Matt opens his mouth to speak, but seems to think better of it when he sees the blazing anger in my eyes. I have this strange, overwhelming urge to protect this girl. She clearly has no one else looking out for her. She needs me almost as much as I need her...though perhaps in very different ways.
“Very well, sir,” Matt says tightly. He turns around and walks back toward the elevator, leaving me alone with Faith. I turn to her.
“Are you alright?” I growl. She nods nervously.
“Sir, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep, especially not in your room.”
“There is no need for you to apologize. You were clearly exhausted,” I say, stepping further into the room and removing my jacket. “I won’t allow you to be bullied by Matt.”
“I can’t blame him, sir. I was meant to be working. I know what I did was unacceptable.”
“No more of that,” I tell her. “You’re off the hook. You deserve a break. I’m Chase Thompson by the way. I own the hotel.”
“I know who you are,” Faith murmurs. “I-I mean, I’ve heard of you through work. It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”
“Please. Call me Chase,” I growl. I don’t want her to think she has to be so formal with me. After all, I’m hoping we’re going to get to know one another on a much more intimate level. “You still seem tired. I want you to stay here. Have a drink with me, relax.”
“I...I really shouldn’t.”
“I insist. You clearly need to kickback. Make yourself comfortable. Let me pour you a drink I insist.”
Chapter Two
Faith
I feel like I can barely breathe as I watch Chase fix me a drink. Ever since he walked into the room, I’ve been light-headed with lust. I know that we’ve only exchanged a few words, and yet there’s this crazy chemistry between us. I don’t know if he can feel it too, but every time he looks my way, every time his eyes drift over my body, every time we exchange words, my heart flutters. He might be twice my age, by the look of the steel in his hair, but he has something special about him that draws me to him more than any man of my own age has ever been able to.
And there’s something else too. A new sensation that I’ve only ever imagined before. A feeling pooling between my legs, making my whole body feel desperate for Chase to touch me. I’ve never felt a desire like this before. The idea of my perfect man has always been abstract, the image of him just a blur inside my mind. But now I see him right in front of me. Strong arms. Dark hair. Dark eyes. He’s so handsome that I can barely believe I’m even laying eyes on him. He feels like he shouldn’t be real, but he is.
And I want him more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.
He hands me a glass of white wine and I take it gingerly, feeling my heart hammering against my chest. He sits down on the bed and pats the space next to him.
“Join me,” he says in a husky voice. I know that I shouldn’t. I can’t be in control of my actions around this man. I might do something I shouldn’t. And yet I find myself sitting down beside him, closer than necessary. He doesn’t seem to mind because he doesn’t move away. In fact, I swear his face moves closer to mine like there’s a magnetic pull between us.
“Are you going to tell me what happened earlier?” he asks. “You’re not in trouble. I just want to know how things ended up that way.”
I blush. I still can’t believe he found me napping on the job. I’m so embarrassed that he must think I’m lazy and undedicated. I sigh and take a sip of wine.
“I’ve been studying accounting at NYU. It’s been hard trying to support myself while keeping up with my studies, but I took this job to try and cover some of my expenses. Except I don’t really have a lot of time for anything else. Including sleep.”
“That’s awful,” Chase growls. “You shouldn’t have to worry about that kind of thing.”
I shrug. “Well, I have to pay the rent somehow. And buy food. I don’t really have a big support system to keep me going.”
“Well, that has to change,” Chase snarls, taking a sip of whiskey. “This is what I’m going to do. From now on, I’m going to cover your rent. I’m going to make sure you have plenty of food and whatever else you need. You can leave your job here and focus on your studies and your health. I won’t allow you to suffer anymore.”
I shake my head fervently. “B-but sir that’s far too much. I can’t allow you to do that.”