“Did Desmond leave?” Meghan asks, smiling up at him.
“Yes. He was needed at Luxe,” Justin replies, settling beside her.
Before I can even think to stand, Calvin’s already behind me. He tugs me gently out of my chair and into his lap. I gasp, half in surprise, half in something else entirely. His arms wrap around me, his warmth seeping into every inch of me.
“Having fun?” he murmurs against my ear. His beard brushes the sensitive skin of my neck as he leans in, the faint scrape of it making my breath hitch. Then his nose nudges into the curve where my shoulder meets my throat, inhaling like he’s memorizing me.
I shiver at the sensation, squirming slightly. “I am,” I whisper, turning to face him.
Calvin takes the opportunity, capturing my lips in a kiss that’s deep and unhurried. My fingers instinctively curl into his shirt, and it takes all my willpower not to melt into him completely.
“Ahem,” Meghan interrupts with a sassy grin. “I thought you guys were trying not to miss us.”
“You know we can’t resist you.”
Laughter fills the room and wraps around us, light and easy.
As the night winds down and Calvin and I get ready to go, that same feeling lingers in the air. It feels comfortable and familiar already, and I don’t want to let it go.
“Don’t be strangers,” Kingsley says, grinning.
I hug Inès and Meghan, both of them squeezing me back.
“We have to do this again soon,” Inès says.
“It was so nice to meet you. Text us,” Meghan adds.
“I will.”
Calvin’s hand slides to the small of my back, his thumb brushing against my skin as he leads me toward the elevator.
Even if whatever this is between us doesn’t last… I really hope the friendships do.
Ibite my lip to keep from giggling as I prop my phone on top of Calvin’s nightstand, angling the camera just right. The little red light blinks at me, my cue that everything is set.
This is a terrible idea. I know it. My subconscious is practically screaming at me to reconsider. But ever since I found out I was a brat, I’ve been doing research, deep dives on social media, watching videos on all the ways to get under a dom’s skin, how to push just enough to earn a punishment. And today? Today, I’m feeling brave.
Which is why I may have called the concierge downstairs and asked them to text me when Calvin got home. A little heads-up so I could be prepared. And being the enabler he is, the guy sent me a message exactly thirty seconds ago.
Now, my camera is propped up, and I’m settled under the covers, Kindle in hand, pretending to be the picture of innocence. I’m not posting this, obviously, it’s for my personal enjoyment only. I just want to get him riled up.
I hear the distant ding of the elevator, and my stomach does a little excited flip. Show time.
I scroll through the book on my screen, doesn’t matter which one as I’m not actually reading. My ears are tuned to the hallway.
Footsteps.
The door opens.
And even though I don’t look up, I feel him enter the room. The air becomes charged. My fingers tighten around the Kindle to keep from giving myself away.
He walks to the bed where I am, leans down, and kisses my exposed neck. I have to fight a shiver.
“How was your day, beautiful?” he asks, walking toward his closet as he loosens his tie. His voice is smooth, warm like honey.
I don’t answer. My eyes stay fixed on my Kindle, pretending I’m far too engrossed in my book.
He stops halfway to his destination, and I feel him turn back to look at me. There’s a pause. A heavy one. I instantly feel bad because I’ve never ignored him.
