I groan but don’t make a move to touch myself when he pulls away.
“I have to go somewhere again today. If I don’t tie you up, will you be a good girl?”
I nod vigorously. Anything to escape another long day straining against the vibrator.
He narrows his eyes, but whatever he sees in me convinces him I’m telling the truth. “You’re being so good for me, bunny.” He nuzzles my cheek, and I turn my head away. The feel of his stubble against my skin is too much.
I don’t know what he’s planning, but he’s up to something, and I’m afraid to know. Whatever it is, it’s big.
He pulls away, and we go through our morning routine. He helps me dress in wide-leg jeans and a fitted white top.
It’s not until he’s set me on the couch with my ankle propped up that he tells me, “I invited your friends to visit.”
“Friends? What friends?”
He leans down to light the cluster of candles on the coffee table and straightens. “The girls from Inferno.”
“Honey and Daria? You invited them? You’re letting them come here?”
“It’s your home, too.”
I press my lips together. Sure, I’m living here, but it’s not really my place.
“They’ll be here soon. I ordered food. The doorman will let them in.”
I clutch a cashmere throw to my chest, watching him move around the room, making the place as cozy as the rom-com set of my dreams.
He answers the door for the food delivery and kisses me before he leaves. “Remember, no touching. Or there’ll be consequences.”
My friends arrive in time for a late brunch. We’ve never hung out outside of work like this, so I’m nervous about how it will go. At least Jaeger’s penthouse will be a nicer place to hang out than my old apartment.
Daria enters slowly, craning her head to look all around. She greets me with a nod, keeping her hands stuffed into her black leather jacket.
The next to enter is Angel, one of the dancers at Inferno. “Hey, girl,” she grins at me. “Okay if I crash this party?”
“Of course,” I say. I don’t know Angel very well, but she seems sweet. On stage, she mostly wears wigs, but her hair is long, straight, and dyed black.
Honey bounces in, all smiles in a taupe bodycon dress, with her hair in ringlet curls. “Elodie! You look amazing! Who did your hair?”
“Hey, Honey. You look great, too.” I don’t tell her Jaeger did my hair. He doesn’t look like he’s capable of it, but he’s better at doing my hair than I ever was. He seems to enjoy taking the time to pamper me. The shelf in the shower is filled with hair masks and special conditioners for my curls, and the results have been fabulous. My skin glows, and my shining curls are behaving better than I’ve been able to achieve.
Honey’s already moved on. “Omigosh,” she cries when she sees the brunch spread Jaeger ordered. Angel joins her, grabbing a strawberry from a bowl of cut fruit.
“So this is his place, huh?” Daria lingers in the entryway, leaning to look through the open door to our bedroom.
“This is it,” I wave her in. “Feel free to snoop.”
Honey laughs, and Daria’s shoulders drift down an inch.
“C’mon,” Angel beckons. Her plate is already filled with bacon and pancakes. The food tempts Daria enough to join the other two.
“You look good,” Honey says.
“Thanks.” I accept her offer for more coffee and caramel creamer.
“Girl, this place…” Angel says.
“I know,” I say.
