Fuck.
I make my way down the hall and bring her into the elevator. It feels like it’s taking an eternity, but when it finally stops, I take her into my office. I put her down on the chair only to grab a thick jacket, which I fold over her shoulders to cover her up. Then I grab a few tissues, rub her face clean and take off the blindfold.
She blinks a couple of times, clearly out of it. I smile and offer her a cup of fresh water. “Drink.”
She gleefully chugs it down, partially letting the water run down her chin.
“C’mon,” I say, lifting her up into my arms again.
“I can walk,” she says, slurring half the words while coughing too.
“Sure, you can,” I reply, carrying her out of my office.
I go to the ground floor using the elevator with her still in my arms. Her head drops to my shoulders halfway through walking, her eyes closed. She’s completely wiped out, and it’s only making me more anxious to get her somewhere safe.
“But what about the … night?” she mutters.
“Forget about it,” I say, walking toward the exit.
“Oh, sir!” the bellhop calls out for me as I walk past the desk, but I’m not even remotely interested right now. They can deal with it on their own, or it can wait.
“I need you to do something for me,” I say to him, completely ignoring his question. “Go to the VIP floor and grab the bag and clothes you find there. Get someone to deliver them to my home.”
“Of course, sir,” he says, slightly confused. “Now that you’re here, I have a guest who has—”
“Not now,” I growl back, marching out into the dark of night with a girl in my arms.
And not just any girl … it’s NaughtyKitten we’re talking about. The only girl who’s managed to worm her way into my world even though I tried so hard to keep her at bay. Never did she complain about it being too much to handle. She kept pushing ahead without fear, thinking she could take on whatever I threw at her.
And what an idiot I am for trying to push her to the brink.
For trying to prove to myself that she was nothing more than just a toy to play with as I pleased.
I was wrong. Dead wrong.
Biting my lip in rage, I make my way to my car and set her down in the passenger’s seat, securing her seat belt tight. Then I get behind the wheel and drive off in a hurry, not giving a shit that the event is still going down.
Everything will go according to plan, just like it always does.
I trust my co-workers to carry out their work professionally and to make the guests happy, whatever the cost. I don’t doubt they can handle it.
I only hope that I’m not too late … with her.
Chapter 26
Kat
I wake up in a bed that smells like warm cookies and syrup and a dash of tropical fruit.
Or maybe that’s pancakes I’m smelling … I’m not sure.
But who could be cooking?
I blink a couple of times and stretch my limbs, feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Only when I look around do I realize I’m not in my own bed. Or in my home.
What the hell?
“Good morning.”
The sudden voice makes me jolt up and down in the bed.
“Jesus. Fuck.”
It’s Declan, and he’s laughing out loud. “Sorry, did I scare you?”
“Kinda,” I reply, immediately tucking my hair behind my ear. When I look down, I notice I’m still wearing that same outfit from when I was at the hotel. Except I’m no longer there …
“The hotel …” I mumble as I gaze up at him. “Wait, how did I get here?”
“I took you home,” he replies, crossing his arms as he leans against the doorjamb. “How are you feeling?”
“Um … good, I guess,” I say, gazing around while still confused as hell. “So this is your place?”
He nods, approaching me with arrogance and flair. “I took you to the nearest place I knew you’d be safe.”
“Huh …” Interesting.
“Sorry, I didn’t want to go through the hassle of finding your keys and trying to bring you to your own house, so I took the easier route. Hope you don’t mind.” He sits down on the bed beside me, but it’s so close. Closer than I’m used to from him.
And I’m suddenly very much aware of the fact that I’m still wearing this … thing. This see-through outfit that doesn’t leave much to the imagination. Instinctively, I pull up the sheets.
He’s looking at me in such a different way from before.
His smile seems a lot more genuine, and his eyes seem bigger. Does that make sense? Probably not, but it’s almost as if something about him has changed. Or am I imagining things?