“Thanks, Kline.” I nodded in acknowledgment, and the other gentlemen in the room took the hint, standing and gathering their things.
“Will we be seeing you and your new bride at the auction tonight?” George, the CEO of the company I was negotiating with, asked. He stepped toward me and reached out his hand while his posse began to file out the door.
“Absolutely,” I agreed, shaking his hand. Their company was holding a charity auction, and many influential people would be there. Some I was already in the midst of a deal with, and others I was trying to court. So it wasn’t an opportunity I could pass on.
I followed him out of the conference room but turned the opposite direction in the hall and headed to my office. We did a lot of business in Australia, so we rented a permanent office suite.
I left paperwork on my desk for my assistant to handle, then made my way down to the curb where a car was waiting for me. It was spring in the southern hemisphere, so I removed my suit jacket and laid it out carefully on the seat beside me.
It only took a few minutes to arrive at the hotel. Our rooms were quiet when I returned, so I assumed Kinsley was still at the spa. I took the opportunity to change into more casual clothes, a polo and pressed khakis, then checked with the concierge to make sure everything was ready to go as planned.
As I was hanging up the phone, the door opened and Kinsley walked inside. She looked fucking gorgeous, with her face devoid of makeup and her skin practically glowing. She was dressed only in a thick terry cloth robe that went from her neck to her ankles, and I frowned as I realized she was more than likely naked underneath.
“What the fuck are you doing walking around the hotel practically naked?” I growled as I stalked in her direction.
She raised an eyebrow and gathered her robe a little closer around her. “Seriously? This is more coverage than some of the suits I wear to work.”
I reached her and slipped a finger under the belt, using it to draw her forward. “It wouldn’t take more than a single tug in the right place”—I quickly pulled at the sash, and it easily gave way—“and other people would be seeing what’s mine.” My head lowered until our lips were a breath apart, and I palmed both of her ass cheeks and squeezed. Her gasp sent a bolt of lust straight to my cock, and I groaned in response. “Don’t forget: this ass is mine, and I don’t share.”
Closing the short distance between us, I covered her mouth with my own. Her drugging taste quickly dragged me down the rabbit hole, but the ring of the phone broke the mood and we stumbled apart. “We have plans, so go get dressed before I change my mind and keep you in bed all day,” I told her as I moved to the end table and picked up the phone.
“I wouldn’t complain,” I heard her mumble softly as she disappeared into the bedroom.
Despite the grin on my face, I snapped my greeting into the phone. “What?”
“Your car is ready sir.”
“Thank you. We’ll be down shortly.”
“How should I dress?” Kinsley called from the bedroom.
“Comfortably,” I responded as I gathered my wallet and keys.
She walked out five minutes later, dressed in jeans and an off-the-shoulder, flowy, lavender blouse, while sweeping her long, dark hair into a ponytail. “Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.” Her blue eyes lit up, and she smiled at me in a way I’d rarely seen. It made her even more beautiful. “We’re spending the day together?”
“Yes. Are you ready?”
She nodded and quickly slipped her feet into sandals, then grabbed her purse. “Let’s go.”
I ushered her out the door, into the elevator, and down to the car waiting on the curb. I kept a hand on the small of her back, but otherwise made an effort to keep my distance. I was still on edge from earlier, and I knew it wouldn’t take much to convince myself we should spend the day fucking instead of sightseeing.
Kinsley stared out the window eagerly as the car pulled away and headed to our first destination. We came to a stop at Sydney Tower, and she was literally bouncing in her seat. I couldn’t help grinning at her childlike enthusiasm. “Oh! I haven’t been here yet! It was on my list for next week.”
I winked at her. “I checked with your driver and picked places to go that I was pretty sure you hadn’t visited.” I climbed out of the car and reached my hand back in to help her. “With all the shops here, I was surprised to learn you hadn’t been here yet,” I mentioned nonchalantly. She stiffened next to me, and I glanced down to see her lips pinched and some of the joyous light in her eyes had faded. I immediately looked around to see what it was that upset her, but all I saw around us was the Tower and locals and tourists milling around.