Hotel O

Chapter 13

Declan

When the sun is low in the sky, shining brightly through my window, a knock on my door alerts me. She’s here.

A devilish grin spreads across my face.

For a few minutes there, I was almost starting to worry she wouldn’t show up. After all, I’d made myself out to be the bad guy. I chased her away with threats and anger.

But I changed my mind along the way, and now I want to see whether she’ll accept that. I’m not sure yet if I want to go any further than we already have, but I just couldn’t leave it alone. I couldn’t stop thinking about her even after she practically broke into my office.

I was too careless, and I do think it’s partly my own fault that she’s so greedy for more.

Maybe there is something more to all of this …

More that I could take … and give.

At least once or twice wouldn’t hurt. Right?

When she enters my office, I take a deep breath and stand from my seat. She’s as beautiful as she was the last time I saw her. This time, she’s wearing long white pants and a black crop top with thick stilettos underneath. Too sexy not to lick my lips to.

“So … you’ve come,” I say, casually tucking my hands into my pockets.

She wears a clear smirk as she closes the door behind her and remains near the edge of the room. “So I have.”

When our eyes lock, it feels as though lightning sparks through the air.

She drops her bag on the floor but remains silent. I smile at the sight of her mischievous gaze. “Did you like the flowers?”

She cocks her head and folds her arms. “They were nice … unlike you.”

“I apologize for my anger at the club,” I reply. I don’t want her to be upset, but I don’t want to linger on it either. The past is the past. What was said and done remains there. I’d much rather focus on the here and now. On her … in the living flesh.

“I’d be able to accept them if you were honest about what you wanted.”

“Right now? You,” I say.

There’s not a single ounce of doubt in my voice. Today, I know I want to see more of where this could go. What comes after is a mystery. And that’s fine, as long as she accepts that.

“Tell me why I should believe you?” she asks, shrugging. “You change your mind every time.”

“Because I was hasty, and I regret that,” I say.

“You feared I was going to tell people about you. Maybe you shouldn’t assume I’m that kind of girl?”

She’s humoring me. But that’s okay … I can take it. “I’m not the only one who’s hiding in plain sight …”

A small, lopsided grin briefly forms on her lips before disappearing again. She knows what I’m talking about. “You used the contract to send me flowers,” she says.

Clever girl. “But it wasn’t your address,” I fill in.

“How did you find out?” she asks.

“The company that delivers them for me told me the guy who accepted them said he lived there alone.”

“Right …” There’s a hint of amusement on her face. I’m not quite sure whether to love it or hate it or both.

“Whose address was it?” I ask.

“A friend’s,” she replies.

Cautious. I like that. She’s not going to make the same mistake twice. Trust is hard to give to someone who doesn’t give it in return, so I understand.

I walk up to the front of my desk and lean against it, casually crossing my arms.

“So … Kitten … you never left your name on the form.”

“Nope,” she says. “And I wouldn’t have written down my real one either.”

“Figured,” I muse, licking my lips.

She’s so protective of her identity. We have more in common than I thought.

“But since you know my name, it’s only fair I know yours, don’t you agree?” My blatant request grabs her attention. I can tell from the way she shifts her position. It’s just an inch, but it’s enough to notice.

A few seconds pass. “Call me Kat.”

“Kat …” I don’t know if it’s her real name or not, but it sounds good. Rolls off the tongue easily. And it explains her choice of nickname on the site, so this must be the truth. After all, I’m sure she feels a bit guilty for knowing my real name and the location of my office. She doesn’t look like the type to continue a lie without feeling the need to level the playing field.

And she’s certainly playing the game right.

“I like your name,” I say.

“Thanks,” she says. “I like yours too, Declan.”

The teasing glint in her eyes is almost too much to take.

It makes me want to grab her, throw her over my lap, and spank her ass until it’s bright red.