see why Dusk held the position he did, despite all his off-work antics.
“Precisely.”Dusk’s smile widened, pleased she was picking up on his lessons. “You will be called to solve any guest’s problems for them, Ms. Price, and though you are not Maid Service, you will sometimes act within the bedroom for a guest. Be cautious: you are not a Courtesan, and though you may receive offers, you will elegantly anddeftlyturn any attentions you may receive in the direction of the appropriate Courtesan or Courtier. If you find yourself in any sort of compromised position within a room, you will think of me immediately. Memorize my face, Layla. Flare it bright in your mind like a scream if anything happens to you that is untoward, and I will feel it. Guards will be immediately dispatched to neutralize any situation you may be in. They have special avenues into every room behind-the-scenes, as do I. Passages that you will eventually learn as a Concierge, but which not even Maid Service nor Catering are allowed access to. If your room is locked at night, Catering will simply place your breakfast in the hall outside on a trundle-table. I was already here when your breakfast arrived, so I let Catering in.”
“I was wondering how you got in here,” Layla lifted an eyebrow at him as she finished her bacon, though she found herself also wondering how long Dusk had been in her room before he woke her. But she decided to keep that to herself for the moment.
“Security problems do occur in the Hotel, Layla.” Dusk gave a hard smile, continuing. “Though Concierge works very closely with the Guard to neutralize threats. Under the Magna Dicta, you are Adrian’s to protect – and therefore you are mine to protect as well. I take my Hotel Head very seriously.”
Dusk’s words sobered Layla and she suddenly felt a strange kinship with the impetuous Crystal Dragon. He was still a pain in her ass, but he was a far deeper man than she’d thought, and a far more thoughtful one than she’d given him credit for.
Reaching her fingers out, Layla touched his hand where it rested on the table. “Thank you. I should have said it earlier at my entrance interview, when you filled me in on what the hell was going on. That’s something Adrian didn’t do for me. But I’m glad you did.”
Dusk startled at her touch, his summer-blue eyes gauging her as a wry smile lifted his lips – almost sadly. “Don’t go falling for me, Ms. Price,” he chuckled softly. “Despite what Adrian has or hasn’t done, as Head Concierge here, Iamgoing to give you hell. Until you learn your position, learn how to protect yourself, and learn every last detail of the Hotel that will help you excel here. Whatever else you are, youareour new hire, in my department. And I am not a lenient man.”
With that, her new boss rose, stepping behind Layla’s chair. She thought he was going to pull it out and hustle her up, but instead, he settled his hands to her shoulders. Producing a low rumble in his throat, he rolled Layla from head to heels with his magic – causing her head to fall back against his cheek in ecstasy, her lips parting as his heavenly, devilish vibrations surged through her.
“But even though I am not a lenient man, Iama rewarding one – to those who excel.” Dusk murmured low at her neck. “Learn fast. Excel, Layla. Because I would like to reward you – very much.”
Setting his smooth lips to her neck, he made another rumble in his throat. Waves of passion and ecstasy rolled through Layla, making her grip with a small, eager sound in her throat. Dusk let his rumblings die, then pressed a soft kiss to Layla’s neck. When he pulled away, she turned; feeling something riot between them. It wasn’t just her, it was him, too. As Layla’s body heated, Dusk stepped back with an unsteady breath – as he regarded her with a strange, complex gaze.
Mastering himself with a deep inhalation, the look disappeared. Layla didn’t know she’d been smelling clear river water until the scent eased away – and she realized it was Dusk’s scent. Just as Adrian smelled of cinnamon and jasmine when he became passionate, and Layla was realizing she smelled of bourbon and oranges when she got heated, the Head Concierge had a tell, also.
And it spoke volumes.
