Liesel’s eyes pop open when she hears the bedroom door open. She doesn’t scramble to get off my lap, but her cheeks pinken as she turns toward her mother. Gretel takes it with aplomb as she watches Liesel and me rise from the sofa.
I stand with Liesel in front of me with my left hand on her outer shoulder. Not only am I trying to be respectful in front of the mother of the woman—I don’t even know how to describe myrelationship with Liesel—I guess the woman I’m seeing—but I’m also using Liesel to hide my raging hard-on.
Fortunately, I’ve never been into tight trousers, but it wouldn’t take close examination to be able to tell my cock’s at attention. The suite’s door opens, and Heidi and Friedrich step inside with their belongings. Heidi wheels a small suitcase over to where Gretel still stands near the bedroom doors.
I know we can show up unannounced to Noor, and she’ll make space available for us, but I prefer to be more courteous than that. I excuse myself to the bedroom where I make a quick call to let my mother’s friend know what’s going on and to ask if I can bring the others over. It only takes a few minutes to make the arrangements.
I consider whether to send them without me. It feels rude to do so, but it would certainly be far less conspicuous, especially if these people continue to take photos. I have no way of knowing who else might see these pictures right now. For all I know, whoever this is could also be sending them to Interpol or the FBI. It’s one thing to be seen at public events with Hisham. It’s another to be seen going to his house.
It’s never been overly concerning to us for anyone to seeMamáhanging out with Noor or to even have people see us on a yacht vacationing together. It’s different when you have questionable guests over to your main residence. That starts to raise eyebrows. I return to the living room after I hang up with Noor.
“Guards will take you to Noor’s house. Her husband, Hisham, is there right now. He worked from home today. They have more than enough space for you. You should be well fed and comfortable while you’re there.”
It doesn’t take long for Gretel, Heidi, and Friedrich to say their goodbyes and leave with a set of guards to drive them in one of our SUVs. I pull up the tracking app and show Liesel. Wecan watch the dot while they head to Noor’s house. Relief washes over Liesel’s face before she wraps her arms around my waist. It seems so inconsequential, but I knew it would reassure her.
“Are you hungry, little one?”
Our meals never seem to happen at the right time.
“I am. Hunger keeps hitting me in the quiet moments when something goes wrong, and I forget I haven’t eaten.”
“Do you want me to order you a cheeseburger?”
I waggle my eyebrows and grin. She huffs, then nods.
“Yes, please.”
After I’ve phoned in our order to room service, we both glance at our computers. She looks toward the refrigerator, and I’m certain she’s wondering about the box inside. Once she’s asleep, I must give it to one of my men to deal with. It can’t stay in the fridge much longer. It’s already been compromised. They won’t dispose of it, but they’ll know what to do to store it.
Grizzly is the only word that comes to mind. If I hadn’t been around such extreme violence my entire life, it would be enough to send a shiver along my spine. Instead, all I can do is heave an imaginary sigh and move on.
Neither of us really focuses on the TV show I turn on while we wait for our food. Neither of us is chatty as we eat, but we don’t mind the companionable silence. Once our trays are cleared away, I extend my hand to Liesel and lead her from the sofa to the bedroom.
“Strip.”
The single word command startles her. There’s more authority in my voice now than when we came in here earlier for her spanking. It’s my Dom voice. She scrambles to obey, pulling her clothes off and hurriedly folding them, unsure where to put them. She holds them in front of her chest as though they’re a shield. Her confusion about the shift in my tone is obvious. I’vehardened my gaze and watch her. Her gaze sweeps around the room before she deposits the pile of clothes at the foot of the bed.
“Come and kneel before me.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
Her answer slips from between her lips with no thought. Her gaze darts around, but she refuses to look up at me once she’s kneeling. I do nothing but watch her. She fights to remain still, but it’s clear she doesn’t know what to do. I know she wants to see my face, hoping she can read my expectations. At the same time, she doesn’t want to give in to that temptation. She wants to maintain control over her willpower.
The minutes drag on, and her confusion pulsates from her. It takes a solid five minutes before her shoulders relax, practically drooping before her chin tucks, and she sighs. I cup her chin, and my thumb strokes over her cheekbone. She looks up at me.
“Such a good littlechiquita.”
A smile twitches at her lips, but she fights it. She lowers her gaze again and leans her cheek against my hand. I twist my wrist so I can tunnel my fingers into her hair rather than support her chin, but my thumb continues to stroke her cheekbone. I do nothing more than that.
I’m certain her mind is buzzing as she tries to guess what I want or what I’ll ask next. The unknown is scary, but the longer I remain a silent presence, the more I feel her relax under my hand. The tension in her neck eases, and her head bobs twice before she lets her chin dip to her chest.
With each passing minute, she relinquishes more control to me, putting her faith in me, knowing whatever happens next, she must go with the flow since she’s naked and kneeling before me. Either are a sign of submission in this dynamic. Together, it proves I lead, and she follows. I don’t underestimate the enormity of her trust.
“You are so beautiful and strong,chiquita. I could watch you all day and all night.”
“Thank you, Daddy. I wouldn’t mind watching you all day and night either.”
“Have you knelt before anyone else?”
